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This event took place on April 8, 2025.
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Wahine Beginning Class: Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance

Beginning & Continuing Hula & Tahitian Dance for Women

Session Date & Time

Apr 08 2025 (Tuesday)

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location

The 418 Project

In the: Lobby

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About This Event

Step into the welcoming warmth and sisterhood of Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance! The Wahine Beginning Class is designed for adult women of all backgrounds, ages, and fitness levels—whether you have never danced before or are returning to Polynesian dance after years away.

Under the supportive, culturally rooted instruction of Charmaine Moniz, you will experience dance as a celebration of life, community connection, and wellness.

Why You’ll Love This Class:

  • Gentle, Welcoming Instruction: Learn the fundamental steps of Hawaiian hula (kāholo, ‘uwehe, hela, ‘ami) at a comfortable, encouraging pace.
  • Storytelling Through Movement: Discover how hand motions and facial expressions tell timeless stories of ocean breezes, rainforest flowers, love, and community.
  • Tahitian Rhythms: Experience introductory Tahitian hip articulation (tāiri tamau, fa'arapu) that energizes the body and builds healthy core and lower-body strength.
  • Holistic Wellness: Low-impact cardiovascular exercise, improved balance, joint mobility, and mindful stress relief in a supportive community space.
  • No Partner or Prior Dance Experience Needed: Come as you are, connect with fellow dancers, and enjoy the transformative spirit of aloha.

Class Details:

  • When: Tuesdays, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Location: The 418 Project Lobby Dance Floor (155 River St S, Santa Cruz, CA)
  • Who: All adult women welcome (teens 16+ also welcome).
  • What to Wear: Comfortable clothing you can move freely in (leggings or workout pants). A pāreu (sarong) tied around the hips is recommended to help visualize hip movements. Barefoot or dance socks.

Visiting The 418 Project: What to Expect

House guidelines to ensure a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone

We are committed to a safe, welcoming environment where everyone is treated with cultural and personal respect across all backgrounds and identities. We hold the highest standards for consent—in movement, touch, and conversation. Always check in first, honor boundaries, and ensure that consent is clear, voluntary, and ongoing.
As a community-run non-profit collective with a small staff, we cannot clean everything after every event. Please help us care for the space by picking up after yourself, placing recycling and compost in the bins provided, and treating every room with kindness so it remains welcoming for the next gathering.
We have a filtered water bottle refill station on-site, so feel free to bring a refillable bottle. All restrooms are all-gender, ADA-accessible, and located conveniently on the ground floor.
To ensure everyone can breathe and move comfortably—especially community members with chemical sensitivities and asthma—The 418 Project is a low-fragrance space. Please refrain from applying perfumes, scented colognes, or strongly scented lotions before attending.
As an artist-driven non-profit collective, we believe movement and art should be accessible to all regardless of financial circumstances. Many events feature sliding scale tickets, and we offer work-trade opportunities for community members who wish to volunteer in exchange for admission.
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Plan Your Visit

Venue & Accessibility

The 418 Project is located in downtown Santa Cruz. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming space for all dancers, artists, and community members.

Address: 155 S. River St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Accessibility: Ground floor entrances & all-gender accessible restrooms
Parking: On-street parking & nearby River Street public garage
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