"EchoEight"
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Facilitated by: Intercultural Roots (IR) and The University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (UHM)
Join UHM and IR for a performance of EchoEight, Intercultural Movement Workshops, and a peer-to-peer discussion related to Eco-Embodied Research between the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (UHM) Dance program instructors and graduate students with Intercultural Roots, taking place at The Place in London 6-7 April 2025. This programme is a continuation of the collaboration between the Department of Theatre and Dance - Dance Program, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, and Intercultural Roots which began in Honolulu, Hawaii at UHM in 2015. Through this partnership, we have embraced new methods that provide students and our dance communities with invaluable opportunities to experience diverse choreographies, performances, modalities, and workshops.

“EchoEight”: Intercultural Movement Workshops, Research Exchange and Performance

You are invited to participate in three unique movement journeys: Sami’s “Queer Dance” offers an expansive exploration of Ballroom, House Dance, and Street performance rooted in Trans, Lesbian, Gay, and Queer communities; Kara’s “Flow, Feel, Express” fuses contemporary dance with grounding yoga to deepen body-breath awareness and unleash creativity; and Alex’s “Yì Jīn Jīng” introduces a Taoist muscle-tendon-ligament qigong practice for releasing tension and boosting the flow of chi.

Faculty-Led Workshops – (20-minutes)
“Queer Dance” with Sami L.A. Akuna
“Flow, Feel, Express - Yoga in Dance” with Kara Jhalak Miller
“Yì Jīn Jīng” (易筋經 Taoist Muscle-Tendon-Ligament Qigong) with Alex Boyd

Next, immerse yourself for an hour in a vibrant tapestry of dance experiences led by five passionate teaching artists from Hawai'i, each bringing distinct cultural and creative perspectives to the floor. Hannah’s “Painted People” and “Mix & Match” weave Black artistry and multiple genres—from tap and jazz to hip hop and ballet—into fresh and dynamic ways of moving. Stephen’s “Koloa” and “Rooted” invite you to explore his Tongan heritage through a blend of traditional Pasifika dance and contemporary hip hop, grounding movements in ancestral legacy and the power of communal expression. Nani’s “-apo” and “Kinesthetic Awakening” harness Performance as Research to reimagine Filipino American culture through live performance and vulnerable, somatic contemporary choreography. Meanwhile, Anna’s “Act and React” and “Mixing Movement Backgrounds” fuse judo martial arts with modern and contemporary forms, encouraging dancers to draw on every facet of their movement histories. Finally, Jonathan’s “Beige: Mixing and Remixing Story Dance in Concept and Execution” and “My Body, Got Some Stories” infuse a Hawaiʻi-based Black diasporic lens into ballet’s storytelling tradition, sparking new expressions of community, artistry, and shared narratives. Join these classes to discover deeper connections, challenge your physical boundaries, and expand your creative voice.

Dance Classes (10-minutes)
Reflecting the current individual movement research projects from 5 post-grad UHM students:
"Painted People" / "Mix & Match" with Hannah Archer
“Koloa” / "Rooted" by Stephen Isileli Kolokihakaufisi
"-apo" / “Kinesthetic Awakening” with Nani Marcos
"Act and React" / "Mixing Movement Backgrounds" with Anna Quijano
“Beige: Mixing and Remixing Story Dance in Concept and Execution” / “My Body, Got Some Stories” with Jonathan Clarke Sypert

We recommend you also book for 7th April 6pm-7pm session: EchoEight – Performance, Discussion and Networking

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