You are going to lava this
‘Hoku LaSoya’s Volcano of Dance’ erupts in Lincoln City
Story & photos by Gretchen Ammerman
Oregon Coast TODAY
You could almost say she was dancing before she learned to walk.
“When she was a baby she would wiggle around on her bum swinging her arms,” said Chris Wolf, mother of future dancer Hoku LaSoya. “It was really cute.”
Hoku began taking ballet lessons at the age of three, then by the age of five had expanded to other styles, including Irish and contemporary. These can be seen in her upcoming solo show, “Hoku LaSoya’s Volcano of Dance” at the Lincoln City Cultural Center this Saturday, May 18.
Though she says her mother is her biggest fan and most steadfast supporter, the recital idea was all Hoku.
“She said ‘I really want to do this,’” Wolf said. “So, I told her it would probably cost at least $600 to do and that if she raised that amount on her own, I would do everything I could to help make it happen. I thought the idea would fizzle out but nope, she began earning money doing chores, making jewelry and other things. Before I knew it, she came to me with an envelope with $600 in it.”
The interview and photo shoot for this story took place at the dance studio at the cultural center, where Hoku has been practicing for her solo performance.
“One of the things that motivated me to do this show, besides the fact that I love to dance, is that I love the cultural center,” she said. “I especially love the auditorium here. I’ve seen a few shows in the auditorium and I thought how amazing it would be to be able to perform on that stage myself.”
The show will include 13 dances interspersed with videos, compiled by Wolf, that show Hoku’s progression over the years, beginning at the age of two. The performance will be enhanced by projected backdrops, which Hoku helped to design and create. She also designed the art for the poster, which, along with the name of the show, is a nod to the fact that the performance takes place on the anniversary of the Mt. St. Helens eruption on May 18, 1980.
“I’ll be dancing a few different types of dances during the show,” she said. “Ballet is my favorite. It’s fun but it’s also challenging.”
Saying that she “would love to be a professional dancer,” Hoku is taking proper steps not to ruin her chances.
“I am waiting until it is safe to be ‘en pointe,’ when dancing ballet,” she said.
If it weren’t impressive enough that a kid with an age still in single digits is putting on a solo show, Hoku is also donating a portion of the proceeds to support the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.
“I love cats a lot,” she said. “I have a cat named Willie that we got from the shelter and he’s a really sweet cat. So, I thought that it would be nice to help raise money for them.”
Watching their daughter over the years has been an adventure for Wolf, a graphic designer and fused glass artist, and Hoku’s father, Tony LaSoya, who is the IT director for the City of Lincoln City.
Wolf helps with costumes, drives her daughter to and from McMinnville for dance lessons and is creating a visual record of her daughter's journey, all along gazing in wide wonder at this little person who has grown into someone with the confidence, creativity and talent to be able to pull off a show like this at her age.
“It's definitely inspirational,” she said. “I would never have even thought to do it, but it's something she wanted to do and who am I to stop her?”
The performance begins at 7 pm at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, located at 540 NE Hwy. 101 Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for kids aged 17 and younger. For more information, go to lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or call 541-994-9994.