Festival in Bettendorf shows variety of Polynesian dance

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By David Burke | Friday, June 15, 2007 11:43 PM CDT | () comments

From the slow, wave-like motions of a Hawaiian hula to the energetic frenzy of a New Zealand haka to rhythmic Tahitian drum dancing, there’s plenty to see at the Polynesian Dance Festival this evening at Veterans Memorial Park in Bettendorf.

“We wanted to do this to show all the contrasts, all the differences between each island,” said Maupenei Lelaulu, who is organizing the festival.

In its second year, the festival features 10 performers, including dancers who are natives of New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti.

“We’re bringing a bit of the South Pacific to the Quad-Cities,” Lelaulu said.

The Hawaiian hula, which most people are familiar with, is “slow, very surreal,” she said, “kind of breathtaking.”

The haka is a dance that has its origins in the pregame rituals of New Zealand rugby players and is directed toward their opponents, she said.

“They poke their tongues at them and do this chant to scare them. It’s become a dance that’s pretty famous if you follow rugby overseas,” she said. “That’s the only reason I go to rugby games because I hate to see the men hurt themselves like that.”

Lelaulu, a Davenport massage therapist, was born and raised in New Zealand with parents who are from Western Samoa.

The two-hour performance will include music from the Disney cartoon “Lilo and Stich,” which was set in Hawaii. Children will be invited onstage to perform after getting lessons prior to the festival.

“Kids always gravitate to dance. They’re not afraid,” Lelaulu said.

Likewise, there will be audience participation in a Polynesian hukelau, which literally means “fishing party,” where those in the crowd will be called onstage.

“We bring up all the hams from the audience,” Lelaulu said. “We dress the men up and make it fun.”

Last year’s festival was successful, she said, in the sense that several of the audience members became interested in learning how to perform the Polynesian dances.

“They’re like addicted to the dance because it’s so healing to dance,” she said. “It’s very healing for the body to move and get the circulation going.

David Burke can be contacted at (563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Polynesian Island Family Dance Festival

When: 4-7 p.m. today

Where: Bill Bowe Memorial Bandshell, Veterans Memorial Park, Bettendorf

How much: Suggested $5 donation

Information: (563) 322-8208