Author: Noelani Isabella Anderson

“Everything is 20/20 in hindsight,” they say – although the reference may no longer be widely used after everything the world has gone through so far this year. With respect to our live show, Zoom Out, and converting classes from in-person to virtual within a week, there were most definitely lessons learned. But with social distancing weaving its way into our lives with consistency, and perhaps longevity, the technology will continue to develop, and as educators, we will continue to adapt. Just as doctors take a Hippocratic oath to do everything they can for their patients, teachers do everything they…

Every year, after two semesters of acting, singing and dancing classes, Prince Dance Institute puts on an original show that includes all of the above. This year was the 13th annual performance, with Angel Prince as the artistic director of the school, and myself, Noelani Anderson, acting as the managing director. Each year the show is unique, and this year was no exception. However, in the past Angel has always been the visionary behind the storyline of the show, and this year, she trusted me with the plot creation (although she was still involved in every step). It was her…

Last Wednesday, the Kahilu Theatre was graced with an evening of dance by world-class performers under the artistic direction of the extremely accomplished Benjamin Millepied. A former professional dancer with the New York City Ballet, Millepied has extensive experience in the professional dance world, mileage that is reflected in the intentionality of his choreography. As a company, the L.A. dance project encompassed all the expectations one would have of a contemporary dance company; graceful, strong, purposeful, connected, powerful, and relevant, as well as humble. After each piece the dancers formed a straight line, gently bowed their heads in unison, stepped…

Did the movement move? Sitting between two accomplished choreographers at the Jacob Jonas performance last week, I found myself extra critical of the show. Had I sat in the aisle seat I was originally assigned, alone, with only my thoughts my observations of how the majority of the audience received the show, I may have been wowed, as many were. In listening to audience member’s reactions, their ooh’s and ahh’s, the explosive applause, the standing ovation, and the comments during intermission and after the show, it was clear that Jacob Jonas, the Company, left a stunning impression on their Kahilu…

As I walked in through the side doors of the Kahilu Theatre, on the Hamakua side of the building, I felt like I was walking into some sort of underground speakeasy. From outside, the Theatre appeared dark and uneventful, but once inside the sound hit me. I walked along the hallway, drawn to the melody of the song “Ex’s and Oh’s,” originally recorded by Elle King. This is one of my favorites of the contemporary covers the band Lorenzo’s Army has in their repertoire, and it lured me right on to the dance floor. Lorenzo’s Army has been playing music on the…

An evening at the Kahilu Theatre is always a treat. Familiar faces that you usually see in the supermarket, post office, or in the surf, abandon the civilian look for a classy moment out. Before you’ve even entered the theater, there is an air of celebration –the mere fact that we all get to be in this beautiful, historical theatre, in a upcountry, ranching town, on an island in the middle of the Pacific, enjoying the work of a world-class dance company – everyone was already having fun before the show even began. Deb Goodwin, Executive Director of the Kahilu,…