Aloha

Teresa Benedict, center, rehearses a number with other dancers at the Mead area home of hula instructor Ku’ulei Silva Johnson on Aug. 15 .

The dancers shimmied and swayed, their graceful movements framed by a backdrop of palm trees and a fiery sun. Sweet sounds of ukulele music floated through the air. The only thing missing was white sand and a tropical breeze.

Ku’ulei Silva Johnson’s students had gathered in her backyard to demonstrate what they’ve been learning at her studio, Halau Hula O’ Ku’ulei.

Johnson left her native Hawaii in 1987 to follow her husband to the mainland. When they moved to Spokane she found a large community of homesick Hawaiians and decided to offer hula lessons in her North Side home. Her students range in age from 6 to 76. Cindy Hval, SR Full story.

Have you ever taken any kind of dance lessons as a child or as an adult?