How to hula dance for kids video


Learn How to Hula Dance! | How to Hula Dance for Kids

SHARE THIS:

Famous for its sandy beaches and warm weather, Hawaii is a tropical paradise. Part of what makes Hawaii so special is its rich island culture. Hawaiians have their own traditions, language, and even their own dance form called Hula. Hula is a graceful art form that is danced to the words of a song (mele) or chant (oli). Ancient Hawaiians danced Hula to tell stories about their history and to celebrate the beauty of nature. But you don’t need palm trees to enjoy Hawaiian culture. Get ready to move your feet, swing your hips, and learn to dance the Hula with Little Passports! With a these easy-to-learn dance moves, you and your little ones can bring the beauty of the islands right to your doorstep.

Step-by-Step Hula

Move your feet!

Stand facing forward with your feet hip-width apart and bend your knees. Step 8 inches to the right. Bring your left foot to meet your right foot, keeping your left foot slightly off the floor, and tap the ground once with the ball of your left foot to complete the move. Repeat, taking another step the right, bringing your feet together, and tapping the ground with the ball of your left foot. Now go back the way you came! Step to the left, bring your right foot to meet your left and tap the ground with the ball of your right foot. Repeat this move to the left again. That’s it! Continue to practice stepping two times to the right and then two times to the left until you feel comfortable with the footwork.

Did you know?  Hula is almost always danced barefoot.

Did you know?  Traditional Hawaiian instruments that accompanied Hula dances were made of shells, rocks, and even teeth!

Now add your hips!

Keeping the same pattern–two steps right and two steps left–try adding some hip movements. During the Hula, your hips should keep a gentle rocking or swaying motion–similar to the ocean waves! When you step to the right, lower your right foot toe-to-heel and lift your left hip up. As you bring your feet together, switch so that your right hip is up. Before your next step, sway your hips side-to-side. Repeat the same motion as you take your second step to the right. Remember to sway your hips side to side before each step. Now try this motion to the left: left foot toe-heel, right hip up, feet together, left hip up, rock hips side to side. Repeat. Make sure to keep your knees bent and hips loose as you continue to step and sway!

Complete the move with arm motions!

Extend your arms out to the side at shoulder level. Bend your left arm so your hand is in front of the left side of your chest and your palm is facing down. Your right arm should stay extended, with your elbow slightly bent and fingers together. As you take your steps to the right, move your arms in a gentle,  wave-like motion. Before your first step to the left, switch your arms so that the left arm is extended and the right arm is bent in front of the right side of your chest. As you take your steps to the left, continue to move your arms in a wave-like motion. As you move, keep your body relaxed and your shoulders still. Remember to switch arms every time you switch directions.

Did you know?
Hand and arm motions can be used to represent emotions or aspects of nature.

Add your own flair!

Once you’ve mastered this basic Hula dance, feel free to add some more moves from the list below to spice it up! Remember to use your face and eyes to tell the story of the song you are dancing to.

Ami: With hands on your hips, rotate your hips in a circular motion.

Ka`apuni: Keeping your hips moving in a circular motion like the Ami, pivot around the left foot and step slowly with the right foot around the left foot to complete a full turn.

Rising Sun Hand Movement: Start with your hands together at knee level. In a sweeping motion, move the arms outward and upward until they are above your head and fingertips nearly touch. Form the shape of sun with your arms extended over your head with your palms turned upward and your fingertips touching.

Uwehe: Standing with feet hip-width apart, step in place with your right foot. Keeping knees bent, lift both heels up off the ground in a popping motion, and then place them back down. Now step in place with your left foot. Do the popping motion again.

Hela: Starting with your feet together, point your right foot forward. Return feet together. Point the left foot forward. Bring your feet back together.

Love Hand Movement: With your palms facing your body, cross your hands in a X-shape on your chest to show embracing love.

Don’t forget to smile and have fun!

Learn How to Hula Dance! from Little Passports on Vimeo.

SHARE THIS:

Related Posts

Cozy Up to a New Tradition

Fireplaces and flannel. Cocoa and cuddles. Blankets and bunny slippers. What are your family’s favorite ways to get cozy?  With back-to-school behind us and the holidays ahead, we think October is the perfect time to pause that to-do list for some cozy family fun inspired by traditions around the globe. Hygge Fire Stories The world…

Coffee Love, Across the Globe

As mornings get colder and darker heading into fall, parents across the U.S. shiver out of bed and head straight for the coffeemaker. Did you know coffee is the second-most popular drink worldwide, second only to tea? The U. S. actually has a whole day to commemorate its java fix: National Coffee Day on September 29.…

Foods of the World Scavenger Hunt

While many of us aren’t traveling as much these days, we can still introduce our little ones to the smorgasbord of tastes, sights, and smells out there in the world. In honor of World Tourism Day, let’s take a mouthwatering tour around the globe with this fall scavenger hunt for the senses. India: Pumpkin Paratha…

MORE FROM OUR BLOG

Get Free Activities and Exclusive Offers

Enter your email

Blog Categories

Hula Dance How To

Home Hula Dance How To Hula Dancing Culture Hula Skirts Hula Dance Events Hula Dance News Contact Us

Are you ready to learn the fun art of Hula Dancing?

If you're looking to learn how to hula dance then you've made it to the best destination for learning how on the Internet!

You will find a selection of articles accompanied by video in this section that you can use in your quest to learn how to dance the hula.

Don't worry, these are much easier articles than you've probably found on the Internet and contained dances that make learning very simple.

You'll find basic steps all the way to routines matched up to one of the most classic Hula Dancing songs of all time.

Best of all, you will also find video sprinkled throughout the articles that help you visualize the hula as it's danced traditionally.  These videos are meant more as an accompaniement to show you the fluid motion of the hula dance.

The inforamtion in this section gives you all of the skills and guidance that you need to be dancing the hula in no time.

If you're ready for a fun filled afternoon, open one of the articles below and get started right now.

You'll see the descriptions of each article below so you can make a choice that goes with the skill level that you're at right now.   We've numbered each of the dances in what we believe are the easiest sequence to go in.

So if you're just getting started, try Hula Dance 1 for an easy to follow sequence to get you started.  After that, move on to the next dances to step up your skill level a bit.


    • Hula Dance 1 - Hukilau Hula Dance

      The Hula Dance Hukilau Style. One of the easiest ways to learn Hula Dancing from home! Easy Hula Dance

    • Hula Dance 2

      The second in our serious of Hula Dance instruction trainings.

    • Hula Dance 3

      A great way to learn the hula dance quickly and effectively.

    • Hula Dancing For Kids

      Hula Dancing For Kids. A Fun Way To Teach Your Children To Hula Dance!

    • Hula Dancing For Men

      Hula Dancing For Men. A Fun Way For Men To Learn How To Hula Dance!

    • Hula Dance Steps In Depth

      This is an in depth description of all of the hula dance steps that you may come to find.

    • Hula Dance Hand Motions And Gestures

      This is an in depth description of all of the hula dance hand motions and gestures.

    • Hula Dance Tricks

      Hula dance easier with these five helpful tips & tricks.

    • Hula Dancing Tricks

      Hula dancing made easy with these five simple tips & tricks.

    • How To Do The Pearly Shells Hula Dance

      How To Do The Pearly Shells Hula Dance.

    • How To Do The Lilo And Stitch Hula Dance

      How To Do The Lilo And Stitch Hula Dance.

    • Hula Dancing Luaus

      Hula Dancing Luaus - The Top 5

    • How To Do The Lion King Hula Dance

      How To Do The Lion King Hula Dance.

    • Become a Hula Dancer in Hawaii

      How To Become a Hula Dancer in Hawaii.

    • Hula Dance Videos

      Hula Dance Videos Make Hula Dancing Easy.

    • Hula Dance Lesson Benefits

      The Benefits Of Hula Dance Lessons.

You may have noticed that there are several other articles on this site about varios things such as the culture of the hula dance as well as hula dancing events listed that take place in Hawaii.  Make sure to take a look at these things because they will broaden your knowledge of the Hula Dance and give you more of a connection to the spirt of Hula.

Hula is something that's lived and felt rather than just danced as you'll learn in many of the article on this site.  The dancing portion is just the visual expression of the feeling inside.  I reccomend that you check out the Introduction or History article to get started.  

Hula Dance

Hula Dance Head Quarters - HulaDanceHQ.com > Hula Dance How To

Home Hula Dance How To Hula Dancing Culture Hula Skirts Hula Dance Events Hula Dance News Contact Us Privacy

Hawaiian dances for sexual forms (video)

The history of Hawaiian dances

Hula appeared long before the first Europeans landed on the Hawaiian Islands. In those days, the locals danced kahiko, an ancient traditional hula style. After the arrival of the missionaries (1820s), all Hawaiian traditions and even the Hawaiian language came under a ban that lasted half a century. In those years, much was lost in Hawaiian culture, but the families kept and passed on their knowledge from generation to generation until King Kalakaua came to power and the ban was lifted.

Under the influence of Western culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a new style of Auana (Hula Auana) appeared. It is this style of Hawaiian dance that is most widespread throughout the world. Hula-girls have become a popular romantic image along with the image of surfers and beach scenery in advertising booklets and souvenir postcards of Hawaii.

Why should you get to know Hawaiian dancing?

Firstly, because hula is a relatively simple dance, which means it will suit even those who last danced only at a children's matinee dressed as a snowflake or a bunny. At the same time, the hula cannot be called primitive - you just have to look at it! Each of the movements has its own meaning and is rooted in the distant past.

Secondly, hula exercises involve a good load on the whole body. “Dance actively works the muscles of the hips, arms and legs,” explains Anastasia Kaivi , founder of the Hawaiian Dance House Halau Hula ’O Kapuakea. - It's quite an energy-intensive activity. Amekan scientists conducted studies that revealed that in terms of the number of calories expended, a regular hula dance class is equivalent to basketball training. Another study has proven the usefulness of the Hawaiian dance for problems with the heart and as a way of rehabilitation after suffering heart attacks and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Add an emotional aspect to the lessons. Hula is the expression of feelings through movement. Each of them has a meaning, any gesture of the palm is a story or a living image. A hula dancer can tell you about the beauty of the island, about the weather, about life on Earth, using images of the sun, sea, mountains, earth, trees, rain, rainbows, birds.

“Each dance is a separate story: kind, cheerful, most often dedicated to the theme of love,” says Anastasia Kaivi. “Thus, doing Hawaiian dancing, you instantly immerse yourself in this mood, switch from problems and worries to a kind and gentle state that soothes and heals.”

We asked Anastasia to show us the basic movements of Hawaiian dance and a small composition of them that you can learn on your own.

[new-page]

Hawaiian dancing: how to build a lesson

* Be sure to stretch before class. “10-15 minutes of gentle stretching will be enough to work out the muscles of the legs, arms, and back,” comments Anastasia Kaivi.

* First master the individual elements of the dance : basic steps (we discussed them in detail here) and hand movements. Then learn the composition of these elements (we will show one of these in the video today).

* Drive smoothly. Hula does not imply sudden movements, each movement flows smoothly from one to another.

* Do not forget about emotions. “When you tell a story with dance, allow yourself to express it. And, of course, remember the importance of the Hawaiian smile!” - adds Anastasia Kaivi.

* Practice hula about 3-4 times a week for 20-40 minutes: this will make dancing an important part of your fitness regimen and will put you in a good mood!

Hawaiian dancing: video lesson

Don't be discouraged if your dance doesn't turn out so beautiful the first time. Be persistent and patient, everything will come with regular practice.

Hawaiian dance for girls - Moana Hula Studio

School of traditional Hawaiian dance "Moana Hula Studio" invites girls aged 6-10 to join the group for the smallest dancers.


Start September 16th!


Children will be taught both modern and ancient styles of Hawaiian dance. You will learn a lot about the culture of the Hawaiian Islands. Learn the language and history, play national instruments and the ukulele.

Hawaiian hula dance is very feminine and your girls will be real princesses! Amazing stories, the sound of the ocean, beautiful costumes and flower decorations, we have all this at our school. Teachers are constantly learning Hawaiian dances, both in Hawaii and in Europe.

If your little girl has ever dreamed of being the cute Lilo from the Lilo & Stitch cartoon or the determined Wayana from the cartoon about the Polynesian princess Wayana, she will love it.


There is also a group for adults!

The first lesson is free!

Record by phone: +380 (63) 911 07 26.