Cultural Workshop Offered by World Renowned PCC Performers

March 30, 2005 La‘ie, HI: Redwood City turns Maori on Saturday, April 9, when the Polynesian Cultural Center shares the indigenous New Zealand culture with others in a half-day workshop. The session is open to anyone 12 years and older and will feature traditional Maori dance movements, such as the famous “haka” war dance and poi ball dances.

The class, led by Cultural Ambassador Seamus Fitzgerald, will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Boat Club, located at 300 Cardinal Way, Redwood City, Calif. 94063. Male participants should bring a 4 to 5 foot long stick with them for the dance lessons. Women should bring poi balls. If they do not have them, poi balls will be available for purchase at a reasonable rate.

“We are proud to share the Maori culture of New Zealand with the people of Redwood City, because educating others is part of the mission of the Polynesian Cultural Center,” said Seamus Fitzgerald, PCC Maori cultural ambassador and instructor of the group “Te Hokioi,” winners of the PCC’s 2004 Whakataetae Maori Performing Arts Competition.

The cost to attend the workshop is $45 and includes workshop fees and an instructional packet. Registrations will be accepted at the door for $55. For more information or to register for the workshop, call Ellen Gay Dela Rosa at (808) 293-3042 or visit the PCC website at www.Polynesia.com.
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Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more than 31 million visitors while preserving and portraying the culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia to the rest of the world. In addition, the PCC has provided financial assistance to 14,000 young people from more than 70 different countries while they have attended Brigham Young University-Hawai‘i. As a non-profit organization, all funds generated by the PCC are used for its daily operations and to support its cultural and educational missions.

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