Polynesian duo open hybrid dance/fitness Hana Studio in West Haven
Drake Auna and Joseph Cancilla perform the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy. The pair own and operate Hana Studio in West Haven.
Drake Auna, co-owner of Hana Studio, performs the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Joseph Cancilla, co-owner of Hana Studio, performs the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Joseph Cancilla, co-owner of Hana Studio, performs the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Drake Auna, co-owner of Hana Studio, performs the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Joseph Cancilla, co-owner of Hana Studio, performs the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Drake Auna, co-owner of Hana Studio, performs the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Joseph Cancilla and Drake Auna perform the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy. The pair own and operate Hana Studio in West Haven.
Drake Auna, co-owner of Hana Studio, performs the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Drake Auna, co-owner of Hana Studio, performs the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Hana Studio owners Joseph Cancilla and Drake Auna perform the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Drake Auna, co-owner of Hana Studio, performs the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Hana Studio owners Joseph Cancilla and Drake Auna perform the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Hana Studio Owner and fire knife dancer Joseph Cancilla and hula dancers.
Joseph Cancilla performs the Samoan fire knife dance at the new Hana Studio in West Haven.
Hula dancers practice for a performance at Hana Studio in West Haven.
Hula dancers practice for a performance at Hana Studio in West Haven.
WEST HAVEN — When Joseph Cancilla and Drake Auna perform together, sparks fly.
Literally.
Together, they perform the Samoan fire knife dance which involves spinning an elongated hooked blade that is on fire on both ends. The duo are the owners of the new Hana Studio in West Haven.
“What we’ve kind of created now is a hybrid dance studio slash fitness studio,” Cancilla said. “It’s a really nice blend of a lot of different things and we’ve got something for everybody here.”
The studio offers classes in Polynesian dance, martial arts, yoga, hot Hula fitness, Latin dance, aerial silks, hammocks, belly dancing and fire-knife spinning.
“We wanted to create a place that actually can incorporate all cultures,” Auna said. “It will help everyone else to learn the cultures and have a lot of fun with it.”
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CHRISTINA HUERTA/Standard-Examiner
Hana Studio owners Joseph Cancilla and Drake Auna perform the Samoan fire knife dance during a Fourth of July celebration in Roy.
Auna danced with several groups, including the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii, before he came to Utah with his wife to attend BYU.
“I grew up on the North Shore of Oahu,” Auna said. “I grew up learning how to do Hula and fire knife has been involved in my life since I was a little kid.”
Cancilla grew up in Orem and danced at his aunt’s Polynesian dance studio. He says his mother and his aunt taught him about his Hawaiian roots from a young age.
“I started Polynesian dancing since I was three years old,” Cancilla said. “I don’t know who I would be today if I didn’t grow up in the culture.”
Auna and Joseph met through a mutual acquaintance and initially started performing together as a show group called Hana Entertainment. As the show group searched for a place to practice, they found a studio space that they couldn’t pass up. They opened Hana Studio in May.
“My motivation is to teach future generations about their culture,” Auna said. “I wanted to leave a legacy for generations to follow.”
Those taking the Polynesian classes are taught the history of each dance and movements are called out in the native tongue.
“We have to be able to choreograph the right way and do the moves correct and call them what they’re supposed to be called,” Cancilla said.
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Naomi Campbell is taking classes at Hana Studio with hopes of auditioning for BYU Living Legends cultural performance team.
“I really like how they take their history and they turn it into a dance,” Campbell said. “I would see people Hula dancing and I just thought they looked so pretty and so graceful and I really wanted to be a part of that storytelling.”
Along with classes, Hana Studio has a performance team that provides fire knife dancers, hula dancers, and drummers for events. They also cater events with traditional Polynesian fare.
An open house and fundraiser luau will take place at the studio on July 29. More information is available at myhanastudio.com.
“We’re all about community, we’re all about bringing people together and equality and I think that’s what’s going to set us apart,” Cancilla said.
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