Halau ‘Ilima o Pololika-Celebrating One Year Anniversary

Aug. 1, 2012 - PRLog -- Halau ‘Ilima o Pololika, shortened for full name Halau Pulama Mau Ke Aloha Ka ‘Ohana ‘Ilima Pololika, meaning Florida hula school to cherish and perpetuate always with love the family `Ilima , is one of the fastest growing dance schools in Brevard county.  The hula heritage and traditions of Honolulu's `ILIMA of na Kumu Hula Luka and Louise Kaleiki were planted in Maryland in 1975 and now, Halau `Ilima O Pololika is a rootlet of ‘Ilima Studios in Honolulu as well as sister rootlet Halau in Colorado. Under the instruction of Christina Sulfridge (also known as Chrissy Sulfridge) with over 30 years of Hawaiian dance and Polynesian dance experience, Chrissy has a passion for teaching and spreading the Aloha Spirit with others.

Dancing since she was a small infant, the traditions and cultures of the Hawaiian and Polynesian people have always been a huge part of Christina’s life. It all began in the late 1960’s when her Aunty Kas moved to Hawai’i. There she began her studies at Halau ‘Ilima Studios. Aunty Kas was invited to and performed at the Merrie Monarch Festival in 1974 which is Hawai’i’s largest hula dance festival and competition. Not long after her experience at Merrie Monarch Aunty Kas returned back to where she grew up in Maryland. She then began sharing what she was taught in Hawai’i and started teaching her sisters and friends. Auntie Kas opened Halau ‘Ilima in Pasadena, Maryland in 1975 which was the first Halau ‘Ilima on the mainland.

Chrissy recalls, “I was just an infant when Aunty Kas began teaching my mom. They tell me that I would never make a sound and never interrupt class. Once I began walking, I would stand in line with all of the adults and follow along. By the age of 2, I began show dancing!”.

Throughout the years Chrissy attended many seminars throughout the US from many different Kumus (Polynesian dance teachers) and danced in hundreds of Hawaiian and Polynesian shows. In 1992 she was invited to compete in the first World Hula Competition held in Honolulu where she competed as a soloist and as part of a Halau (school).

Chrissy moved to Brevard County two years ago with her family, husband CJ and two children from Pasadena, Maryland. She began teaching classes at the community center in Palm Bay.  Starting with one student named Joanne Russo and then soon joined by another named Debbie and so on, the roots of Halau ‘Ilima o Pololika were born. In time Chrissy met many others who shared the same love of the Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures in the area as she did. After many months of consulting with her teachers and traditionally asking permission to start a Halau (school), Chrissy began Halau ‘Ilima O Pololika on August 3, 2011. Classes were first held at the POW MIA building on the Banana River near the Pineda Causeway in Melbourne. After 2 months, she knew that she needed to find a permanent “home”. In November 2011, she opened the doors of the studio in Satellite Beach located at 716 S. Patrick Dr. One year later they have a total of 39 dancers of all ages including 4 Kane (men), 21 Wahine (women) and 14 Keiki (children both male and female).

“After living in Hawaii for many years and then relocating back to "the Mainland" I was looking for some way to capture the feeling of being in Hawaii. I was looking for more than a class, I was looking for a feeling and a connectedness with others who loved the music, the dances, the culture, and most important the feeling of Ohana (family). When I found Chrissy, I knew she understood this as well. Even though I was her first (and only) student, I knew that when others got to know her and learn from her, that I would not be her only student for long. I have watched both the Halau and Chrissy grow in numbers but more importantly I have watched all members grow as an extended family. All ages, abilities, ethnicities, and variety of individuals are welcomed. In fact this is the very nature of what makes it work.” says Joanne Russo of Halau ‘Ilima.

Halau ‘Ilima has already taken many large leaps in the short year that it has been in Brevard. On August 25th and 26th Halau ‘Ilima was invited to and performed two performances, Kahiko and Au’ana as a Halau at Ho’ike in Orlando which is Florida’s largest hula dance competition and festival. Earlier this spring they hosted a Luau with the Hawaiian band Island Breeze on location as well as a performed a show at The Great Outdoors in Titusville. They have performed at many other outings, hired for private parties such as Roy’s Restaurant in Orlando and have performed at Patrick Air Force Base with many more events to come.

Through Halau ‘Ilima O Pololika, Chrissy’s goal is to share what has been graciously shared with her. She is so thankful for the knowledge of the culture and traditions of the Hawaiian and Polynesian people that were taught to her, she feels that she would not be herself and must share it with others. She thrives to keep the cultures and traditions as pure as she can and teaches others to not only love to dance, but to understand the meanings, language and history. Chrissy thoroughly enjoys sharing Aloha!

Halau ‘Ilima o Pololika offers a variety of traditional Hawaiian dance and Polynesian dance classes at their studio located at 716 S. Patrick Dr. Satellite Beach, FL including Tahitian dance and Hot Hula with more to come. They are the first to ever offer a Tahitian Dance Workshop in Brevard County where Auntie Joelle, a world renowned Tahitian Dancer is flying from French Polynesia (Tahiti) to teach Tahitian Dance for two days on August 25th and 26th  at the David R. Schecter Community Center in Satellite Beach.   This is not only a first for a dancer of Auntie Joelle’s caliber to come to Florida to teach, but a first for Brevard County as well.  Halau ‘Ilima  would like to invite anyone who is interested in learning Hawaiian and Polynesian dance in Central Florida and the surrounding areas to join us for this amazing event.  

For more information about Halau ‘Ilima O Pololika or this event, please visit our website: http://www.BrevardHawaiianDancers.com, or contact Christina Sulfridge by phone: 321- 557-0606 or email: uluwehi11@yahoo.com