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May was Asian Pacific Islander and Desi American Heritage month and my students and I danced at thirteen events that shared the beauty, joy, and stories of hula with some 2,000 people (middle-schoolers, teens, elders, families).
It was music to my ears when I was contacted by the Latin School of Chicago requesting ‘authentic hula beyond the stereotypes’. They inquired about our hula school – and that’s the first request I’ve received like that in a long time. After performing for 30 minutes, a student told our contact, “That was low key fire.” I smiled as the high praise told me the true spirit of hula had come through to them.
Ruben Hanohano aka Nani Kealoha, one of my students, was in the recent show, “Cher the Love” with the Chicago Gay Men’s Choir. They performed at Chicago’s premier dance and song venue: the Harris Theatre. And it was a wonderful performance! Ruben was a fantastic Cher! As a teenager, I remember watching the Sonny and Cher show and especially loving Cher. She's 80 years old now.
And now it is June – my favorite month! June is when summer bursts: flowers are everywhere; trees wear their finery of lush green or dark red leaves; wild squirrels, rabbits and chipmunks scamper and chase each other. As I walk in the forest preserves or parks, birds chirp everywhere. The sound settles into me the way the ocean does in Hawaii.
My Zen practice is about appreciating every moment: when I’m making a presentation, when I’m walking in nature with my husband, when I’m sitting still and just breathing. The harder part is connecting in those moments when I’m not in accord with someone. It’s good to open to discomfort - not to “fix it” right away – but just open to how I’m feeling and then breathe. To remain open to difficult moments when I’d rather close down. That’s interesting and takes practice. It keeps connections open.
So here we are, in this moment. There is no other place to be. The practice is simple - to keep opening - to the beauty, to the discomfort, to the encounter, to the parting.
This is the dance.
This is Zen.
This is the precious connection that sustains us.
Malama pono (take care of body, mind and heart),
June Kaililani Ryushin Tanoue
Kumu Hula, Roshi
P.S. Recently at our Zen Life & Meditation Center:
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Indra's Net Celebration: https://youtu.be/p123vZ3aNXU
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June Tanoue, "Escape this Crazy Life of Tears" https://youtu.be/CT1q_XDN92Q
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Juri Sekiguchi, "Stunning Beauty: Mother's True Love" https://youtu.be/8QEPrqxw4qw.
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Kelly Good: "Practice" https://youtu.be/xKaFgSn5Bgc
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