Alameda Theatre to host special premiere event July 10
Hālau Makana and the Alameda Theatre & Cineplex will collaborate for a special community celebration surrounding the premiere of Disney’s live-action Moana on Friday, July 10. The event will feature Bay Area dancer and cultural practitioner Jade-Len Makana Ka‘anoali‘i Taimalietane Iulio, who was selected for the film’s principal dance cast.
Out of thousands of dancers who auditioned in Los Angeles and Honolulu, only 23 were chosen for the film’s principal dance cast. Makana Iulio, director of Hālau Makana in Alameda, was the only dancer from the San Francisco Bay Area selected for the cast.
The July 10 collaboration with Alameda Theatre will include lobby activities, a pre-show performance by Hālau Makana, and a live Q&A panel with Iulio discussing her experience filming the movie. Screening times are still being finalized by the theatre.
“Seeing Polynesian culture represented on a platform as large as Disney means the world to me,” said Iulio. “It’s important for our people to see themselves reflected in meaningful and authentic ways. We are here, our culture is alive, and our stories deserve to be shared with the world.”
Iulio, 28, has danced hula and ’ori Tahiti since early childhood and has taught Hawaiian and Polynesian dance throughout Alameda and the greater Bay Area for the past 12 years. In March 2026, following the passing of her mother, beloved Kumu Hula Lani Cid-Iulio, she stepped into the role of director of Hālau Makana, continuing the legacy her mother established in Alameda.
“To me, Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures have some of the purest understandings of existence and the relationship between people and nature,” Iulio said. “Hula is a ceremony, celebration, and art.”
Iulio first learned about the Moana live-action auditions through social media and was inspired to try out after seeing that acclaimed choreographer Tiana Liufau was leading the casting process.
“As a kid from a humble island town, being selected for a Disney feature film felt surreal,” Iulio said. “To represent Polynesian culture through the art form I love most — dance — and to work alongside one of my greatest inspirations was truly a blessing I will never take for granted. It was an honor to share our culture and mana on such a global stage.”
Filming took place in both Georgia and Hawai‘i, with Iulio spending approximately six and a half weeks working on the production. The cast trained extensively in choreography, rehearsals, costume fittings, and filming days that often stretched from early morning until late evening.
Despite the scale of the production, Iulio said one of the most memorable aspects of the experience was the intentional cultural care behind the film.
“The most memorable part of being on set was the amount of genuine intention, research, and cultural guidance that went into every detail of the film,” Iulio said. The film’s cast and creative team included many Pasifika cultural practitioners, performers, and artists, something Iulio said was deeply meaningful.
“The story, our dances, and our wardrobe were influenced by cultures across Pasifika,” she explained. “I was really happy to see the amount of Pasifika hands working on this project.”
For Iulio—who is Samoan, Hawaiian, and Filipino—representing both her Polynesian culture and the Bay Area on an international platform carried special significance. She hopes her participation in the film encourages local youth to pursue opportunities in the arts, entertainment, and cultural storytelling. “I hope local and especially Polynesian children know that there are spaces for them at this level and that we have stories worth telling,” she said. “I want to tell them to dream big!”
Founded by the late Kumu Hula Lani Cid-Iulio, Hālau Makana has become a cultural home for generations of students and families in Alameda. The school offers Hawaiian and Polynesian dance classes beginning at age 5 and continues to emphasize cultural education, community service, and artistic excellence.
“Teaching and leading this next generation is a kuleana I take extremely seriously,” Iulio said. “The legacy of Hālau Makana is deep and authentic, and I hope my place in this project shines light on that.”
Iulio also shared gratitude to the Alameda community for embracing Hālau Makana over the years.
“Kumu Lani established roots in Alameda because she always felt a huge sense of safety and belonging within this community,” she said. “Our legacy would not be the same without our little island home of Alameda.”
More information about the July 10 premiere event, performances, and Hālau Makana enrollment is available on Instagram and on the Hālau Makana website.
Britt Yap is a board member of Hālau Makana and the owner of Holomua Healing Arts.
