Check Out Xitlali Moore and Aizel Cabungcal’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Xitlali Moore and Aizel Cabungcal.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Xitlali Moore came to Columbus from California in 2015 as her husband, Aaron, completed his degree at OSU. Having 20 years of Polynesian dance experience and no Polynesian dance groups in the area, she decided to offer classes through Columbus Recreation and Parks to share Polynesian dance and culture with central Ohio. As the group grew the name Mahana Polynesian Dancers was chosen to represent us. Mahana means sun or new day. It is a tribute to Hitia O Te Ra, the group Xitlali belonged to in California, which was under the direction of Alex Tekurio and his family. Mahana still continues to receive mentorship from Uncle Alex’s daughter, Malia Tafua. Aizel Cabungcal joined Mahana in 2016 the day she heard about the group, which happened to be the day we had practice. She was a belly dancer previously but always had an interest in Polynesian dance. In 2016 Mahana began performing around the city in festivals and private events (birthday parties, weddings, graduations, retirements, luaus, corporate events, etc.).

In 2019 Xitlali moved out of state and Aizel took over logistics in Columbus. When the pandemic began Xitlali stared teaching classes online. As restrictions lifted Mahana started offering in person classes once again. Xitlali continues teaching via zoom and travels to Columbus several times a year. We now have about 30 students in our three classes – beginner, intermediate, and show. Our classes cover dances from the islands of Tahiti, Hawaii, Samoa, and New Zealand. Our mission at Mahana Polynesian Dancers is to perpetuate the Polynesian cultures through music and dance. We strive to continuously learn about the rich, living cultures of the Pacific through various mentors and share that knowledge with our community, ensuring authentic representation.

This year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary and are planning pop up performances around the city. Some highlights from this past year include our dancers receiving grant funds from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and being invited to showcase the Polynesian culture in the Cultural Connection Series at the McConnell Arts Center. We look forward in sharing our love of Polynesian dance and culture throughout central Ohio and beyond for many years.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest obstacles came during the pandemic, which we are sure many people can relate to. It was very challenging to lose the ability of practicing together. However, we started practicing together on Zoom, which helped us keep in touch with each other, not just for dance, but also mental health and sisterhood. This group is primarily a dance group, but it has also become family for many of us, involving significant others, sisters, parents and childen.

Additionally, we would not consider it a challenge, but we have had to figure out how to navigate this space as non-Polynesians. We strive to provide authentic instruction and performances. It is extremely important for us to remain accurate in each of the cultures’ traditions and attire when representing each island. We regularly consult with our Polynesian mentors who guide us through the different aspects to ensure we remain respectful of their cultures.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We specialize in learning and sharing dances from various Pacific Islands. We have taken Mahana dancers to perform and learn at workshops in Illinois, Wisconsin, West Virginia, California, Michigan and throughout Ohio. Xitlali continues to learn from the group Tupua Productions in California and will be competing with them this summer. She plans to bring the skills she learns back to the group. We strive to always continue learning and sharing with our students and community. We are currently the only group offering classes in the Columbus area.

How do you think about happiness?
Watching our students’ passion and dedication for Polynesian dance grow and seeing their technical skills improve makes us extremely happy and proud. Being around this group of dancers and their families has been a gift. The culture within the group that has been cultivated by everyone is heartwarming. There is so much love and support among our Mahana family that extends past dance. This group has been a great support for many of us. We have been through tough times and also celebrated many life events together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mahanaproductions.weebly.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mahanacolumbus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mahanaproductions

Image Credits
Jesse Cabungcal Photography
Steven Gluth