Hawaii Tribune-Herald Island Beat Thursday, December 15, 2016 11 Photo, courtesy of Hollyn Johnson of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald Doors open at 6pm Come celebrate the season with the Hilo Community Chorus accompanied by Walter Greenwood on the organ. Songs from Handelʼs Messiah, Songs of Hanukkah plus a fun holiday song sing-along! Advance Tickets: General - $10; Center Reserved - $15 $5 more on Day of Show 38 HAILI ST ~ HILO 934-7010 a production of this size takes a lot of effort. “It is impossible for one person (or even a handful of people) to do it all,” Woods says. “It takes many.” During the past 15 years, N2 Dance has produced more than 20 big concerts, each with a different theme. “We are always trying to come up with something new and different,” Woods says. “I have always thought that the ‘Nutcracker’ lent itself well to different genres of dance, but timing was just never right to put on the ‘Nutcracker.’” Last year, N2 dance had to skip its annual spring production because of other commitments. Woods promised her students they would do a production for the holidays instead. Expect to see many of the traditional “Nutcracker” characters in a new way: Clara, Fritz, the Nutcracker Prince, Uncle Drosselmeyer, the Rat King, toy soldiers, Queen of the Land of Sweets, Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles and the Sugar Plum Fairy. There also will be angels, snowflakes, as well as dancers from Arabia, China, Spain, Russia and Hawaii. Eleven-year-old Maya Polloi is performing in seven of the “A Christmas Dream” numbers and will be singing and dancing a variety of different styles. “This production is like little remix,” she says. “It’s a new generation of the ‘Nutcracker.’ There’s a lot of good choreography in this show that shows a lot of emotion. The music is beautiful, too. I really like to sing and dance. The combination makes me feel really good inside. Dancing makes me feel like I can do anything.” For Diana Roark, 17, dance has become an essential part of her life, even though she has been on the stage just five years. “N2 Dance is the first dance studio I’ve been with,” she says. “I felt like I just needed a passion and something to do in my life and I was interested in performing so I thought dance would be a good idea.” Roark quickly learned that dancing also is a big stress reliever. “It is my go-to when I’m sad,” she says, noting her bond with her fellow dancers is strong. Roark also is feeling more spirited this holiday season, due, she says, to this atypical holiday production for N2 Dance. “I’m very excited to show everyone what we’re working on because we put a lot of our own ideas and creativity into it, too,” she says. For Woods, performances like these are always a family affair. Her eldest son, Kekuahiwi, is in 11 “A Christmas Dream” numbers and does vocals, too. Her youngest son, Maluhia, also is dancing, and her husband, Maika, N2 Dance hip-hop instructor and assistant director, is playing Uncle Drosselmeyer. Kekuahiwi, 15, started dancing when he was just 2 years old. “It’s just part of who I am,” he explains. “I enjoy it.” Kekuahiwi says he was really excited when he first heard they were going to perform an adaptation of the traditional “Nutcracker” tale. “I thought it would be really fun to put a twist on it,” he says. “It’s going to be so different and interesting to have all that variety.” “A Christmas Dream” is a fundraising event for the N2 Dance Performing Company, which will attend a regional competition and dance convention in Honolulu in May. The performing company also does regular shows throughout the year at malls, care homes, community events and parties. Woods says they maintain a high standard for their dancers that goes beyond the talent they possess. “We commit to perform with our na‘au (heart and soul), and to have no limits on what we or our students can accomplish as we are continually reaching for perfection,” she says. “The high moral values are something that we push really hard as well. Our company dancers have a moral code of conduct that they need to abide by. This code includes things like not swearing, not drinking alcohol, not being ‘clique’ but making sure that everyone feels included.” Woods is hoping audiences enjoy this adaptation of the “Nutcracker.” “I can truthfully say that this will be the best show we have ever put on,” she says. “Island Dance Academy always does a really great job at their ‘Nutcracker’ production. We don’t mean to take away from what they do, but instead just add an additional Christmas show that families in the community can see. For us, this is just a onetime thing, and I believe everyone will really enjoy this variation on the classic.” Email Katie Young Yamanaka at BIVHawaii@ gmail.com. DREAM From page 2 N2 Dance classic What: “A Christmas Dream: Nutcracker N2 Style” Tickets: Pre-sale tickets $10 general admission, $5 for keiki ages 3-10 (2 and younger on lap are free). Tickets are $15 and $10 at the door. Purchase tickets at Kea‘au Natural Foods, Pahoa Used Books or at the Palace Theater box office from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday or by calling 934- 7010. For more information, visit N2-Dance.com. Courtesy photo Shown are, top, Zarah Paresa, Jhiro Calso and Kyra Grace; middle, Kekala Mantree, Diana Roark and Lacey Ray; bottom, Alexis Lopez, Kekuahiwi Woods and Maya Polloi.
ib
To see the actual publication please follow the link above