Want To Hula?

Thoughts of Hawaii conjure images of gorgeous beaches, lush vegetation and of course hula girls.

Land O’ Lakes residents Portia and Pete Seanoa know a lot about Hawaii and the hula.

The couple has traveled the world putting on Polynesian dance shows with dances from Hawaii, Samoa and Tahiti. She has spent the last 50 years teaching people and her husband has been a fire dancer for just as long.

When the couple moved to the area two years ago, it was to retire and help her son with his new baby. But, Portia decided that just sitting around was not her idea of a good time.

Instead she started a Polynesian dance class at the , 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., every Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m.

“I started as a hobby and to lose weight in 1963,” Seanoa said. “Then I tried out for a group in Huntington Beach, where I lived at the time. They hired me on for summer shows and then when everyone left to go to college, I stayed on and took over teaching the new girls.”

Polynesian dancing is not just a form of entertainment, Portia said. It also tells a story.

“It was their way of passing down their history,” he said. “The dances were passed down from generation to generation. I like to keep the dances culturally correct, but also keep it entertaining. I like to make it glamorous so it stays exciting.”

No prior experience is necessary to learn the dances.

“It something fun that women of all ages can do,” Portia said. “I think people will have a good time and get some exercise. I will start of with the easy stuff. I will teach the songs and explain the story behind each one. I am hoping to have a demonstration at the end of the eight-week class so everyone can show off what they learned to their friends and family.”

In addition to learning about the dances, Seanoa plans to teach a little about the culture in Hawaii. She taught Polynesian culture at Huntington Beach Arts Center in the past and she has visited there many times since her husband is from Samoa.

“I studied and visited Hawaii,” she said. “Hawaii represents romance and relaxation, nature and love. People are drawn to that. It also has a spiritual feeling for many people. It is a different experience than any other place I have been. The people there are so down to earth.”

Seanoa started Tiare Productions in 1965. She and her husband were able to tour around the world.

“We started doing house parties and performing at the Elks Clubs,” Portia said. “Everything kept growing through word of mouth.”

The couple put on the South Sea Dreams tour in 1979 where the dance group put on three-hour performances in 19 cities in 21 days.

“I am glad I had the opportunity to get out and see the world,” she said. “I know hundreds of different songs. I like the traditional dances because it is practically a lost art. Owana is the modern style of dancing, Kahiko is the ancient style.”

Mike Walcott, recreation supervisor at the community center, said he wanted to have the class because it sounded like a good idea.

“It is a unique idea,” Walcott said. “We don’t have anything like that in any of our facilities. I thought it sounded like a fun class.”

For more information about the class, call 813-929-1229.