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Brevard Hula Studio First Place In Ho’ike Competition

By  //  July 31, 2013

16th annual Hula Competition

The ages of the Keikis (children) range from 5 to 10. These delightful young girls won a 1st place trophy that included a Tahitian Ukulele. Chrissy recalls that she started her dance career almost as soon as she could walk and she is excited to share her skills with these talented dancers. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)
The ages of the Keikis (children) range from 5 to 10. These delightful young girls won a 1st place trophy that included a Tahitian Ukulele. Chrissy recalls that she started her dance career almost as soon as she could walk and she is excited to share her skills with these talented dancers. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – The spirit of Aloha was in the air at the Wyndham hotel on International Drive in Orlando this weekend where the 2013 Ho’ike competition was held on Saturday and Sunday.

Award-388
This school is ever expanding and is led by Chrissy Sulfridge who opened her studio in Satellite Beach a mere two years ago. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)

The 16th annual Hula Competition in Florida attracted Halaus (Hawaiian Dance Schools) from Florida, Texas, Virginia, Hawaii and as far away as Japan.

Brevard County was represented in the competition by Halau ‘Ilima o Pololika, short for Halau Pulama Mau Ke Aloha Ka ‘Ohana ‘Ilima Pololika, meaning Florida hula school to cherish and perpetuate always with love the family `Ilima.

This school is ever expanding and is led by Chrissy Sulfridge who opened her studio in Satellite Beach two years ago.

Dancing since she was a small infant, the traditions and cultures of the Hawaiian and Polynesian people have always been a huge part of her life.

This Kane (male) performer took the stage and impressed the audience with his vibrant moves. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)
This Kane (male) performer took the stage and impressed the audience with his vibrant moves. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)

For many years, Sulfridge attended Kumus (Polynesian dance teacher) seminars and danced in hundreds of Hawaiian and Polynesian shows.

In 1992, she was invited to compete in the first World Hula Competition held in Honolulu as a soloist and as part of a Halau (school).

In 2012, Sulfridge led her students in an exhibition Hula at the competition in Orlando which inspired her and her students to enter the competition in 2013. On the day of competition she had 19 Wahine (women) lined up to step on stage.

Since most entries in the Hula ‘Auana category have 6 to 12 competitors on stage, some seasoned dancers were concerned that trying to have 19 people in complete synchronous movement would prove to be an impossible task.

In the end, Sulfridge had a vision of an elegant dance that would impress the audience and judges. Her vision became a reality when her students took the stage for a four minute performance that left the audience in awe.

She impressed the judges too as her group  won the coveted first place trophy for this category.

Sulfridge also teaches a Kane (men) class and decided to enter her students in the Hula Kahiko which is a traditional Hawaiian Chant competition.

Chrissy also teaches a Kane (men) class and decided to enter her students in the Hula Kahiko which is a traditional Hawaiian Chant competition. The men put on an powerful performance that included traditional costumes and implements. Although the newly formed Kane group did not bring home a trophy, the head judge complimented Kumu Chrissy in her unique choreography for this group and their impressive performance. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)
Chrissy also teaches a Kane (men) class and decided to enter her students in the Hula Kahiko which is a traditional Hawaiian Chant competition. The men put on an powerful performance that included
traditional costumes and implements. Although the newly formed Kane group did not bring home a
trophy, the head judge complimented Kumu Chrissy in her unique choreography for this group and their impressive performance. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)

The men put on an powerful performance that included traditional costumes and implements.

Although the newly formed Kane group did not bring home a trophy, the head judge complimented Kumu Sulfridge in her unique choreography for this group and their impressive performance.

Actors never want to perform with children or animals because they always steal the show, and that was the case when Sulfridge’s youngest students took the stage in the Tahitian dance competition where they won a first place prize for their exciting performance. The ages of the Keikis (children) range from 5 to 10. These delightful young girls won a first place trophy that included a Tahitian Ukulele.

EXTREME CONFIDENCE

Sulfridge said that she started her dance career almost as soon as she could walk and she is excited to share her skills with these talented dancers.

It takes a special attitude and extreme confidence to dance in front of your competitors and one of the male dancers took on this challenge in the Tahitian solo category.

It takes a special attitude and extreme confidence to dance in front of your competitors and one of the male dancers took on this challenge in the Tahitian solo category.

This Kane (male) performer took the stage and impressed the audience with his vibrant moves. Halau ‘Ilima o Pololika offers a variety of traditional Hawaiian dance and Polynesian dance classes, including Hula for all ages including both men and women, Tahitian dance and Hot Hula.

Their studio is located Satellite Beach at 716 South Patrick Drive and the class schedule can be found at BrevardHawaiianDancers.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 321-557-0606

Since most entries in the Hula ‘Auana category have 6 to 12 competitors on stage some seasoned dancers were concerned that trying to have 19 people in complete synchronous movement would prove to be an impossible task. In the end Ms. Sulfridge had a vision of an elegant dance that would impress the audience and judges. Her vision became a reality when her students took the stage for a four minute performance that left the audience in awe. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)
Since most entries in the Hula ‘Auana category have 6 to 12 competitors on stage some seasoned dancers were concerned that trying to have 19 people in complete synchronous movement would prove to be an impossible task. In the end Ms. Sulfridge had a vision of an elegant dance that would impress the audience and judges. Her vision became a reality when her students took the stage for a four minute performance that left the audience in awe. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)