Hula in the Park - Libraries Rock!
A Summer Reading Presentation
by Terry Allen
June 13, 2018
Sublette County Libraries Summer Reading Program kicked off its six event program in Pinedale and Big Piney on Tuesday, June 12, with Hula in the Park.
The Happy Hula Polynesian Dance Group from Provo, Utah drove all the way here and performed dances from the Cook Islands, Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa and Tahiti.
Sublette County kids aren't shy, so when they were invited up to the gazebo stage it looked like someone opened flood gates.
I learned from one Mother in attendance that a Disney movie called "Moana" was partly responsible for the enthusiasm.
An anonymous Hula Girl in a gangster hat put a lea around my neck, so I fell right into the Hula mood.
Eden from Samoa, who appeared to be the eldest of the dancers, explained what the dances are about. "Basically, all the songs from Polynesia tell a part of the story of how nature works," she said. "They may be songs of waves, wind, the sun, birds, fish and even songs of love."
Cade was invited up to dance with the Hula Girls in a traditional dating/flirting dance of some kind and he was a good sport and I guess he did pretty good because when he finished and joined his buddies back in the crowd, he got a bunch of Hi-Fives.
I was stunned at the colors of the outfits the girls wore, the flowers in their hair and their graceful, expressive movements...so I shot a million photos. I wish I could have used them all, but this is just a small story.
When the event ended, the dancers invited everyone up to take picture of them and with them. I watched little kids literally leap into the arms of the dancers. They didn't want to leave.
I don't think I've ever seen performers and audience members become almost a single experience before. I had a smile on my face the whole time.
There are five more events during the summer. Geology Rocks!, Happy Feet!, Dazzle Dogzz!, Sandy Beach Picnic! and Harmonica Party!
Miss Michelle asks that everyone go to the library website and pre-register well in advance so they can plan for all the supplies and things they need ahead of each event.
www.sublettecountylibrary.org
Thank you to Dawn Ballou at Pinedale Online for sponsoring this story.
Terry Allen: txpartisan@gmail.com
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