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The Academy of Hawaiian
Arts will compete in the 43rd annual Merrie
Monarch Festival in April 2006. In light of this honor,
the AHA newsletter will feature an article on the Merrie Monarch
in each issue until April.
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The Road to Merrie Monarch: Dance by invitation only |
Who
gets to dance at the Merrie Monarch? Only hālau who
are invited may compete. So how does a hālau get on
the invitation list? For starters, a hālau must be
based in the United States to enter. At the Kamehameha Hula
Competition, you will see hālau from Japan and other
countries, as it is an open competition, but not at the
Merrie Monarch. While it is strictly a U.S. competition,
up to two dancers from a hālau may be citizens of other
countries. The Kumu Hula must, however, be a U.S. citizen
and reside in this country.
The Application
To be considered by the Festival Committee, a hālau
must first submit an application with details about any
hula competitions in which it participated, and hopefully
placed, in the past. Many hālau let their dancing speak
for itself by submitting a video of some of its best dance
performances, a smart though optional inclusion. hālau,
who have danced in the Festival in the past, are encouraged
to update their records with recent achievements for the
Committee’s consideration. In addition to reviewing
applications, the Committee also keeps current on winners
in other hula competitions to help ensure that the best
hālau have the opportunity to compete.
New hālau
Each year about 30 hālau have the honor and privilege
to dance on the stage at Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium,
the stage for the Merrie Monarch competition. To allow new
hālau or those who haven't participated recently to
compete against the best the following year, the 4 hālau
with the lowest scores in the current year are dropped from
the list of invitees for the following year. They may be
invited back the year after that, after they have had a
year to enhance their hula Repetoire or performance.
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Kumu Hula Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu and
Na Mele Hula 'Ohana perform at the 1998 Merrie Monarch. |
The
Dancers
A hālau may bring between 5 and 35 dancers for either
the wahine or kane division, and may bring dancers for one
or both divisions. Dancers must perform both hula kahiko
and hula ‘auana. While all dancers must do hula kahiko,
there may be fewer dancers from the hālau performing
in the ‘auana category.
All dancers must have studied at the hālau at its
main dance studio during the last year, at a minimum. Dancers
must be at least 13 years of age and not older than 55 on
the date of the competition. So if you’re 13, you
could dance in the Merrie Monarch with a winning hālau
for 42 years!
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Kahiko Category
For the kahiko category, the chant must be based on chants
composed in the years up to and including 1863, two years
after the death of King Kalakaua. New chants are also acceptable,
as long as they reflect that time period. For example, a new
chant could be based on a legend, ali’i or deity known
and revered prior to 1864.
Likewise all costumes and adornments worn by the ‘olapa,
the dancers, and the ho’opa’a, the chanter, must
reflect those of that period. There are no limitations on
colors, but solid black costumes are not permitted unless
trimmed with contrasting colors. Obviously, no cellophane
skirts or sequined tops will be seen on stage. Adornments
must be selected from a list of approved greens, flowers,
fibers, seeds, nuts, and shells.
‘Auana
Category
In the ‘auana category, the song may be from the Kalakaua
era to the present and must be in Hawaiian, although a couple
of English words in the lyrics are permitted. Only stringed
instruments may accompany the singer/s. Adornments must be
natural and not manufactured out of silk or plastic, or contain
artificial flowers.
Solo Division
Finally, hālau may also enter a dancer in the solo division,
the Miss Aloha Hula contest. Although a kane solo division
has been considered, so far one has not been established.
A dancer in this competition must be between the ages of 18
and 26, never married, and without children. She must perform
oli to demonstrate her chanting skill, as well as, perform
both hula kahiko and hula ‘auana.
After accepting the invitation, of course, the hālau must
focus, practice and then dance from the heart on the stage
at the Edith Kanaka’ole Stadium. |
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