When we think of Hawaii and hula, we think of curvaceous women, lilting music and the total pleasure of paradise. Tonight, performance artist Keo Woolford might alter your impression of Hawaii by offering a new brand of island entertainment. In his solo work ยI Land,ย he describes his quest for heritage in his homeland, which, it turns out, isnยt a paradise for everyone. During his two-day run (Friday and Saturday), Woolford will debunk the myth that all hula artists are women. Heยll don a grass skirt, reminding the crowd that hula is a difficult and serious art form while he dances. As he moves through his semiautobiographical tale, heยll drop both traditional Hawaiian ยtalk storyย and hip-hop rhymes, fusing island tradition with the influences of modern America.
8 p.m. DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway. For information, call 713-223-8346 or visit
www.diverseworks.org. $8 to $15.
Fri., Oct. 12, 8 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 13, 8 p.m., 2007
This article appears in Oct 11-17, 2007.