Hula Troupe Returns to Palace of Fine Arts Theatre 10/15-23

Kumu Hula Patrick Makuak?ne and his award-winning dance troupe, N? Lei Hulu I Ka W?kiu, are set to return to the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre October 15 - 23 with six performances of THE HULA SHOW 2011 - celebrating hula with an all-new body of work. Tickets are on sale now at 415-392-4400, or online at cityboxoffice.com.

THE HULA SHOW 2011 will feature an opening collection of dances created through collaboration between Makuak?ne and Puakea Nogelmeier, professor of Hawaiian language at the University of Hawai'i. Nogelmeier, a highly respected instructor, author, composer and translator, composed a suite of chants commemorating the historical and cultural bond between the islands and San Francisco. Choreographed by Makuak?ne and danced by N? Lei Hulu I Ka W?kiu, the chants honor the people, places and historical milestones that mark the two-century history in which Hawaiians and San Franciscans have engaged in cultural exchanges. Born in San Francisco, and raised in California and Minnesota, Nogelmeier moved to Hawai'i at the age of 18, where he has resided for the past 30 years. Makuak?ne was born in Hawai'i and has lived in San Francisco for over 25 years.

N? Lei Hulu I Ka W?kiu has earned critical and audience acclaim throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond with their trademark hula mua - which juxtaposes traditional Hawaiian hula with non-Hawaiian music. Equally popular is their hula kahiko - a traditional pre-Western style of Hawaiian dance. In 2006, Makuak?ne was honored with the Malonga Casquelourd Lifetime Achievement Award by World Arts West/San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival for excellence in ethnic dance. Most recently, the troupe won an Isadora Duncan Dance Award (The Izzies) for Best Company with their performance of Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (click link for video clip) at the 2009 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.

Dates & Details:
THE HULA SHOW 2011 will play six performances only at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts (Bay & Lyon Streets). Performances will take place on Saturday, October 15 at 8 p.m., Sunday, October 16 at 4 p.m., Friday, October 21 at 8 p.m., Saturday, October 22 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, October 23 at 4 p.m. As special guests, the Golden Gate Men's Chorus will perform an Islamic chant and two Indian Ragas during the October 21, 22 and 23 performances. A one-hour family matinee designed especially for children and families is scheduled for Sunday, October 23 at 12 p.m. There will be an opening night Champagne reception immediately following the performance on Saturday, October 15, as well as a gala benefit Lu'au and silent auction on Saturday, October 22 at 5:30 p.m. Due to construction at the Palace of Fine Arts, parking will be limited. For parking information, please visit naleihulu.org.

Ticket Info:
Ticket prices are $35 - $45 (reserved seating) for regular performances. All tickets for the family matinee are $10 (general admission). Groups of ten or more receive a 10% discount (does not apply to reception or gala). Tickets to the opening night Champagne reception (Saturday, October 15) are $90. Tickets for the gala benefit Lu'au and silent auction (Saturday, October 22) are $150 and a reserved table of ten is $1,500. Tickets are on sale now at 415-392-4400 and online at cityboxoffice.com.

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 a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization 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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