Kane'ohe dance school in need of studio

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Wanted: Warehouse or abandoned store site suitable for makeshift dance studio; Windward preferred, but open to other options. Must relocate 120 students. Need by Sept. 1.

The Honolulu Dance Theatre, ensconced for five years in a studio above the gymnasium at Kokokahi YWCA in Kane'ohe, needs to vacate its rehearsal space for six months, starting in the fall, because of site renovations. Unless a temporary place can be found, director-choreographer Matthew Wright said, three planned productions are in jeopardy.

The studio where Honolulu Dance Theatre rehearsed its popular productions will close while the Kokokahi YWCA undergoes renovations. Advertiser library photo • June 24, 2001

"But we need to find another home for about six months, or we'd have to postpone — or at the very worst, cancel — our shows and classes."

The dance school intends to revive its popular family show "Puss in Boots" in October; give the holiday "Nutcracker" a Hawaiian wrinkle in December; and bring back its "Peter and the Wolf" in March. But all this can be ensured only if a temporary location is found for rehearsals, classes and casting, said Wright.

He and his wife, dancer Celia Chun, who is also director of the school, have been looking for a substitute home for several months, without luck.

"We tried the Kailua Recreation Center, but they already have a tremendous (booking) schedule. We checked the downtown Y, too, and there's just no space. We tried the old Savers at 'Aikahi, but we haven't heard back."

The search has intensified while the Honolulu Dance Theatre is on a between-seasons break. Wright and Chun hope the public can help find a temporary home for the school.

Cheryl Kauhane, president and chief executive of YWCA O'ahu, said the Honolulu Dance Theatre has been an "excellent tenant" at Kokokahi. "We're impressed by what they offer in terms of performing opportunities for youths in theater and dance and what they do fits in for our multipurpose use for the Windward community," Kauhane said.

The Kokokahi Y is destined to receive a $3 million face-lift — gymnasium, offices, parking facility, meeting rooms — over the next five or six months. And while the organization wants the dance school back in the fold — terms are still up for negotiations — "we want to eliminate exclusive lease agreements and enable others to use our space, too," Kauhane said. She indicated that in Honolulu Dance Theatre's case, there would be ample "down time" when other groups might fill in as tenants.

Because of Honolulu Dance Theatre's special needs, the task to find suitable quarters has been daunting.

"We need about 1,000 square feet and Savers had 10,000; and in checking out some other commercial space, we learned that a lot of available space is rectangular," said Wright. "We need something more like a (square) warehouse."

Budget also is a factor for the nonprofit group. Its Kokokahi Y monthly rent is under $1,000, and it can't afford a hefty sum. The short-term need — six months — is a deterrent for landlords, who often require a year's lease or as many as five years, said Wright.

The school has 120 students who come from 74 families. The students range from 3 1/2 to adults, said Chun.

"Ideally, we want to be up and operational by Sept. 5, so we can proceed with our programs," said Wright. Once a site is acquired, a special dance floor must be installed.

The school is reviving its popular "Puss in Boots" show Oct. 23-25 at the Hawai'i Theatre, with an audience totaling 7,723 already committed to attend. "Peter and the Wolf" is scheduled for March, with 8,219 pledged to attend, said Wright. Because these two shows are not new to the repertoire, most participants will reprise their roles, but rehearsals are still necessary.

A new holiday production, "King Kalakaua's Nutcracker," is planned for Dec. 14-15 at the Hawai'i Theatre. The show is based on Tchaikovsky's familiar music but with a twist: The story dwells on King Kalakaua and Princess Kai'u-

lani, with 'Iolani Palace as the setting in the first act and a fantasy milieu in the second. "This is my pet project and our tribute to the monarchy," said Wright.

"King Kalakaua's Nutcracker" would have to be shelved unless the school can find quarters.

In dance circles, Honolulu Dance Theatre is known for its ambitious ballet mountings and reworkings of classic theatrical fare, including adaptations of "A Christmas Carol" (called "Scrooge!"), "Frankenstein" and "Billy the Kid." It features students as well as adults in its casts.

Parents are fearing the worst — that Honolulu Dance Theatre won't find the space it needs.

"Several parents are also putting feelers out," said Michele Hulme, a parent volunteer whose two daughters, Shanna, 17, and Nikki, 12, have been trained at Honolulu Dance Theatre.

"With funding being cut for the arts, Matthew and Celia have been reaching out into the community. We can't have the studio closed; the classes give self-confidence and builds discipline for the students. And we've been reaching out into the community, with more than 8,000 tickets presold for the six performances planned for 'Peter and the Wolf.' "

Michelle Bower-Ono said her son Alec Ono, 17, and daughter Emiko Ono, 11, have benefited from participation in the dance school for years. "If they can't find a studio, there will be a break in continuity," she said. "And I would hate to see that happen."

Kara Yoneshige, now 21 and a senior this fall at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, said the dance school "has been a home away from home" where she has "spent so much time... developed friendships, developed a sense of performance." She now is Chun's teaching assistant and said "... I hope they find a place to continue the good work they're doing."