Hula Halau o Keali'i o Nalani Keali'i o NalaniHawaiian hula
			Under the direction of kumu hula (hula master) Keali'i Ceballos and hailing from West Los Angeles, Hula Halau o Keali'i o Nalani performs both hula kahiko (ancient hula) and the modern-style hula 'auana at this year's National.
			The art of hula is a poetic, deeply expressive visual language - a means of perpetuating Hawaiian culture through passing down traditions from one generation to another. Hawaiian myths and legends of the ancestors are expressed through hula kahiko. The dancing is accompanied by chanters playing the pahu (sharkskin covered drum) or ipu heke (double gourd drum), or indigenous percussion instruments such as the uli'uli (gourd rattles), kala'au (spear-like sticks) and pu'ili (slit bamboo rattles). The movements that accompany the chants are precisely prescribed and performed with serious concentration on the interpretation of the poetry. In the modern-style hula 'auana, the vitality of contemporary Hawaiian culture and lifestyle is celebrated as it is lived. To the accompaniment of instruments such as guitar and 'ukulele, it features both thrilling precision sequences in quick tempo and the grace and elegance of the slower-paced love songs. Hula master Keali'i Ceballos began dancing hula in early childhood under the guidance of his mother, legendary entertainer and teacher Cissylani Ceballos. "Hula," he says, "consumes my life." Keali'i brings with him to the National Folk Festival an ensemble of six dancers and four musicians and vocalists from his halau (hula school), Hula Halau o Keali'i o Nalani, widely recognized as one of the finest in the California Hawaiian community.