June 10th, 2013
Suva Fiji, May 2013
Mahalo to Peter Espiritu of Hawaii who is the newly appointed Director of Performing Arts in USP. With Samadhi Hawaii's Artistic Director Andrea Torres, Jamie Nakama and myself, we held a 2 week Aerial Basics workshop with the resident dance company, Oceania Dance Theater for the university. We also held lecture demonstrations, modern dance and capoeira class, and public performances. Later, after my trip to New Zealand, I returned to Fiji as a choreographer to set a piece on the men of Oceania Dance Theater to be performed for Men Dancing Festival in July 2013 also at USP.
    
March 7th, 2013
Wailana along with Samadhi Hawaii's Andrea Torres and Jamie Nakama will be teaching a two-week Aerial Dance intensive to the dance students of the University in Fiji. They have been graciously invited by their long time friend and colleague, Peter Rockford Espiritu of Hawaii who is now the Artistic DIrector of Oceanic Dance Theatre/Oceanic Center for the Arts, Culture, & Pacific Studies at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
December 13th, 2012
Wailana returns to O'ahu after many years on the Big Island and he is excited to join Honolulu's dance community by offering classes in Modern and Aerial Dance. Wailana will be teaching at Boca Studio for Samadhi Hawaii beginning January 18 til March 15, every Friday. Check out CLASSES above for more details….Modern Dance classes will soon be announced.
Also, Wai Company will be holding auditions in Spring 13 for dancers, musicians, and actors for a special performance in Winter 13, so stay tuned!
This is image was taken after the performance for V-CON in Bogor, Indonesia with Samadhi in September 2012. It was during my solo travels on the island of Bali where I met new friends and we did an impromptu shoot (more images later). I had the chance to also teach a dance class while I was there.
August 11th, 2012
Samadhi Hawaii has invited me to tag along with them to Indonesia! We have been asked to perform 3 aerial dances as part of this huge convention named V-INDONESIA in Bogor, near Jakarta. V-INDONESIA is one of the largest conventions out of Asia and the Middle-East. It is an annual event that travels to different host cities and where businesses can connect, learn from each other, and promote each other's work. It is a large-scale networking system for both established and up-and-coming businesses out of Asia and the Middle-East.
We plan on entertaining these people with a group aerial tissue number, a lyra duet with Andrea and I, and myself in a solo strap number- that has not been choreographed or costumed yet…oops!
We are with V-Indonesia from Sept 1-10, 2012. Afterwards I will be free to explore Bali and Ubud for two weeks. Then I spend a week in the Philippines with my family there. I have not been to the Philippines in 13 years. I was there last as a dancer for Pearl Ubungen Dancers and Musicians when Pearl brought me there from San Francisco for the McKnight Fellowship she was awarded. We worked with national Filipino composer Joey Ayala – a truly remarkable experience.
Here's to more fantastic experiences to come! Mahalo at maraming salamat po!
July 11th, 2012
KPAF3: Huliau, the turning point went extremely well. Having KUNST-STOFF from San Francisco to teach modern dance in this year’s Festival was a real treat. Also, I was able to work with new teachers like Kenny Elliot (acting), Wainani (hula), and Joule (voice). These teachers and artists along with Yannis from KUNST-STOFF were newbies to KPAF and they all did extremely well. KPAF is always a huge collaboration on all fronts that encourages growth, creativity, and strength. And of course there were my own pillars of strength and kokua, Dede of SAMADHI (aerial) and my boys of Blue Star Octave: Raj, Joe, Sam, and David who came out again for their 3rd year – fantastic job everyone! It was very special to have you all come and work it out with me – mahalo nui loa to each and everyone of you! The participants themselves were amazing in that they worked so very hard each and every day, became even more vulnerable in their search for their truth, and shared tirelessly of themselves and to the audience in the Finale. Mahalo, mahalo, mahalo for all the trust and love…
This year’s festival brought in more people from the islands and even more from the mainland, Japan, and Europe! We had 14 core people and lots and lots of drop-ins from the neighborhood. What an honor and pleasure to have done this 3 years in a row….I am looking at our 4th…please stay tuned. Mahalo i ke akua~
April 26th, 2012
This particular image was shot at Halona Cove, but when I used to frequent this cove in High School, we called it Cockroach Cove. It is right before Sandy's Beach in O'ahu. Also, it is where the black and white classic film, "From here to Eternity" was shot. You know the famous kissing-on-the-beach sequence with the lovers entwined and water washes beautifully around them, well, that's the beach. The other place we shot was at Kualoa Ranch, north-east side of O'ahu – another gorgeous location. Working on the video was quite an experience; long days, Hollywood vibe, lotsa cool and beautiful people. I choreographed everything except the incredible HAKA BOYS. They had their own moves down – in fact, they stole the show. I am blessed and honored. I love Nicki Minaj and I was very thrilled to have been part of her booty – movement! Keep doing what you do Nicki because we all love you for it!
January 31st, 2012
 Tresa Honaker and Joseph Simms of AirAligned from Grass Valley, CA are joining Wai Co. to host the Hawaii Aerial Arts Retreat this April 5 -11 at Kalani, Puna, Hawai'i. It will be 5 days of instruction in high flying aerial silk, trapeze and hoop, aerial & modern dance, and performance.
All levels welcome, 16-adult.
$1,350 includes shuttle to and from airport, 6 nights lodging and 3 amazing meals a day
$600 for Kama`āina
For more details and information look up: airaligned.com and kalani.com
To register, email Omkar at omkar@kalani.com
Check out our poster:
Hawaii 2012 V5
See you there! Mahalo nui loa!
January 10th, 2012
Every Tuesdays starting JAN 17 – MAR 20
UHH Old Gym 5:45 pm – 7:15 pm
$110 for 10 weeks
Live Music by David Sause
To register please click on this link: http://hilo.hawaii.edu/academics/ccecs/registration/
August 24th, 2011
Wai Company will premiere a brand new Aerial Strap performance entitled, Papa a Wakea. Featuring original and live music by mea oli (chanter) Ka'enaaloha Hopkins and musician David Sierra.
The piece will explore the creation myth of Mother Earth and Father Sky, Papa a Wakea.
CUPOLA THEATER, Honolulu Design Center, 1260 Kapiolani Blvd
Friday September 16th, 8PM
Saturday September 17th, 8PM
$35 pre-sale, $40 at the door
Mahalo and see you there!
July 24th, 2011
Aloha mai kakou! E ALA E!
KPAF 2 was a true success. We had 15 people registered with 10 facilitators total! And to boot…just 10 days out before the start of the festival, I received a letter from the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (HSFCA) awarding KPAF 2 a grant for $9,333.00!!!!
Needless to say, we all were very and still EXCITED about the support and recognition from the State of Hawaii for our efforts.
Mahalo to all the participants, faculty, and community members of Puna for their incredible support. And a great big MAHALO to Kalani Honua for hosting this very special event in their beautiful EMAX.
Stay tuned for KPAF 3!
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