Kahilu Theatre’s Spring Semester of Performing Arts Classes

The Kahilu Theatre will offer 23 classes during the spring semester of its Kahilu Performing Arts Classes program under the direction of Angel Prince.

Students will be able to choose from classes that focus on dance, theater, music and circus arts. Classes are available for all ages and abilities.

Ballet class at KPAC will be offered to students on Tuesdays.
Photo Credit: Sarah Anderson

The Spring Semester of KPAC begins on Monday, Jan. 16, and classes run weekly through Thursday, April 27.

The semester concludes with the Kahilu Production of “Dance of the Bees” on Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6.

“Dance of the Bees and 13 the Musical are Kahilu Productions and will source the majority of performers from our performing arts classes,” said Prince, director of KPAC. “It’s an amazing opportunity for students to study and perform on a world-class stage.”

Classes are held Monday through Thursday between 3 and 7:30 p.m. and are conducted on the Kahilu Theatre Main Stage and in the Mike Luce Studio.

The schedule for classes are:

Aerial Silks 1 & 2 | Kat Reuss
This class will teach you to fly! Starting with a partner, and later in groups practicing acro-balance and building pyramids, students then graduate to flying solo on aerial silks, eventually creating routines. Aspiring performers in the class will be invited to participate in our newly formed troupe and join us in local community shows.

Aerial Silks 3 & 4 | Victoria Roos
Picking up with Aerial Silks 1 & 2 leaves off, these classes requires two or more years of aerial dance. Aspiring performers in the class will be invited to participate in our newly formed troupe and join us in local community shows.

Keiki Dance | Elizabeth McDonald
Keiki Dance is a fun, energetic class that uses imagery, music, and shapes to get the young body moving. Students learn body coordination plus musicality and rhythmic awareness, improvisation, and basic dance steps in this class. This is a great introduction to the world of dance!

Contemporary 1 | Elizabeth McDonald
This is a stimulating and exploratory dance class that introduces classical and modern dance concepts. Contemporary 1 will move through a warm up of technique and body concepts, across the floor exercises, and dance games.

Contemporary 2 | Elizabeth McDonald
Combining the technique of classical training with the expansiveness of modern and jazz dance, this class will move through a through a warm up of technique, floor exercises, strength training, across the floor choreography and ultimately a final choreographic piece. The importance of axis, alignment, balance and musicality is emphasized in every class.

*Contemporary 2 students must take ballet 1.

Contemporary 3 (twice a week) | Angel Prince & Elizabeth McDonald
Combining the technique of classical training with the expansiveness of modern and jazz dance, this class will move through a through a warm up of technique, floor exercises, strength training, across the floor choreography and ultimately a final choreographic piece. The importance of axis, alignment, balance and musicality is emphasized in every class. This fast moving class also has opportunities for being part of the dance troupe, which performs in the community.
*Contemporary 3 students must take ballet 2

Trapeze Dance at KPAC. Photo Credit: Sarah Anderson

Trapeze Dance 1 & 2 | Elizabeth McDonald
Students will learn to use the trapeze bar and ropes to pose, invert, balance and drop into thrilling positions. Climbing, inverting, rolling and turning every which way on these apparatuses, students discover their center of gravity in many different positions. They will learn how to move from different positions with grace and ease while gaining strength and control. After growing comfortable with solo work, students learn to work in teams to build shapes in the air, turning them inside out and upside down. in poses that highlight both strength and flexibility.

Trapeze 1 – Beginners will focus on proper body position, muscle usage, basic positions, and basic balances.
Trapeze 2 – Students will learn more difficult skills, choreography, and artistry.

Hip Hop 1 & 2 | Mana Ho‘opai
This is a high-energy class that infuses the latest styles of street dancing, breaking, popping, and locking. Classes encourage students to step outside of the box and bring their individual style and personality to the movements. Each class emphasizes musicality, performance, and dynamics while motivating students to maintain a positive classroom environment.

Break Dancing at KPAC. Photo Credit: Sarah Anderson

Break Dancing | Mana Ho‘opai
Beginning with the breaking basics, this Break Dancing covers coordination and basic freezes to advanced holds. A positive attitude and classroom support help advance students to the next level.

Ballet 1 & 2 | Lynn Barre
Ballet focuses on alignment, posture and classical ballet steps. This class is an excellent work out in a fun, relaxed environment that begins at the barre, then moves across the floor, and finishes with center work.

Dance Improvisation & Choreography | Angel Prince
This is a fun and explorative class, which will use improvisation games as a tool to create movement, enhance creativity and prompt new ideas. Basic composition lessons will aid in creating one’s own dance in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Hula 1 | Leia Lawrence
Students will learn the basic hula movements along with some games and fun! They will chant, and dance to songs about nature.

Acting / Acting the Song | Beth Dunnington
This more advanced acting class will teach students a method acting technique that will be applied to monologues and scene study. Improvisation and theater games will be a feature of this informative, fun, and challenging class. In addition, students will learn techniques for working on and performing songs from musicals. Students will be welcome and encouraged to audition for the June Kahilu Production of 13: The Musical.

Circus Arts | Graham Ellis
Students learn to juggle scarves, balls, rings and clubs; spin plates; twirl a diabolo, or ride the impossible one-wheeled wonder machine – ‘the unicycle.’ Students that love to perform and play hard can join the super fun Kahilu Variety Players and run away with the circus!

Theatre Games | Noelani Anderson
This class will introduce youngsters to the world of theater through play. Expect fun, using voice and body and imagination! Students will be invited to participate in our newly formed troupe the Kahilu Variety Players.

Singing Simply | Val Underwood
This class is a vocal training course designed specifically for young singers of any level. Simple vocal technique will be presented in fun and easy to comprehend imagery. Participants will practice and build technique through both group and individual singing exercises and songs. Songs will be assigned appropriate to age and level. The understanding of the “Language of Music” (the building of basic musical skills) will be a side-by-side component of this class.

Backstage Tech | Paul Buckley
This class is a hand’s on audio-visual class for those who are interested in the backstage experience. You will learn the basic skills of lighting, set building, and various theatrical, performing art world skills. No experience needed to join this class.

For more information click here.