PUHI — Head over to Kauai Community College on Saturday for some hip-hop dance battles and aerial silk dancing, as well as plenty of food and games for the family at the 11th annual Love Life festival.
Hosted by Kauai Underground Artists (KUGA), the creative festival and dance showcase is free with a ticketed show featuring 16 different dance groups. It’s a celebration of free-spirited living, of creativity and art, and of community connection.
The outdoor area of the festival opens at 4:30 p.m.
“That’s free and that’s where the aerial silks and DJ are going to be. There will be some breakdance battles and impromptu emcee performances in that area,” said Lila Metzger, organizer.
Food trucks will provide ono grinds and Hyper Squad dance crew from Oahu will be outside performing in the free area.
In the KCC Performing Arts Center, KUGA students will be putting on a dance showcase of hip-hop, contemporary and jazz styles.
“All of the kids auditioned for that part of the show,” Metzger said. “And we’ll do a 30-minute piece called ‘The Light Giver,’ which is a story of a girl and her struggle in making choices in life.”
Tickets for the shows in the main theater are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Dance showcases will be at 4:30 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Ha Coffee Bar on Rice Street in Lihue and Aloha Exchange in Kilauea and Kalaheo.
“It usually sells out,” Metzger said.
The event’s purpose is to foster a drug-free and suicide-free culture on Kauai and to celebrate inspiration and creativity.
KUGA itself was started in Kalaheo as a way to “plant seeds of creativity via dance” and a way to keep keiki motivated in healthy, inspiring ways.
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Jessica Else, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
