(Newswire.net – February 17, 2013) New York City, NY — Mid-Pacific Institute School of Arts’ P?p?kahi I Ke Alo O Na Pua (United as One in the Presence of the Flowers), under the tutelage of Hula Master Michael Lanakila Casupang, will perform one New York show at the Peter Norton Symphony Space in New York City, NY on February 23, 2013 at 8 pm. Their New York show at the Symphony Space culminates their 10-day cultural exchange trip across the country.
P?p?kahi from Mid-Pacific Institute School of the Arts located in Honolulu, Hawaii is traveling to San Francisco and New York from February 18 through the 25th. There are 29 high school students, 20 girls and 9 boys, who are students of Kumu Hula (hula master) Michael Lanakila Casupang, a graduate of Kumu Hula Robert U. Cazimero, H?lau N? Kamalei. They have planned an exchange with Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakane and his h?lau from San Francisco and have two performances at the Bay School of San Francisco and at Daniel Webster Elementary.
In New York City, there is a Cultural Exchange with the dance program at LaGuardia High School for Performing and Visual Arts, a high school where students are studying to perform as a career. Best known as the school the movie and television series FAME was based upon. “We will be sharing the art of Hula, the traditions and culture of Hawaii as it relates in comparison and contrast to their own dance forms . . . sharing with 9th and 11th grade students.” said Kumu Hula Casupang. They will also be sharing with Lighthouse International, a high school for visually impaired students. There will also be a hula workshop that is open to the public on February 24, 2013 from 2 to 4 pm at Ripley Grier Studio, 520 8th Avenue, between 36th & 37th S.
“This is an opportunity for the youth of Hawaii to share the art of Hula for they are the next carriers of the culture. The students are fortunate to be able to study within the high school curriculum at Mid-Pacific Institute. There are so many lessons learned through Hula that the students are able to take on into their college lives and into their future. I am happy to offer the opportunity for them to travel to share Hula with other students their own age as we go into schools and performing arts school to educate people on the traditions of the art of Hula and to share this beautiful expression of dance. Our show in New York at Peter Norton Symphony Space on Feb 23, 8 pm, entitled Hawai?i: Where I Live will really focus on celebrating the beauty of the place where we live and sharing that with a larger audience.” said Kumu Hula Michael Lanakila Casupang. Kenna Yamane, a senior at Mid-Pacific Institute and one of the 29 students traveling said, “My hula family and I are really looking forward to sharing our hula traditions and to learn from other students on this trip. We are also looking forward to the show in New York and to showcase the beauty of Hula.”
New York show at Symphony Space New York, Saturday, February 23 at 8 pm
tickets, $35 and $25 available at symphonyspace.org. Peter Norton Symphony Space, located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. For more information, contact Symphony Space at 212-854-5400 for the Mid-Pacific Institute show in New York.
Contact info: Michael Lanakila Casupang, lanakila@midpac.edu
www.SymphonySpace.org
http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/7692-hawaii-where-i-live
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