Cottonwood AZ (February 9, 2020) – Now in its 16th year, Kumu Hula (master teacher) Kehau Chrisman announces her 2020 class schedule in Beginner Hula, Hawaiian `Ukulele, and Hawaiian language. Here’s your opportunity to try something new, exercise and have fun, all while becoming immersed in the culture of Hawai`i.
In 2003, Chrisman moved to Arizona from Hawaii. She has accumulated over 36 years immersed in hula, of which 17 were spent training in Hawaii to reach the highest rank of Hula Master (similar to a PhD in Hula) by following rigorous hula protocols taught by well-known and respected masters in Hawaii’s hula legacy. She first started teaching hula in Hawaii in 1997 and has been teaching in Northern and Central Arizona since 2004. Since opening the Cottonwood hula school in 2004, Chrisman has been teaching Hawaiian culture, including music, dance, and language. Students travel from all over the Verde Valley, Flagstaff and Prescott seeking her Hawaiian cultural knowledge.
Learning hula, `ukulele and Hawaiian language from Kumu is extremely rewarding as shared by some of her current students: “Hula has instilled discipline, confidence, dedication and much happiness in my life.”, “Learning about the Hawaiian culture widens my world views of what is important to me.”, “Hula is fun and brings me much joy.”, “Hula has enhanced my life and given me a wonderful extended family, treasured friendships and camaraderie.” A recent study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 8/29/17 and mentioned in the AARP Bulletin June 2019 suggests that learning new dances is superior to repetitive exercises in increasing neural connections in older peoples’ brains. Combining movement with learning a new language as most hula song lyrics are in Hawaiian will provide even more health benefit.
New 2020 classes include:
Beginner Women’s Hula Class – Open to those 15 and older. Learn basic hula and feet movements, plus language, culture, and values. Mondays from 7 to 8pm, beginning March 16 through April 20. Fee is $48 for the six-week session, payable at the first class.
Beginners `Ukulele Class – Learn chords, strumming techniques, and songs from the islands. Wednesdays from 4 to 5pm, 4 classes beginning May 6 through May 27. Fee is $9 per class. Bring your own `ukulele.
Hawaiian Language Class – Open to those 16 and older. Learn Hawaiian pronunciation, simple sentence structures, and Hawaiian vocabulary. Wednesdays from 4 to 5pm beginning July 1 through August 19 (duration may be extended based on class interest). Fee is $8 per class. Bring a writing tablet and pen/pencil.
The classes listed above are held at the Cottonwood Recreation Center located at 150 South 6th Street. Monthly hula classes are also available in Prescott Valley. For more information, visit www.arizonahula.com, call Chrisman at (928) 639-4683, or email HulaIsAloha@gmail.com.