As you may or may not know, I have been a long-time Polynesian dancer. I didn’t say I was a GOOD dancer, but it’s been a hobby of mine since the summer before I started high school. Throughout my early adolescent years, I was in the Polynesian Club in school and even finished high school as its co-president, weird. There’s just something beautiful about the movement, the meaning behind the dances, and the culture it represents.
In addition to the club, a few of my closest friends and I were a part of a small, family-owned and operated performance group, Pacific Island Dancers (PID), where we would dance at people’s parties, weddings, showers, and family events. Every summer I still come back to do shows with them. On a busy weekend we can get up to 3 shows! PID is such an amazing family and that’s been a reason why I love to dance so much. It’s good because it’s great way for me to relax and de-stress…and I don’t exercise so much.
After high school and throughout college I joined the group “Varua Hae” based in Buena Park. Melinda and I danced with them for a couple of years. It was actually on the carpool rides with Martin to and from this particular dance group that we started talking. Martin used to carpool with another friend, and if it wasn’t for this good ‘ol friend moving and not being able to carpool anymore, Martin and I wouldn’t have gotten so close. (Thanks John Lee!) That’s really where our relationship grew. However, after my sophomore year of college, I slowly started to get busy with school, work, church, and other activities to the point where I just couldn’t fully commit to the group.
Anyway, throughout these last few years, Varua Hae, (now Te Varua Ori) always had a special place in my heart. When we found out that they were going to compete in Tahiti this summer, we just had to come along for the ride. After all, Martin and I do owe a lot to the group :]
So after months of planning the time’s almost here. We’re leaving this weekend!
And I’m so excited I can’t contain myself.
Here’s a lovely video to give you a picture of what we will be doing next week:
