SAN FRANCISCO, CA (August 4, 2016) - Today, Kumu Hula Patrick Makuak?ne and his award-winning dance troupe, N? Lei Hulu I Ka W?kiu, announced the company's return to the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre this Fall for four performances only (October 15-23) ofThe Natives Are Restless, a thrilling new reiteration of the troupe's iconic show that originally premiered in 1996. A full-length, multimedia production with several of the original groundbreaking numbers, The Natives Are Restless will also feature 15 new choreographed pieces, as well as live music provided by music duo K?paoa. The Natives Are Restless will play four performances only at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts (Bay & Lyon Streets). The performance schedule is as follows: Saturday, October 15 at 8 p.m., Sunday, October 16 at 3 p.m.; Saturday, October 22 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, October 23 at 3 p.m. There is a one-hour family matinee designed especially for children and families scheduled for Sunday, October 23 at Noon. There will be an opening night champagne reception immediately following the performance on Saturday, October 15, as well as a benefit gala L?'au and silent auction on Saturday, October 22 at 5:30 p.m. Single tickets range in price from $35-$45 and are available through City Box Office at 415-392-4400 or online at cityboxoffice.com.
Known for their trademark
hula mua - which brings the ancient Hawaiian dance form into the modern realm by setting traditional hula movements to decidedly non-Hawaiian music resulting in a theatrical experience that is visually captivating and culturally rich - as well as
hula kahiko - the traditional pre-Western style of Hawaiian dance -
N? Lei Hulu I Ka W?kiu has garnered critical and audience acclaim throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
The Natives Are Restless explores the interlocked issues of imperialism, sovereignty and occupation in Hawai'i and showcases Makuak?ne's innovative choreography. It also examines Western influence and impact on the Hawaiian Kingdom-from the arrival of the missionaries, to the oligarchy which overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy and the native resistance that galvanized an entire nation. Makuak?ne's multimedia show is sure to be an immersive, captivating and at times disturbing piece of dance theater Illustrated through the use of traditional and progressively modern hula, chanting, storytelling, music, video and imagery.
"Two decades later after its premiere, more than ever, the natives are still restless," says Makuak?ne. "With a clear understanding and a radical departure from conventional history and a robust revival of traditional customs, native Hawaiians are taking steps toward self-determination with powerful agency. A recent renaissance of knowledge has aligned with the cultural renaissance of the 70s and is providing an informed and reassuring future."
Performances of Na Lei Hulu's
The Natives Are Restless are timed to coincide with the launch of a new coffee-table book co-published by Na Lei Hulu i ka W?kiu and SparkPress entitled, "
The Natives Are Restless: A San Francisco Dance Master Takes Hula into the 21st Century". Written by Hawaii-born, San Francisco-based journalist
Constance Hale, "The Natives Are Restless" is an innovative, first-of-its-kind coffee-table book exploring the rich ethnic dance tradition of Hawaiian hula. The stunning book's text uses Makuak?ne - a visionary in the hula world - to tell the largely untold story of hula, examining how it has roared back as an authentic art form after two centuries of overt suppression, benign neglect, and tourist cliché. In addition to its rich narrative, the book features extraordinary photography, archival material, and illustrations. "The Natives Are Restless" will be released on
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 and will be available in bookstores, on Amazon, and through Na Lei Hulu i ka W?kiu.
For high-resolution photos for
The Natives Are Restless, please click
HERE.
Photo Credit: Lin Cariffe
About N? Lei Hulu I Ka W?kiu
Founded in 1985, N? Lei Hulu I Ka W?kiu ("the many feathered wreaths at the summit, held in high esteem") is committed to teaching and preserving the Hawaiian culture through hula. It has a performance group of nearly 40 dancers and offers classes to students in the beginning and intermediate levels. The organization holds educational workshops throughout the year in Hawaiian language, history, and arts and crafts. The company has performed in locations throughout California, and in New York, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Honolulu. For further information on N? Lei Hulu I Ka W?kiu, call 415-647-3040 or visit naleihulu.org.
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