Polynesian Dancing Is a Way of Life

The Young Polynesians performing group.

By Ruth Lepper

Penni Evans has been dancing traditional Polynesian dances since she was a small child. After she left her native Hawaii, she started teaching the dances to other women. Now she heads a group of professional dancers called “Young Polynesians.”

“I’ve been teaching for over 30 years,” Evans said during a break from rehearsals. “This group came together 25 years ago. Some of them have been with me 17 years.”

Her son, Evan Evans, 31, is the drummer and a fire-knife dancer for the group, along with family friend, Garrett Himaka, 23. The band also includes two guitarists, a keyboard player and vocalist.

The dancers, usually between five and eight women, range in age from 20 to 40. The number varies and Evans said she is always looking for more students.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “I have a very entertaining show. It’s a fun show. It never ceases to amaze me how people react... The audience is always fun. I bring guys up from the audience and teach them to do the ‘ta more.’ It’s the mating dance in Tahiti.”

The Young Polynesians perform mostly at conventions in Southern California and have bookings an average of three times a month. The group also has been featured performers at the San Diego Zoo, on cruise ships and at private parties.

“I have agents that book us into hotels,” Evans said, adding that an upcoming engagement will be at a luau at a San Diego resort.

“I started the group just by chance,” she said. “I started the group because I wanted to exercise.”

The exercise evolved into teaching others, and before long, she had two dance studios in El Cajon. Evans moved to Ramona three years ago and now has rehearsals in El Cajon and Ramona.

“I’m really passionate about the hula, being from Hawaii,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know of the hula. The hula is the art of the Hawaiian dances. The hula is an appreciation of the Hawaiian dance.

“The hula is every aspect of life. Some people have never been to Hawaii; I try to give them a little flavor of it.”

For more information about the Young Polynesians, Evans can be contacted via e-mail at alohapenni@aol.com.