Hula on ice: PCC performed in the 64th Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan

       While most BYU-Hawaii students were enjoying sunshine in Hawaii, a group of students were dancing with snow in Japan. PCC were invited to perform hula in the 64th Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, Japan from February 1 to 8.

        J. Alan Walker, the Admission Sales of Polynesian Cultural Center, was the leader of this PCC promotional entertainment team. He said dancing in front of the snow sculptures of Maruko, a Japanese well-known animation character, was a remarkable experience.

“The performers actually performed their first show in bare feet [on ice],” he said. “That was more of a painful memory than a fun one…. The performers further improvised by wearing normal socks covered with a plastic bag and thermal socks on top of that. It kept their feet warm.”

Walker continued, “We performed three times a day: on a snow stage outdoor, in the underground walkway stage, and also for the Hokkaido Prefectural government leaders at the Hokkaido Prefectural Government Office in Sapporo.”

These on-ice-hula performances were also covered by local regional television and newspapers, said Walker. “The thought of hula dancers in the snow was very unique and attractive to the media and general consumers,”he said.

The PCC promotional entertainment team was sponsored by JTB Hawaii, Hawaii Tourism Japan, and Hawaiian Airlines to visit Japan aimed to promote Hawaii and the new direct Hawaiian Airlines flight between Sapporo and Honolulu. Team members included six student dancers, PCC Theater Directors Ellen Gay and Dela Rosa, and the Musician & Sound recording/arranging Specialist Milton Kaka.

Walker said PCC has schedule another special plan in the soon future. Including the three-time World Fire Knife Champion David Galeai of Laie, PCC is invited to perform at the 2013 Odaiba Hawaii Festival in Tokyo, Japan with a 15-man promotional team in late April and early May. 

Rani Anandan, an anthropology senior from American Samoa as well as a performer in Ali'i Luau, PCC, said dancing with bare foot is not easy. She said, “As a dancer, I wouldn’t mind or worry about the natural condition. Dancing with the spirit is more important. It is a cultural pride to dance regardless the natural condition.”

“Although the weather was cool, I can see a warm spirit surround the dancers,” said Miki Mateo, an ICS senior from Japan. When she saw the performers’ photos on facebook, she said she was impressed by their attitude. “The dancers were smiling the whole time and it’s awesome. I know Hokkaido is a very cold place.”

The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of Japan's largest winter events which attract a growing number of visitors from Japan and abroad every year. About two million people visit Sapporo to see the splendid snow statues and ice sculptures every winter, according to the Sapporo Snow Festival 2013 official website.

Clover Cheng