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Commissioned by Asia Society and MaYi Theater in partnership with DiverseWorks 
From the Artists Approximate running time: one hour and fifteen minutes without intermission. Unauthorized photography and audio/video recording are prohibited. The songs featured with hula choreography are both original compositions done in the kahiko style. 'Ala Anuhea is an award-winning song written by Robert Cazimero and Kahikilani by his former student Palani Kahala. Voiceover credits: Video credits: Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center Japanese American National Museum for use of excerpts from Plantation Roots segment of Bento to Mixed Plate, Bob Nakamura/Karen Ishizuka, producers. Stephie "Sky" Yim from family home movies. We met on one island, Manhattan, and discovered we were both born on another, O'ahu. Roberta was a haumana in a class in New York City where Keo was assisting hula instruction with Michelle Akina. We discovered that we shared backgrounds in the theater. Then, as Hawai'i people do, we got together to talk story. Even though one of us had been raised in Hawai'i and the other in California, our stories and experiences intersected. We both found that landing in New York (possibly the most culturally diverse city in the world) our Asian Pacific culture so prevalent elsewhere, was surprisingly unknown. We both had experienced comments, not just from Haole, but from other people of color, and even Asians about being from Hawai'i or dancing hula: "How exotic!" Making this piece was a way of thinking about landing in different locations and having the capacity to embody several cultural experiences simultaneously. From the beginning, we didn’t want I LAND to be a tourist guide to hula nor to claim there is one Hawaiian identity. We wanted to reach beneath the surface, without completely revealing the kaona, the multiple, hidden, or deeper meanings underneath. A note about the dance. We were blessed to work with two collaborators, the legendary kumu hula and recording artist, Robert Cazimero; and the pioneering B girl, Rokafella. Cazimero’s choreography for I LAND is innovative new choreography within the kahiko or ancient hula tradition. This is immediately apparent to those familiar with the genre’s vocabulary, but since this play is landing in Manhattan, should be mentioned. Finally, here are some things to think about: 'Olelo Hawai'i, the Hawaiian language, had nearly been decimated by the 1950s. Following the 1970s Hawaiian cultural renaissance, today, over 27,000 report they speak Hawaiian at home. A new generation of fluent speakers have grown up in Hawaiian language immersion schools which educate children age 2 to high school. Because of the high cost of living in Hawai'i, more people of Hawaiian descent now live on the mainland than in Hawai'i. In the 2000-03 census data, the Bronx registered the largest numerical increase in Pacific Island migration in the country. Take a look at the halau list on mele.com—the hula diaspora exists, throughout the U.S., not just in California and Alaska, but in states like Idaho, Alabama, Arizona, and Montana. Internationally there are over a hundred halau in Mexico alone, not to mention Japan, Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, etc. Imagine a hula nation—what would it be like? —Keo Woolford and Roberta Uno, co-creators, I LAND AsiaSource Interviews with Keo Woolford and Roberta Uno Special Thanks to the Howard Gilman Foundation at White Oak for two creative residencies and to Reggie Cabico, Kwikstep, and Marc Barnuthi Joseph for creative input. Thank you to H.T. Chen, East-West Players, Ellen Stewart, Mia Yoo and Billy Clark, Andrea Passiotto, Halau Na Kamalei, June Tanoue, Michelle Akina, Janu Cassidy, Nersa Miller, Lisette Flanary, Christian Marquez, Sumi Omatsu, Kimo Gerald, Andrew Condron, Kiku Uno, Chinua and Mikiko TheIwell, Natusko Ohama, John Esaki and the Japanese American National Museum, Laith Nakli, Stephie "Sky" Yim, Chanel Hirai, Ainokea Hawai'i. I LAND was made possible with the support of the Doris Duke Fund for Dance of the National Dance Project, a program administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, JP Morgan Chase Foundation and MetLife Foundation. I LAND is a co-commissioning project by DiverseWorks, The Asia Society, and Ma-Yi Theater and the National Performance Network Creation Fund. The Creation Fund is sponsored by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, Altria, and the National Endowment for the Arts. I LAND was made possible with additional support from the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation. I LAND is a commissioned project by The Asia Society and Ma-Yi Theater in partnership with DiverseWorks, with a generous contribution from the National Performance Network Creation Fund. The Creation Fund is sponsored by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, Altria, and the National Endowment for the Arts. "A`ohe i pau i ka halau ho`okahi."
Glossary of terms Hula kahiko – Ancient or traditional style of hula Ipu heke – Gourd drum with a top section Haole – A common, everyday term to mean Caucasian Mahalo – Thanks, gratitude Kumu Hula – Kumu Ku`uleialoha Stillman says, "A kumu hula is a foundation for hula. The term 'kumu' means 'source' or 'foundation'... and reserved for those who had mastered an understanding of how hula needed to be carefully maintained, presented, and passed on from one generation to the next…who had undergone extensive training that culminated in an `uniki graduation ceremony." Hula Halau – Formal hula school Ka`o – Basic hula motion. Like all hula movements, interpretation varies between different schools. Kalua Pig Plate Lunch – A popular Hawaiian dish; pig baked in a ground oven, two scoops rice and macaroni salad Kukui Nut Lei – Garland made of polished candlenuts, worn by men and women in Hawai`i, a trendy fashion accessory of different colors in New York Kahili – Feather standard, symbolic of royalty Uprocking – An original Hip-Hop dance style done by two dancers characterized by aggressive gestures and syncopated floor drop movements. Breakdancing – An original Hip-Hop dance style characterized by floor movement, spins, and poses done to break beats (the percussion section of a song). Some references for further information: Mele.com © 2007-08 Asia Society. All rights reserved. |
