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DANCE STUDIO AND CLASSES
General Information 
Class Descriptions
Class Schedules
Enrollment Procedure
Program Details
The Barefoot Hawaiian Dance Studio and School conducts
classes of dance, music, and
other training in various
performing arts of the South Pacific, which includes
Hawaiian, Polynesian, Tahitian, and Samoan styles.
We are proud to own
and operate one of the rare minority of schools
in the Chicago area and the entire Midwestern United
States that specializes entirely in these arts. We have remained devoted to this
tradition for over 35 years and continue it today through
the training of over 150
students a year.
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The Barefoot Hawaiian Dance
Studio runs two different programs of dance classes.
Program one is our Dance Company Training Program.
This is a formal training program for the serious student
with the focus on learning the South Pacific dances as a
true art form with attention to precision, technique,
execution, and showmanship. Program two is our Summer
Hula Dance Class. This is an informal dance
class with the focus on having fun and learning basic hula
in a relaxed and casual setting. For complete
details of each program and more information that will help you select the track that
will suit you best, go to the Program Details section
further on this page. Regardless of your selection, you will be taking your lessons from a
Hawaiian and Polynesian dance master.
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Keiki
Wahine
Ori Tahiti
Professional
Specialty
Summer
Program
Following lists our various dance training divisions and
the primary class categories in the divisions. All
the divisions listed below, except for Summer
Hula, are within the Dance Company
Training Program. Summer Hula is the informal
program having a stand-alone dance class.
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| KEIKI
(children 3-15) |
| The Barefoot Hawaiian is proud to teach children Hula
and the
art of Hawaiian dance, and teaching young students is one
of our specialties. Our head instructor started at
age 3 herself and knows firsthand how much fun this can be
for children to learn a dance art. For our Keiki
classes, children are placed according to age. The
classes are designed for students of any skill level
within their age group.
The performances of our
Keiki at public shows is one of our biggest draws,
appealing to and providing great entertainment for the
entire family. The photos shown here is of our Keiki
performing on stage at our Midwest famous Wilmette show,
where we have been performing for more than 30 consecutive
years.
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KEIKI ONE
Beginning Hula in a fun and interactive class for children ages 3 through 7.
This class is open to both, boys and girls.
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KEIKI TWO
Children ages 7–9 take part in this full Polynesian
dance class which includes an introduction to Tahitian rhythms.
This class is open to both, boys and girls.
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JUNIOR KEIKI
Children 10–15 further their technique in this
advanced Keiki class.
This class is open to both, boys and girls.
This last stage in the Keiki classes prepares students
for entry into one of the adult classes where they will be
later placed according to their skill level. |
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| Wahine
For Fun (female adults 16 and up) |
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Wahine
These Barefoot Hawaiian dance lessons are for women
ages 16 and up.
The Wahine for Fun class offers a range of the Hawaiian dances
in a fun and hang-loose setting, yet with the discipline
that provide confidence to perform on stage. Many of
our Wahine dancers perform at our public shows and with
great appeal. Wahine for Fun is the perfect division for ladies
who wish to learn and perform but not commit to the rigors
of advanced and professional dance training. |
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| ORI
TAHITI |
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ORI TAHITI
The Barefoot Hawaiian offers a Wahine class focusing
strictly on Tahitian dance technique.
This is an advanced and challenging class designed for
ladies with previous Tahitian dance experience. |
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| PROFESSIONAL
DANCE DIVISION |
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The professional dance division
of the Barefoot Hawaiian Studio and School is the graduate-level
program in the world of Polynesian dance. These classes are
highly advanced in nature
and designed for the field of professional
entertainment. Training is both challenging and demanding, and
classes should be
attended by serious students only. Focus is on
perfection of technique and timing, precision and
execution of the dance, and on exhibition and showmanship,
all of which our clients expect from our professional
entertainers.
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WAHINE
This class is for women who wish to become professional
entertainers and for current performers wishing to advance
their skills.
Females interested in becoming performers for the
Barefoot Hawaiian should be attending these classes. All
current female professional performers of the Barefoot
Hawaiian dance company are required to attend the Wahine
class in order to retain their professional status and
regularly recertify their professional qualifications. |
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KANE
This class is for men who wish to become professional
entertainers and for current performers wishing to advance
their skills.
Gentlemen interested in becoming performers for the
Barefoot Hawaiian should be attending these classes. All
current male professional performers of the Barefoot
Hawaiian dance company are required to attend the Kane
class in order to retain their professional status and
regularly recertify their professional qualifications.
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| SPECIALTY
CLASSES AND INSTRUCTION |
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In addition to the standard and regularly scheduled
dance classes listed above, the Barefoot Hawaiian also
provides training in a number of select and specialty areas.
These include the following:
Dance:
- Maori Poi Balls (adults)
- Maori Poi Balls (Keiki)
- Samoan Fire Knife.
- Wahine for Fun Ori
The Wahine for Fun version of our Ori Tahiti, Wahine
for Fun Ori
provides Tahitian dance instruction in a milder form
with conservative dress. Suitable for women of all
ages.
- Intermediate Wahine for Fun
For the Wahine wishing to learn advanced skills but
without the rigors of or need to consider entering
into a professional division class. Suitable for
women of all ages.
Music:
Some of these classes may not run by a regular schedule and are
offered only at certain times based on the number and
progression of advanced students for which these classes
are available. Admission to some of the advanced
dance classes may be by
invitation only to advanced students of the dance company who have
demonstrated a proven proficiency in the Hawaiian and
Tahitian techniques.
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| SUMMER
PROGRAM |
| When
our dance company training program is on summer vacation,
we continue with a variety of informal classes during the
summer. The summer program is all about fun and are the only classes
we offer that is not a part of the Barefoot Hawaiian dance
company training program.
Anyone can learn
hula, and you will do so in a relaxed and informal
environment without need for previous training or
experience in any dance form. No high expectations
from students. No costumes or special equipment or
apparel needed. This class offers an excellent way
to introduce you to this beautiful form of dance.
The classes are comprised of 4 to 6
lessons:
one lesson a week over a 4 to 6 week period. It
runs when our formal dance company training program is on Summer
Vacation. Enrollment is informal and simple.
You simply download a flier with registration form from
this web site, fill it in, and return it with your class
fee. That is all there is to it. Look below under
the Class Schedule section for the class dates and the
downloadable form.
This classes may be offered to a
variety of age groups. See the summer schedule for
the age requirements of any specific class.
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The Barefoot Hawaiian Dance Studio and School runs its dance
company classes similarly in schedule to that of any
formal school
of education. The training year runs from Fall through
Spring and is divided into 4 quarters of 8 weeks each
(except for certain specialty classes denoted below).
Each
quarter offers a different curriculum of classes and
levels from which the student will be placed. Classes run evenings during the week from Monday through
Thursday and during the day on Saturday. The exact day and time depends on the
class for which you will be enrolling. The detailed
schedule along with tuition for each class is provided in the curriculum and registration
packet.
In addition to our regular dance company training year we also offer a summer program. The summer
classes are basic hula for adult women (age 16 and older) and are intended for fun
with the classes being more laid back and relaxed.
Enrollment for the summer programs is also much simpler.
Following is our current schedule for the 2007-2008
training year and the enrollment status:
- 1st Quarter
September 24, 2007 — November 17, 2007 (8 Consecutive Weeks)
This session is now over.
- 2nd Quarter
November 26, 2007 — February 2, 2008 (8 out
of the 10 Weeks)
(School is on holiday
break from December 23 - January 6)
This session is now over.
- 3rd Quarter
February 4, 2008 — April 5 2008 (8 out of
the 9 Weeks)
(School is on spring
break the week of March 23-29)
This session is now over.
- 4th Quarter
April 7, 2008 — June 7 2008 (8 out of the 9 Weeks)
(School is closed the for
the Memorial Day week of May 25 - June 1)
This session is
currently in
progress
Following is the 2008 Summer Vacation Schedule and the
enrollment status.
- Summer Hula
June 24 , 2008 — July 29, 2008 (6 weeks)
Registration is now open for
this class.
This 2008 Summer Hula class is a 6-lesson class,
1-hour each, running on 6 consecutive Tuesdays
beginning June 24. Cost: $68. Class runs from
7-8 PM. This class is for ladies age 16 and up.
Download
the Flier and Registration Form (32K)
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Note: If you are not yet completely familiar with our
dance studio and training programs, please first read the
Program Details section on this web page, before reading
about the particulars of actual enrollment.
Dance Company Students:
General Procedure for all Students
The enrollment procedure varies only slightly depending on whether
you are an existing student or a new student. In
either case, pre-registration for all classes and students
is
required. Once the class begins or becomes full,
enrollment closes.
For both existing students and new students,
enrollment for the new training year commencing in Fall
opens in late Summer. During this time there is an open
enrollment period whereby students must be admitted in
person. The dates for this open enrollment period
are shown in the above Class Schedule and scheduled
during the summer.
Although, general enrollment for the training year
occurs in late summer, specific class assignments are
made at the beginning of each quarter. Class
assignment and choices is determined between student and
instructor and is usually based upon the student's
progress and current skill level. Tuition for each
quarter is due before the start of each quarter
according to the tuition deadline date in the schedule.
Please note that there are limits on the class size,
and all classes offered through the Barefoot Hawaiian
Dance Studio always fill to capacity. Early
registration is recommended and encouraged.
Existing Students
A class curriculum and enrollment
packet is mailed (1st class postal) each summer to all current students of the Barefoot
Hawaiian Dance School. If you do not receive this packet
by the first week of August, let us know. We will get one to you
promptly. Also watch your email. Email
notifications as to when the enrollment packets will be
mailed are sent to all students with email addresses.
Student will complete the information section
of the registration form and the consent form and come to
the studio with the completed forms during the open enrollment
period. The purpose for the in-person
registration to get each student properly placed in his or
her appropriate class based on skill and advancement
level. Students under 18, must arrive with a
parent or guardian. Tuition for the 1st quarter is due at the time of
registration. Tuition for subsequent quarters are
due before each quarter starts by the date indicated in
the class schedule.
New Students
The Barefoot Hawaiian openly welcomes
new students to our dance company. If you are a new prospective student
interested in admission to the dance company and entering its
training program, please call us at 847-699-7336,
and we will
mail out a full curriculum and enrollment packet when they
are available for release each summer.
Upon receipt, complete the student information section
of the registration form and the consent form and visit
the studio during our open
enrollment period in the same way that existing students do.
Students under 18, must arrive with a
parent or guardian. The free, in-person consultation is to
ensure you are properly placed in a class appropriate for
your gender, age group, style, and skill level and exists
to ensure success and satisfaction with our
students.
Please note that we open admission for new students
for the 1st and 2nd quarters only of each training
year. Only existing students may continue on
with the training for the 3rd and 4th quarters.
This is to maintain the best and highest quality dance
training program for our regular student body and so
we can focus on more advanced training during the 2nd
half of each school year. If you are wishing to
join us as a new student, you must do so by the 2nd
quarter.
Summertime Hula Students:
Enrollment for the Summer Hula class is extremely
informal and easy. When the schedule for this class
is announced, a flier and registration form will be
available for download from this web site.
Look for the link to this downloadable form under the
class schedule. Simply complete the form and mail in
with the appropriate class fee to the Barefoot Hawaiian,
or stop by the studio or store and drop it off in person.
When received and processed, we will notify you with a
confirmation of your enrollment.
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Dance Company Training
The Barefoot Hawaiian is foremost a
Performing Arts Dance Company. As such, the majority
of our training is to students who our members of that company. Our dance students range in
age from 3 years all the way up to upper-aged
seniors. The skill level of our
students range from beginners all the way up to our
world-class professionals that perform at our top-flight
shows. In fact, everyone of our professional dancers
must maintain a regular and rigid training program as a
student in order to maintain their status as one of the
professional dancers in the company.
Many of our non-professional students are seen
demonstrating their skills by performing on stage with us at
our many public shows. These performances are extended to our
students by invite only. Performing on stage is not a requirement
to become a dance company student, but most accept the
invite when offered. Setting a personal goal to
perform on stage is usually the reason individuals choose
to join the dance company training program, and getting
the opportunity to do so is viewed as a major
accomplishment. Some continue on to become proficient enough to join our
cast as one of our professional entertainers. Our
professional dancers are paid performers. Only our
professional division dancers perform at private parties
for clients or clients hosting a public show, but wanting
only professional performers.
The dance company training program is
run just like any school of education with classes divided
into four quarters of 8 weeks each that run from Fall
through Spring. Enrollment into the training program
opens in
late summer and students are expected to attend for a
complete school year of all 4 quarters. Tuition is
paid on a quarterly basis and is due before the quarter
starts. Like any real school, there is an enrollment
and admission procedure, which is described in the Enrollment
Procedure section of this web page.
The training
provided in the dance company program is more advanced
than you will find available through the dance classes at junior colleges and most
4-year colleges. The Barefoot Hawaiian
runs the only hula and Polynesian arts dance studio in the Chicago area that provide a high level of training and
that instructs at
the professional entertainer level. We are one of
the few schools in the entire Midwest that specializes in
the Hawaiian and South Pacific dance arts.
The descriptions
provided in the Class Description section on this page,
except for the last, are for the dance company training
program. The portraits shown are of a small segment
of class photos of our students in one of their
performance costumes.
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Summertime Hula Class
Want to learn hula in a fun, relaxed,
informal environment? Then this is the class for
you.
No previous training or experience is
required. No high expectations from our
students. No costumes or shows. Just quite
simply a fun way to learn beginning hula and receive an
introduction to this beautiful form of dance.
This class ranges from 4 to 6
lessons, over a 4 to 6 week period and runs when our formal dance school is on Summer
Vacation. Unlike our dance company classes,
enrollment is informal and extremely simple. You
simply download a flier with simple registration form from
this web site, fill it in, and return it with your class
fee. That's all there is to it.
Many discover the fun of hula in this
class, so much so, that they continue onto enrollment into
the dance company classes. Currently this class is
available to adult women, age 16 and up.
Choosing
the Right Track for You
Your decision to become a dance
company student depends on your personal goals and
previous dance background. If you have little to no
previous dance experience but are strongly motivated to
learn hula and can make a commitment to regular class
attendance, then this program is for you. Once you
learn hula you can progress to Tahitian and other dance
forms.
If you are an individual with
experience and training in other forms of dance, and now
wish to commit to learning the South Pacific styles, then
joining our dance company program will provide you the
greatest reward.
For parents looking for dance
lessons for their children, we also recommend this program.
Our dance company program provides the structure that
young dancers need by which to learn; moreover, it provides a
discipline that serves the young minds well in many other
areas of their lives. At present, only our dance
company program has classes for children.
If you are not certain if
the dance company program is for you, consider first joining the Summer Hula
Dance Class. Then if you fall in
love with dancing hula, you may be able to enroll into the
dance company program the following Fall. The
summer Hula Class is also the best choice if you do not
wish to commit to the longer dance company training schedule, or if you have only a one-time interest in hula,
such as for an upcoming luau, a Hawaiian-themed wedding,
or other similar occasion or special event. |
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(Page Last Revised May 7,
2008)
WE ARE EASY TO FIND AND GET TO
The Barefoot Hawaiian Dance Studio and School is conveniently
located in the Northwestern suburbs of Chicago in Des
Plaines, Illinois
10 minutes from O'Hare International
Airport, and 5 minutes from both the I-90 and the I-294
Highways
Plenty of free parking. A map is available on our
Contact Us page - Quick
Link to it Here
The Barefoot Hawaiian Dance Studio
1401 East Oakton Street
Des Plaines, Illinois 60018
(847) 699-7336
All regular dance classes are held Monday through Thursday
evenings
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