VANESSA THILL
is a professional hula dancer, a teacher and the daughter of Hawaiian Master Hula Dance Instructor & founding creator of Hula for Wellness, Kilohana Silve.
Vanessa began her training in hula when she was a teenager living between Paris and Honolulu. She was raised with Hawaiian spiritual values, customs and beliefs. She incorporates into her classes, elements from her parallel training in yoga and meditation practices, that focus on Hawaiian values such as Māna (energy) or Hā (breathing).
She is also a dancer and manager for the France-Hawai’i Association, Halau Hula O Manoa, which was founded by her mother in 1992. Their mission is to promote various aspects of Hawaiian culture, philosophy and spirituality in France, the first and currently the only Hawaiian school of dance in France. The class offerings include the art of chanting, hula, protocols, ukulele, the creation of flower lei and Lomi Lomi massage throughout the year.
About Hula for Health (Ola Hou I Ka Hula)
Traditional Hawaian dance, or Hula is a true source of wellness. Medical studies conducted at Queen’s Hospital In Honolulu, Hawai’i over a 6 year period measured the physical benefits of hula practice. Hula helps self-healing through the practice of dance and voice work that develops breathing techniques. During these sessions participants will begin with the Hā or breath. Breathing is very important in Hawaiian Cultural traditions. It teaches voice work exercises that combine with breath control to strengthen the lungs for chanting. These exercises are helpful to reduce hypertension and stress.
Participants will learn a simple navigation chant that includes simple but powerful hula gestures. Participants will also discover how these voice exercises can be very helpful to release tension, while learning about the important place of chanting in Hawaiian tradition. Participants will also work with a wide range of body movements as we practice basic hula steps to the resounding beat of the ipu-heke (hula drum). The hula movements are meant to build strength and endurance. If materials are available, each participant will be taught to make a Lei La’i (Shredded Ti-Leaf or raphia Lei) to wear when performing their dances at the end of class.