ERIC DONG
Dance isn’t in my blood, but it hasn’t stopped me! I’m the first-ever dancer in my family, and I’m proud to showcase the stories of Hawai’i in my hula.
My name is Eric Dong, and I’m so excited (and terrified) to be training with the Academy of Hawaiian Arts for Merrie Monarch 2023.
Growing up, my family never danced and wasn’t much in tune with the arts, unless they sent their kids to piano lessons. But one of our favorite things to do as a family was to go together to the Alondra Park Ho'olaule'a in Gardena, CA. This was my annual exposure to hula, where I would see so many amazing dancers and inspiring movements on stage. As much as I wanted to join a halau in the area, I was always too nervous.
It wasn’t until college at the University of San Francisco that I participated in the annual lū’au hosted by Hui ‘O Hawaii. I learned my first hula basics through Kumu Marlo Caramat and I was hooked.
It took me 2 years after college to get the courage to join a halau, and where else other than the Academy of Hawaiian Arts.
The first year of classes was incredibly intimidating! We’ve all seen the AHA dancers on those bootleg YouTube videos of past Merrie Monarchs, but now to be dancing and learning alongside them was nothing less than nervewracking!
And now I get to call many of them my friends and hula family.
In the 5 years I’ve been with AHA, I’ve trained for 3 competitions – I was cut from the line from one of them, one was canceled due to COVID, and I finally got to step foot on a competition floor in July 2023 (third time’s the charm!).
I’m in the process of training for my fourth competition, and I’m so honored to be able to say that it’s Merrie Monarch, the Olympics of hula.
I’m determined to make the floor this time around! We’ll see you in April 2024 on that Merrie Monarch stage!
