Move to the Rhythm of your Culture

Pacific Bloom Polynesian Productions

Embracing the swaying wind through the island trees and the powerful cadences of unyielding tides, Polynesian dancing is art and action. Here along the shores of Alaska the Pacific Bloom dance group delivers more than just Hawaiian and Tahitian dance and culture. They pride themselves on inclusivity, teaching and performing dances practiced in Polynesia: Maori, Tongan, Samoan and Fijian. They even add a little bit of modern hip-hop to their traditional Polynesian ensemble.

"I love being exposed to all types of dances. I wanted to learn all cultures because my family is integrated with different ethnicities and I wanted to get the most experience from each ethnicity." – Anaiah, co-teacher at Pacific Bloom

Karilagan Folkloric Group

Traditional Filipino dancing mirrors the rich history and culture from the many islands of the Philippines. The Karilagan Folkloric Group practices this diversity. Their dances are influenced by a mix of cultures: Native, Spanish and Muslim. The group is careful to maintain authenticity in form and attire. Started by Leticia Tadina, they've been dancing together for 11 years, performing at events all over Anchorage.

"We don't want to just tell our children our culture. We want to show them by teaching them the traditional dance of our people." – Hennie Aquino, Choreographer at Karilagan Folkloric Group

This article was originally published in 61°North – The Arts Issue. Contact the editor, Jamie Gonzales, at jgonzales@alaskadispatch.com.