Heikura Dance School
Classes & Curriculum
We teach Polynesian dance as a living tradition — grounding every student in cultural understanding before movement, and guiding them through three distinct island styles.
How We Teach
Class Structure
Every class is 55 minutes and follows the same thoughtful sequence — opening with cultural grounding, building technique across all three styles, then applying it in choreography.
Opening
Each class begins with a brief prayer and a cultural lesson — a story, history, or tradition from one of the three Polynesian cultures we study.
Technique
Students spend approximately 10 minutes on each style: Hula Hawaiʻi, Ori Tahiti, and Siva Samoa. Technique rotates so students build a strong foundation across all three forms.
Choreography
The final portion of class is dedicated to learning, practicing, and refining a choreographed routine — the creative and performance expression of everything studied.
The Three Traditions
What You Will Learn
Hawaiian Islands
Hula Hawaiʻi
Graceful, narrative-driven, deeply spiritual
Hula is one of the oldest and most sacred dance traditions in the Pacific. Through graceful hand and body movements, dancers narrate stories of nature, history, and the divine. Students learn basic footwork, hand gestures (hula hands), and foundational choreography rooted in the chant and mele traditions of Hawaiʻi.
Tahitian Islands
Ori Tahiti
Energetic, rhythmic, celebratory
Ori Tahiti is known for its energetic, rhythmically precise hip movements and vibrant costuming. It is a celebration of Polynesian life, fertility, and community. Students learn the foundational hip isolations, footwork, and arm patterns that make Ori Tahiti one of the most recognizable and joyful dance forms in the Pacific.
Samoa
Siva Samoa
Elegant, flowing, culturally profound
Siva is the elegant and dignified dance tradition of Samoa. It emphasizes flowing arm and hand movements, graceful posture, and the expression of faʻasamoa — the Samoan way of life. Often performed at family and community gatherings, Siva is an expression of respect, beauty, and cultural pride.
Come Prepared
What to Bring
Youth Participants
- Folder with papers
- Colored pencils
- Water bottle
Adult Participants
- Notebook
- Pencil
- Water bottle
Failure to bring required materials may limit participation in cultural education portions of class.