Background and Performing Experience
Mahealani Uchiyama has been a student of dance since her early childhood, raised within the discipline first of classical Ballet, and then of the classical hula tradition. She holds a B.A. in Dance Ethnology and an M.A. in Pacific Islands Studies from the University of Hawai’i. She has studied extensively with one of Hawai’i’s most honored hula masters, Joseph Kamoha’i Kaha’ulelio, and has performed with numerous multi-cultural dance ensembles, including the Jade Swallows Chinese Dance Company of Honolulu, Feti’a O Tahiti Tahitain Dance Company, ‘O Tahiti Nui ‘Ote’a, the Orinoco Caribbean Dancers and Drummers, the Suhaila Dance Company, FatChanceBellyDance, and the Woman’s Sabar Drumming Ensemble. She has had additional training and performing experience in Mohiniyattam (South Indian Dance) and Kathak (North Indian Dance).
In addition to her dance training, Ms. Uchiyama has studied and performs traditional Hawaiian music (chanting, ‘ukulele and pa ipu), Tahitian music, (various Tahitian percussive instruments such as the to’ere, tairi parau and pahu rima), mbira of Zimbabwe, and sabar drumming of Senegal.
Major Apprearances
During the past 23 years of her career, Ms. Uchiyama has appeared as a soloist or as a company director in the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival (1985, 1987, 1994, 2004, and 2005), the San Francisco Tahiti Fete (1984 -1989), the San Jose Tahiti Fete (1993 – 2005), the Merrie Monarch Festival (as a chanter for another group, 1986), the King Kamehameha Hula and Chant Competition ( 1987, 1988, 2004 and 2005), the State of the World Forum (1997), People Like Me (2003), the Heiva Celebration in Tahiti, French Polynesia (2004) , Ka’aha Hula ‘O Halauaola, Maui (2005) and Culture Moves Conference on Oceanic Dance in Wellington, New Zealand, (2005).
Choreographic Experience
As Kumu Hula, Ms. Uchiyama has choreographed literally hundreds of Hula and Ori, as well as composed dozens of chants and songs. Many of these dances have been presented as part of a theatrical dance-drama. Examples of these would include the Tahitian dance productions of “Hokule’a, Star of Gladness” 1996, “Tavake” 1997, and“The Black Pearl” 2001, and the Hawaiian Hula production of “Pele and Hi’iaka” 2004.
Productions
In addition to the Center for International Dance Annual Repertory Concerts (1994 – 2005), she has also produced the Hulalaule’a Polynesian Dance and Music Workshops (2002 – 2004). In 1998 she co-produced, “Diamonds, Shells and Amber” together with Carolena Nericcio of FatChanceBellyDance and Suhaila Salimpour. And most recently in 2005, she produced “A Walk by the Sea” a performance/ceremony of thanksgiving and healing, performed at ODC Theater in San Francisco.
Recordings and Publications
Ms. Uchiyama has produced a series of instructional and performance DVDs, CDs and manuals on the art of Hawaiian and Tahitian dance. Of these, the CD “Tatau” a collection of Tahitian music and drumming, has been received with high acclaim in Tahiti, French Polynesia. She was also the Executive Producer of the documentary “Black Pearl” a film which won top honors in the 2002 Berkeley Film Festival and was featured on KHET Hawai’i Public Television on May 17th, 2003.
Grants Previously Awarded
Ms. Uchiyama has been the recipient of a series of Grants from The City of Berkeley Civic Arts Commission (1994 – 1996) the California Arts Council Artist in the Schools Program (1987 – 1988), and the California Arts Council Multi-Cultural Entry Program (1998 – 2001).
Prizes and Honors Received
As the dierector of two competitive Polynesian Dance ensembles (Hui Pa Hula ‘O Leianuenue 1984 – 1989) and the KaUaTuahine Polynesian Dance Company (1993 – Present), Ms. Uchiyama has won numerous awards in dance, chant, singing and drumming from competitions throughout California and Hawai’i. The most notable of these include the San Jose Tahiti Fete (2003, 1st place music, 2nd place drumming and 3rd place ‘Ote’a),the King Kamehameha Hula and Chant Festival of Honolulu (1987 and 1988, 2nd place each, and 2004, 5th place), and the San Francisco Tahiti Fete (1985, 1st place solo Tahitian dance).
Teaching Experience
Ms. Uchiyama has presented lecture-demonstrations and workshops at Sonoma State University, the International Dance Theatre School, Citi-Center Dance Theatre, the Pacific School of Religion, and the University of California at Berkeley. She has also taught courses in Polynesian Dance and Hawaiian Language at Chabot College of Hayward, California, and was instructor of Hawaiian Language at Stanford University, (academic year 2001 – 2002).
Present Employment
She is the founding and current director of the Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance in Berkeley, California.
Recent Activities
Ms. Uchiyama has served on the panel of adjudicators for the 2005 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.
A List of Most Recent Work Presented
“A Wish” Center for International Dance Annual Repertory Concert, 2003
“Na Hiti Na Manu ‘Erua” (complete performance) – San Jose Tahiti Fete 2003
“Dance in the Key of Life”, Center for International Dance Annual Repertory Concert 2004
“Na Hiti Na Manu ‘Erua” (adapted for festival performance) San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival 2004.
“Tahiti Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” – San Jose Tahiti Fete, 2005
“A Walk by the Sea” – ODC Theater, San Francisco, 2005
