June 26th, 2011
Aloha mai kākou a pau!
This year, we are happy to announce that Kaʽenaaloha Aoe Hopkins of Hālau I Ka Wekiu is to be our Hula teacher. Kaʽena, born into a lineage of Hula masters, has been dancing hula since she could remember and is now expected to ‘uniki (graduate) from her family's hālau (school) within the next 2 years. We know great things will only come from this young kanaka maoli woman whose life revolves around the world of Hula.
Also this year, we have Jackie Pualani Johnson, Director of Performing Arts at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, as our Acting Teacher. We are very please and honored to have such a distinguished person as part of our KPAF2 faculty. Just know that we are going to create something very exciting with her and not to mention all the many things we will learn and be inspired from this tour de force of a woman! Mahalo 'Anake!
Blue Star Octave will be composing and co-creating original music with KPAF 2 participants. Blue Star Octave is a local Puna band that met through Wai Co.'s company classes and rehearsals. They have become fast friends and now bandmates who are excited to take on this endeavor. Sherri Thal, an accomplished singer, voice teacher, and composer will also be with us to help tune in our voices. Sherri has been teaching in our community for many years and is also involved in the Kaua'i Music Festival also happening this July.
Ana Prada will be joining Andrea Torres (Samadhi Hawaii) as they co-teach in the aerial portion of the program. Ana hails from Montreal and is a seasoned aerialist for her own solo works and for aerial dance companies including Cirque Du Soleil. We are very happy to have her!
Please go to kalani.com for KPAF 2 teacher bios and pics, schedule of classes, performance dates, tuition fees, and dates.
To register call Kalani at 808 965 7828
or email Wailana at wailana@kalani.com.
May 15th, 2011
Wai Co. will be at Samadhi Hawaii's studio, BOCA, teaching Aerial Dance & Choreography "Bridging Earth & Sky", Saturday May 20 7-9pm, $40. And subsequently performing again in the annual Samadhi fundraiser on Monday May 30, 8pm, ARTZONE. Please come and check us out. It will be our first O'ahu performance!
April 7th, 2011
 Come one come all! This special workshop is coming all the way to PUNA! Wai Company are grateful to present and host our new friend Tresa Honaker, Director and Founder of Air Aligned from Grass Valley, CA. They will be here May 8-13 and will be teaching 5 days full of Aerial, Aerial Doubles, Aerial Pilates, and Choreography!
I met Tresa when she was here as a guest at Kalani a few months ago. After meeting and sharing some aerial silk work with her, it was clear that she needed to come back and bring her aerial dance company and do a workshop. Tresa is a pro! She has mad skills and to boot–she is very sweet and very cool!
Whether you are a beginner or a professional, you will benefit from Tresa and AirAligned's aerial knowledge, skill, and artistry! Feel free to email Tresa at airaligned@gmail.com or me at wailana@waicompany.com for more details!
Mahalo!
April 4th, 2011
 Wai Company is performing in the Puna Music Festival on May 1st – Lei Day! We will be doing some work from "Laka" and "Supernature", some Hula and Aerial. The Puna Men's Chorus will be there that evening and will be singing a song I composed from last year's Kalani Performing Arts Festival, "Kuka'oko'a (Freedom)". I may choreograph something for that night – be cool to dance modern with them singing live! Check out Kalani.com for more details.
April 4th, 2011
Due to the devastation in Japan from the tsunami, my trip to Japan has been postponed for now. I will keep you all informed about how that progresses. I raised some money for Japan from the SUPERNATURE show, a whopping $30! At least it something, and I am sure they can use any help. I pray for Japan and her people to heal well and soon and may peace be restored to their devastated land. Mahalo me ke aloha!
March 20th, 2011
 It was an awesome show! Pele let us perform by stopping the rain for us and giving us a Rainbow. Through the wet, mud, rain, and technical difficulties, we pulled it off! As far as works in progress go, it wasn't bad-it was inspiring! I can't wait to re-stage it and make even better.
Mahalo for all the support, effort, love, and hard work that went into this production! Ecspecially Raj, David, Kristen, Amma, Megan, and Eric! Also big love to Claire, Missy, Drew, Daina, Davion, Ilan, Lynn, Sid, Annalisa, Tiki, Corey, Gus and the Kalani 'Ohana!! Mahalo to you all!
So, tommorrow I will be going to Vipassana Meditation for 10 days of noble silence. When I get out, I will post pics and vids of the show so you can all have a look see at what we did. Stay tuned.
Me ke aloha…wailana
March 2nd, 2011
"Supernature"- a site-specific work in progress
Saturday March 19th, 5:30 PM at The Point across from Kalani Oceanside Retreat Center (Kalani Honua), Kalapana, Puna, Hawai'i Island.
This work in progress held out in Nature is inspired by the epic story of Hi'iakaikapoliopele, Madam Pele, and the lover and chief from Kaua'i, Lohi'au. This is a story of love's journey, betrayal, and forgiveness. It is also a celebration in honor of the beautiful land of Puna i ka paia 'ala (Puna of the fragrant walls).
There will be Hula, Aerial Dance, Modern Dance, Live Music, and Spoken Word.
It is a small kine "fundraiser" so any monetary contribution will be accepted with gratitude. Reception to follow at Hale Aloha around 6pm… Mahalo!
March 1st, 2011
Kaumakaiwa Kanakaˋole, a celebrated Hawaiian singer, musician, ‘ōlapa, and friend is taking Wai Company to Japan! He is taking Wailana Simcock to accompany him as an aerialist to dance to 3 of his songs. Wailana is honored and stoked to go! The songs he will dance to are: Ke Aka O Ka Liˋula (Welo), ˋIˋiwi Leo Kolonahe (Haˋi Kupuna) and Winter Song (Bareilles & Michaelson).
Kaumaka is co-creating this production called Seasons which is set to premiere May 7th in the very glamorous Gotanda U-port Theater (seats 1800) in Tokyo. He is bringing other musicians to accompany him and will feature all Japanese hula dancers.
We are still solidifying final details but it looks like Wailana will be doing a tissue (silk) number for Ke Aka O Ka Liˋula, ring for ˋIˋiwi Leo Kolonahe, and straps for the Winter Song-a solo number.
Things to do: Order new tissue, make new white aerial straps, and make 3 new costumes! Oh…and rehearse!
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