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Both Hawaiian and Tahitian dances came from a rich history as a sacred part of their culture. In both cultures, performances were symbolic means to worship the native gods, as well as to welcome guests, and to impart the history of the islands to its people. However, in the early 1800s, missionaries saw the dances as too sensual and offensive. In Tahiti, the traditional dances were banned until the early twentieth century. In Hawaii, while the missionaries urged the rulers to ban the hula, it remained a part of the culture, though mostly done in private. In the 1900s both islands saw a revival of their native dances which has continued to the present. The hula includes the Hula Kahiko, which is the more traditional, sacred dance, and the Hula 'Auana, which is the modern version. While both are defined by their storytelling, the Hula 'Auana is more for entertainment. It is what most people think of as hula. The dancers wear fabric skirts, called pareos, and decorate themselves with leis, shell necklaces, anklets, and headpieces. The dances are very rhythmic, and are accompanied by music on ukuleles, steel guitars, and drums. There is also the use of poi balls, shells, and gourds. Tahitian dance is vibrant and fast. The drums provide a strong rhythm and the conch, called a pu, creates a reverberating tone. The dancers wear grass or fabric skirts with a decorated belt, which has shells and tassels that move with the quick rotation of the dancer's hips, shell necklaces, elaborate headpieces made of feather, flowers, and leaves, and sometimes coconut bras called tapea titi. The dancers shake their ahi's, which are hand-held bouquets of grass. Our Dance Troupe offers a class called Hawaiian. Our teacher, Kailani Andreotti, is a native of Hawaii and is a professional dancer of both Hawaiian and other Polynesian dances. In the class, we learn both the dances and the use of various props, including shells, poi balls, and ahis. While we mainly do the modern forms of these dances, we revere the traditions and history of the islands and their people. | OHCC LIVING | APRIL 2021 | 15 Ocean Hills Dance Troupe Village Squares Second Chances It was a lucky day when Charline Kenney moved to Ocean Hills and decided to join Village Squares with her husband, Sig Gronich. This talented lady had wrapped up a high-level, demanding career, and now she had the chance to enjoy other pursuits. Charline had worked for 10 years at Hughes Aircraft in Los Angeles as executive secretary to the vice president and in other roles. A girlfriend introduced her to Jerry Buss, who, knowing a good thing when he saw it, convinced her to leave Hughes in 1971 and work for him at a real estate investment firm he owned with Frank Mariani. As luck would have it, at a show sponsored by the firm, she found herself seated at the same table with Sig Gronich, who worked for McDonnell Douglas and was an investor in Jerry's company. Cupid's arrow found its mark, and they became engaged in 1974. When Jerry bought the Lakers in 1979, the deal included the NHL Kings, the Forum, and a 13,000 acre ranch. Charline's job as executive assistant to Jerry magnified into one juggling many balls at once, overseeing concerts, circuses, sports, and just about everything. She worked long hours, including many evenings, and weekends she was often needed in Palm Springs. Charline and Sig realized that marriage couldn't survive in that environment, so called it off. Charline then worked for Jerry Buss for 33 years, filling many roles, including keeping a large Rolodex file of women, as Jerry enjoyed female companionship at lunch and dinner. In 2002, Charline retired, and in 2004 took a trip to Washington D.C. Knowing that Sig was then working there in the Department of Energy, she called and asked him to join her and her companions for dinner. Their long-ago love was reignited, 30 years later, and in 2006 they were married on the beach in Maui. A triumph for second chances. Charline moved here, with Sig joining her in 2007, and in 2008 they joined the Village Squares, a lucky break for us. They signed on as vice presidents in 2011, and presidents the following year. We just couldn't let her go, however, so in 2013 she had a second chance as co-president with Ellen Kippel. Charline is just a girl who can't say no when needed, so she served as co-president again in 2017 and 2018, with Sig always ready to help out in many capacities. They both have enriched the club with their dedication to the classes and the practices, helping new students learn, in addition to their regular participation in Wednesday night dances. It was surely a good day when we acquired this couple as square dancers, and the club owes a large debt to both of these talented people, and to second chances!

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