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From Round Dance to Round Table, followup event welcomes reflection

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From Round Dance to Round Table, followup event welcomes reflection

Round Dance in Paradise was held on March 12 at UH West Oʻahu. The community is encouraged to attend a followup event, Round Table Discussion, on March 30 via Zoom. Image courtesy of Dr. Christy Mello

After a successful Round Dance in Paradise that drew hundreds of guests earlier this month to the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu, the campus community and general public are now welcome to share and reflect on the event at a followup Round Table Discussion.

The discussion — to be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, via Zoom — will feature Round Dance in Paradise special guests, including the event master of ceremonies, invited singers, and members of Oʻahu Native Nationz Organization (ONNO), all of whom will share their past experiences regarding Round Dances, and more.

Dr. Christy Mello, an associate professor of Anthropology at UH West O‘ahu and the faculty co-host, encourages everyone — faculty, staff, students, and community members — to attend the Round Table Discussion.

“Participants will learn about a spiritually and culturally significant dance, while also exploring the need for these types of events to address critical issues impacting us all on a global scale,” Mello said. “We hope to gain input and insight into how to plan more community-based events like this in the future.”

Round Dance was an ʻuplifting event’

Round Dance in Paradise took place on March 12 at the UH West Oʻahu Outdoor Learning Space and was a collaborative effort between co-hosts UH West Oʻahu and ONNO to celebrate cultural practices and unity.

Mello estimated about 200 to 250 in attendance — mainly community members of all ages from across Oʻahu — with some guests coming and going throughout the event.

“Families were in attendance with children running across and playing in the Great Lawn,” Mello recalled. “The majority of guests participated in the Round Dance with people who danced almost the entire time. It was a very joyous and uplifting event, as well as a beautiful evening.”

Mello noted that Master of Ceremonies Whitney Rencountre II was “dynamic and funny,” and invited singers Opie Day-Bedeau, Desirae Desnomi, Fawn Wood, and Dallas Waskahat “sang and drummed almost the whole time, with the campus having a great acoustic effect.”

“Several First Nations and Native American visitors from the continent were in attendance,” Mello added. “They were here on spring break and learned about the Round Dance.”

Round Table Discussion for all

Now Mello welcomes everyone to attend the followup Round Table Discussion, which like the Round Dance, includes her students’ involvement. Her students will assist with designing and developing the virtual discussion as one of their assignments.

“The Round Table Discussion is one of the ways we are fulfilling the educational component of our Round Dance event,” Mello said.

Meeting that objective included Round Dance in Paradise guests speaking with media and at Ka Waihona o Ka Naʻauao Public Charter school, as well as Mello’s students learning media skills through filming and photographing the Round Dance.

“This discussion will provide an opportunity for participants and our invited master of ceremonies and singers to reflect on the significance of the Round Dance event,” Mello said. “For example, we will explore the need for community-based campus events and the overall meaning and intent behind the Round Dance.”

Anyone with questions about the Round Table Discussion may email melloc@hawaii.edu.

See a Flickr album and YouTube video featuring highlights from the Round Dance in Paradise. Photos and video clips courtesy of Dr. Christy Mello and students Victor Hardy-Kahaleoumi (ANTH/HOST 390), Gabriella Reid (ANTH 383), Simone Jones (ANTH/HOST 390), and Rachel Caylor (ANTH 383).