It is an extraordinary thing that this Hawaiian dance studio has made a living out of a tradition that dates back to the late 18th century.
It was the first dance studio in the world to be established, and in many ways its success has been built on a foundation of the traditional and the unexpected.
For more than 30 years, the Hāmala Dance Studio has hosted an annual after-hours dance residency.
The programme, hosted by Australian dance teacher and former international student, Rebecca Smith, has grown in scope and variety, offering dance lessons and performances in the community and at festivals.
This year the studio was once again a big draw for those attending the annual HAWAAIH Dance Festival.
This was despite the fact the festival is now a two-day event that takes place every year, in September and October.
While there were no problems with the weather this year, some of the festival’s organisers had some concerns.
The festival has also been plagued by safety issues in recent years, with a number of people dying at the festival.
However, the company’s manager, Emma Johnson, says the festival was an amazing opportunity to showcase the Hīmala studio to a global audience.
The after-the-hours residency program is a very personal thing for me.
It’s been an amazing experience for me and my family, and we’re very grateful for all the support from the community.
The Hāiāmā Festival was also attended by several of the dance community’s leading figures.
The following is a profile of some of them.
Dr David Gifford (who now runs the dance school, and is also the founder of the Australian Dance Institute) was the festival organiser.
He has been a long-standing member of the Hōkālau community, and his passion for the art form has been evident from the moment he was born.
He had a special interest in dance, as well as a keen interest in the art of storytelling.
He remembers when he was a young boy, the day he discovered the Hǵkūkalua music, which is the ancient Hawaiian name for the ‘after-hours’ dance.
As an infant he was taught to dance in the ‘Afternoon of the Dance’, and he would spend hours dancing.
Dr Giffords interest in music, dance and storytelling began at the age of seven.
He says his family had the privilege of living on the ‘Hawaiian Islands’ before moving to Sydney in 1963, and the family was well known throughout the community for its traditional Hawaiian dances.
In 1967, Dr Giffs wife, the late Linda, joined the Hʻōlau Community.
She also had a passion for music, and a passion to support and inspire the community as a whole.
In 1979, she married Dr Pauline Giffarts father, the acclaimed Hawaiian teacher and founder of Hākālaa Dance School.
Dr Paul Giffard was born in 1959 and died in 2008.
He is survived by his wife, Linda, son, David and grandchildren.
Dr Gifferson has always been passionate about the art and culture of dance, and was deeply involved in the production of his first series of films.
He first began teaching at age nine, and he moved to Sydney to continue his education.
As a young man, he was commissioned to work with the Hɔlau National Theatre, and this led to a move to London to become a lecturer.
In 1991, he and his wife moved to the United States to start their business, Dr Paulins Dental Clinic.
This is where they have built their international reputation, as a leading dental practice in Australia.
Dr Paulin is also survived by two daughters and a son, who is now employed as an orthodontist.
His daughter, Sarah, was also a leading dancer in Australia for many years, and she was a member of a dance team with the renowned Hōʻālaalu Dance School, which also featured at the HAAIKāH Dance Music Festival.
In 2016, Dr Gillian Johnson became the first female teacher of the Hawaiian dance programme, and has been instrumental in promoting and promoting the Hahaāmīh Dance Studio.
She has also had an active role in the cultural and social development of the community, through her support of various community events and programs.
On her birthday, in 2017, Dr Johnson said she would be giving a talk about the importance of cultural understanding and sharing, and what it takes to build a thriving community.
While she is remembered by many as a beautiful woman, her legacy will live on in the HHAITI, a traditional Hawaiian dance movement that began in the 1970s.
She has dedicated her life to promoting dance and teaching, and her message