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How to Hula Dance
ChannelHowcastIn brief
Add a touch of Hawaiian culture to your dance routine with these foundational hula moves. You’ll practice footwork, hip sway, arm motions, and expressive facial expressions—all done barefoot on a smooth surface. Perfect for beginners eager to celebrate with movement.
Key steps
- Stand barefoot with feet four inches apart, knees bent, hands on hips
- Step right eight inches, tap left foot twice, then repeat left-leading
- Sway hips right-to-left while lowering feet toe-heel on each step
- Hold left arm bent near chest, right arm extended at shoulder level
- Look at extended hand and smile to match the song’s story
Questions & answers
Do I need special shoes?
No—hula is always danced barefoot.
Description from the creator
Full Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLALQuK1NDrhIyB7Ig4C…
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Watch more How to Dance videos: howcast.com/videos/217848-How-to-Hula-Dance
Get a little hula in your life by learning how to do these basic moves.
Step 1:
Stand facing your mirror with your feet about four inches apart. Bend your knees and put your hands on your hips.
Tip
Dance on a comfortable surface; the hula is always done barefoot.
Step 2:
Use this four-beat pattern for your feet. First, step eight inches to the right with your right foot. Second, bring your left foot toward your right without sliding it. Third, step with your right foot again, and fourth, bring your left foot toward your right, tapping the ground on the fourth beat. Switch directions, leading with the left foot.
Step 3:
Now bring your hips into the four-beat mix. As you step to the right, lower your foot toe-heel and lift your hip; repeat with your left foot and hip. Sway right, then left, right again, and then left again. Repeat to the left side.
Tip
Keep your knees bent – it helps your hips sway!
Step 4:
Bend your left arm so your hand is in front of the left side of your chest, palm facing down, fingers together and gently extended. Extend your right arm away from your body at shoulder level and keep your elbow slightly bent, your palm down, and your fingers together.
Step 5:
Without letting your left arm touch your chest, bend your elbows and wrists so they are swaying in a wave motion. On the first step to the left, switch so the left arm is extended and the right arm is in front of your right breast. Repeat.
Tip
As you move, keep your body relaxed but your shoulders still.
Step 6:
Look out at your extended hand while you're dancing. If mele, or traditional song, accompanies your dance, use your face and eyes to tell the story of the song. And don’t forget to smile! Hula dancing is for celebrations.
Did You Know?
19th-century Christian missionaries urged Hawaiian women to replace the hula skirt with a high-necked, long-sleeved gown called a holoku.
-
-
Watch more How to Dance videos: howcast.com/videos/217848-How-to-Hula-Dance
Get a little hula in your life by learning how to do these basic moves.
Step 1:
Stand facing your mirror with your feet about four inches apart. Bend your knees and put your hands on your hips.
Tip
Dance on a comfortable surface; the hula is always done barefoot.
Step 2:
Use this four-beat pattern for your feet. First, step eight inches to the right with your right foot. Second, bring your left foot toward your right without sliding it. Third, step with your right foot again, and fourth, bring your left foot toward your right, tapping the ground on the fourth beat. Switch directions, leading with the left foot.
Step 3:
Now bring your hips into the four-beat mix. As you step to the right, lower your foot toe-heel and lift your hip; repeat with your left foot and hip. Sway right, then left, right again, and then left again. Repeat to the left side.
Tip
Keep your knees bent – it helps your hips sway!
Step 4:
Bend your left arm so your hand is in front of the left side of your chest, palm facing down, fingers together and gently extended. Extend your right arm away from your body at shoulder level and keep your elbow slightly bent, your palm down, and your fingers together.
Step 5:
Without letting your left arm touch your chest, bend your elbows and wrists so they are swaying in a wave motion. On the first step to the left, switch so the left arm is extended and the right arm is in front of your right breast. Repeat.
Tip
As you move, keep your body relaxed but your shoulders still.
Step 6:
Look out at your extended hand while you're dancing. If mele, or traditional song, accompanies your dance, use your face and eyes to tell the story of the song. And don’t forget to smile! Hula dancing is for celebrations.
Did You Know?
19th-century Christian missionaries urged Hawaiian women to replace the hula skirt with a high-necked, long-sleeved gown called a holoku.
About this tutorial
Howcast published this 2:37 video tutorial on October 27, 2009. It has been watched 3,427,555 times on YouTube.
- Channel
- Howcast
- Category
- Howto & Style
- Duration
- 2:37
- Published
- October 27, 2009
- Views
- 3,427,555
- Likes
- 16,060