How to Hire Hula Dancers for a Luau

The crowning touch for your luau is a group of professional Hawaiian hula dancers providing the entertainment. The hula dancers will add that authentic flavor that will make your luau the most memorable party of the season!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Understand Hawaiian hula dance. Hula is a serious dance, not just party entertainment! Take some time to research the history of hula so you know the basics and show respect to the dancers you hire. Research hula at Hawaii History.

2. Decide what you want the dancers to do at your luau, including the type of dancing and the costumes you would like to see. Hula dancers can provide entertainment throughout the evening, and they can teach your guests hula or invite them to dance. Many Hawaiian hula dance groups can also provide their own music.

3. Find hula dancers in your area. Searching online is the best way to find hula dancers. Start by looking up halaus (hula schools) in your area at Mele.com. If you have no luck there, contact local Hawaiian or Polynesian cultural or civic groups.

4. Contact the hula dancers. Explain what you want to hire the group for and find out about pricing. Ask the group if you can view a taped performance and photographs of them in costume before you hire them. Some groups may also allow you to attend at least part of a practice.

5. Write up a contract. Include the time and length of the performance, and exactly what you expect from the dancers. Specify the compensation. The group may have their own contract, so ask before you write your own.

6. Provide a changing area and drinks for your dancers. Hula requires different costumes for different types of dances, and even for different songs. The dancers will need to change quickly, so a small cabana would be helpful. A cooler full of water will help the dancers refresh themselves between numbers.

7. Enjoy your luau! You are providing your guests with an experience that they are likely not going to forget.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want real hula dancing, hire a dance group that only performs Polynesian dances. Otherwise, you are apt to get performance hula. Authentic hula is much more exciting and will add a whole new dimension to your luau.
• Men dance hula, too, so don't be surprised to see a few men among the group you hire.

[Tumerica]

on 5/19/2008 This was ENORMOUSLY helpful to me. I had no idea where to start. The reference to mele.com was just what I needed. Thanks so much!