Mahealani Uchiyama
Artistic Director, Dancer, Musician and Teacher
Current Position
Director of Education and Community Engagement, World Arts West
Education
1987 M.A., Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
1979 B.A., Dance Ethnology, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Research Interests
Indigenous wisdom practices, Spiritual traditions of sub-Saharan Africa, cultural exchange and interaction, social and cultural evolution of populations in the Diaspora.
Publications
Instructional Manuals
2007 Ori Tahiti Handbook, Dancetera Publications. 53 pp.
1999 Haumana Hula Handbook, Dancetera Publications. 68 pp.
1997 Mele Hula Workbook, Dancetera Publications. 49 pp.
Contributor to:
2010 DANCING THE COSMOS: Women’s Stories of Spiritual Awakening and Healing through Dance. Johanna Laseho, Editor. Publication pending.
Audio and Video Recordings
2010 Ndoro – mbira music of Zimbabwe.
2008 Aloha Tahiti – compilation.
2007 A Walk by the Sea – winner of Hawai’i Music Award for Best World
Music of 2007.
2006 Warm-Up - Hula and Tahitian dance instructional.
2005 Ahuroa KaUaTuahine - Tahitian music.
2005 Mele Hula - traditional Hawaiian music.
2004 Tatau - traditional Tahitian music.
2002 Black Pearl - winner Best of Festival of 2002 Berkeley Film Festival.
2000 Moemoea - traditional Hawaiian and Tahitian music.
1997 Tuahine Rain – traditional Hawaiian and Tahitian music.
1996 Ori, The Dance of Tahiti - Tahitian dance instructional DVD.
Professional Awards and Recognition
2010 Hawai’i Music Award for Best Artwork, Ndoro. Photographer Chugrad
McAndrews and Designer Czelena Stovall.
2008 Hawai’i Music Award for Best World Music Album, A Walk By
The Sea.
2007 Aloha Spirit Award, Kapalakiko Music, Art, & Craft Productions.
2002 Best of Festival Award., Producer, Black Pearl, Berkeley Film
Festival.
1982 – 2010 Numerous awards for excellence in Hawaiian and Tahitian dance
and music: Tahiti Fete of San Jose, King Kamehameha Hula and
Chant Competition of Honolulu, Ia ‘Oe e Ka La Hula Festival,
Onipa’a Hula Festival, Tahiti Fete of San Francisco, Kaleponi Hula
Competition of San Francisco.
Courses Taught at Colleges and Universities
Hawaiian Language
Polynesian Dance
Courses, Workshops and Lecture Demonstrations Taught in Studios and Seminars
- Prayer Dances: An Introduction to Sacred Dances of the World
- Hawaiian Hula
- Tahitian Ori
- Tahitian Percussion
- Hawaiian ‘Ukulele
- Hawaiian Chanting and Drumming
- Mbira music of Zimbabwe
- Regional Dances of the Caribbean
- North African Dance
Additional Specialized Skills
Concert Production
Beadworker
Performance Tours as Artistic Director of KaUaTuahine
2009 Ka ‘Aha Hula ‘O Halauaola performance, Honolulu, Hawai’i.
2007 Tahitian dance performances in Tahiti, French Polynesia .
2005 Tahitian dance performances in Tahiti, French Polynesia .
2005 Ka’Aha Hua ‘O Halauaola performance, Maui, Hawai’i.
2005 Performance for Culture Moves Conference on Dance in Oceania, Wellington, New Zealand.
2004 Tahitian dance performances in Tahiti, French Polynesia .
Additional International Travel
2007 Harare, Zimbabwe: Intensive training with masters of the mbira and participation in a Shona ancestor ceremony.
2006 Fiji and Rarotonga
2005 Dakar, Senegal
2000 India and Thailand
Additional Major Appearances
- Black Choreographers Festival, 2006, 2007, 2011.
- San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, 1985, 1987, 1994, 2004, and 2005.
- People Like Me (Children’s Multi-Cultural Educational Performance Tour), Northern California, 2003.
- Merrie Monarch Hula Festival as a chanter and drummer, Hilo Hawai’i, 1986.
Professional Service
- Adjudicator, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, 2005, 2007, 2009. 2010.
- Panelist, San Francisco Arts Commission Cultural Equity Grants, 2007.
Affiliations/Memberships
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
The Recording Academy, San Francisco Chapter.
Websites
www.mahea.com
www.thesacredforest.org
www.reverbnation.com/mahealaniuchiyama
www.facebook.com/mahealani.uchiyama
Contact Information
Email: info@mahea.com
Telephone: 510-827-3997
Fax: 510-534-6149
