Living Culture Series: Haka Workshop with Amelia Butler
with Amelia Butler

The haka is the traditional war dance of the Māori people, the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. It was made famous by the All Blacks rugby team. Now is your chance to learn this well-known, enlivening and invigorating dance and experience the power of this cultural phenomenon.

We will learn the history and cultural significance of the haka as well as learn how to do the haka. Haka incorporates full-body movement, voice, facial expressions, self-expression, mind, breath, spirit, posture and action. It will connect you to your higher self and create unity with self and other. Haka activates your personal power and authentic self. It is a transformational, enlivening and empowering experience.

During the workshop you will:

- Learn about Aotearoa New Zealand and Māori culture

- Learn the meaning, history and cultural significance of the haka

- Engage in exercises that focus on specific elements of the haka such as stance, wiri (shaking of hands) and pūkana (facial expression)

- Learn and perform the haka 

- Discover your own self-expression and power through body movements, voice, posture and facial expressions

- Access your authentic self

- Connect to your personal power and discover your own inner-warrior

- Create unity with others through shared learning, movements and vocal expressions

About the Instructor:

Amelia Butler is an indigenous Māori performer, dancer and choreographer from Aotearoa, New Zealand. She has been teaching and performing dance at an international level for over 20 years. Amelia moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to pursue a career in dance and has worked as a professional dancer in the LA entertainment industry. She founded and leads Los Angeles based traditional Māori performance group, Ngā Ānahera Māori and teaches the Māori language to learners living all over the world through her company, Learn Māori Abroad. 

Amelia has taught haka for organizations such as the University of California (UCLA), YMCA, Sony, Girl Scouts, Pacific Is. Ethic Arts Museum, Atlas Obscura, Bulletproof Coffee and more. She has performed haka at Warner Bros Aquaman Exhibit, America's Got Talent, the Pacific Island Festival (PIFA) San Diego, Intel, You Are Us NYC, Kiwis in LA Art Exhibit and more. Amelia’s tribal affiliations are Ngātiwai, Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Awa. She is proud to share her culture here on Turtle Island (USA).

Price: $50

Time: 11am-1pm

Doors open: 10:30am