Hula from the Heart

Born and raised in the Hawaiian Islands, hula instructor and choreographer Leila Fernandez moved to Mercer Island last fall with an eagerness to share her passion for hula with others.

Following her dream to bring joy to others through dance, Fernandez founded Seattle Hula Productions last February, a company that offers lessons in beginning through expert level hula dancing for all ages. Although the company is new, Fernandez speaks of nothing but success and pure enjoyment stemming from the startup of her business. “When a group of hula dancers comes together, it feels complete. … We all come together to learn one thing: hula. That unites us,” said Fernandez.

Beginning at a young age, Fernandez learned traditional native dances from her mother, who operated Les'Lie Productions in Oahu, Hawaii. “I followed in her footsteps,” said Fernandez, who is very proud of her heritage. “Hula has not made a change in my life. Hula is a part of my life. There's a difference.”

Fernandez started dancing professionally at age 16, and two years later she began teaching and choreographing (sometimes jazz numbers) for prestigious Hawaiian companies. She has performed in Japan, Argentina, China and other areas of the world.

Hula, Fernandez described, is not an easy task. Tahitian dance requires patience, energy and physical strength. Most dances rely heavily on core and leg muscles. After just an hour of practice, a breathless student admitted, “I didn’t know you had to use so many muscles for basic steps!”

Most importantly, though, it’s about the harmony, and the connections dancers make with each other as they’re moving together. “I believe without Hula I would not feel whole.  It's not just teaching—it's the Ohana [Hawaiian for ‘family’]. … We share a natural bond.”

Fernandez holds classes every Friday in downtown Bellevue at 12015 NE 8th St. Keiki class, for children/youth, is held between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., followed by adult class from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fernandez welcomes walk-ins for $15 per session, but package deals are also available: 10 classes for $120, or 20 classes for $200.

And Fernandez has more plans. In February, she is hoping to present the Kamakana'akealoha (Gift of Love) Foundation to the public, a nonprofit organization funding and providing hula lessons and tutorial services for teens in underprivileged families. Through song, dance and education, Fernandez hopes to teach her students the importance of collaboration, group support and self-respect.

“I always tell my students: ‘Stand up tall and be proud of yourself, you are a hula dancer.’  In Hawaii that is something taken very seriously.  We should all be very proud of ourselves—no matter where we come from.”

For more information, visit seattlehula.com or contact leilahawaii@hotmail.com.

LAURIE MECKLING is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.