Hawai‘i Line Dance Festival to Rock Kaua‘i Veterans Center Friday, Saturday

Get your dancing boots ready and come to the Hawai‘i Line Dance Festival at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center in Lihu‘e this Friday and Saturday. The two-day event is hosted by line dance instructor and choreographer Jeffrey Callejo Jr. and by the Kaua‘i Line Dance Group.

The Hawai‘i Line Dance Festival kicks off 5 p.m. Friday with a social dance and some lessons. On Saturday, the event becomes an all-day affair, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be workshops with experienced and famous line dancers, performances and, of course, open line dancing for all.

“We encourage you to come out and join the fun,” Callejo said.

The Hawai‘i Line Dance Festival is a yearly line dance event that started back in 2015 under the original name of Kaua‘i Line Dancer’s Retreat, which was comprised of Kaua‘i line dancers. Last year, the festival opened up to include line dancers and instructors from other Hawaiian islands. Because the 2018 event included attendees from across the state, the Kaua‘i Line Dancer’s Retreat was renamed as the Hawai‘i Line Dance Festival, and became a multi-day event. This year’s event has also expanded to include line dancers and instructors from the Mainland.

This year’s lineup of instructors includes two world-class choreographers; Kat Painter and Joanne Brady. Painter comes from California, and is a 2108 United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC) champion. Joining Painter in headlining the HLDF is the fabulous Brady, from Delaware, very well-known International Instructor/Choreographer of line dance since the mid-1990s. Brady won prestigious awards such as Female Instructor of the Year, Female Personality of the Year, and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame Dancer’s Choice Award.

This year, the HLDF has teamed up with the Kaua‘i Veterans Center and Museum as a fundraising effort for the facility. There will be line dancing workshops for all levels, performances, food, crafts, prizes and best of all line dancing.

“If you can’t make it, please consider making a donation to a great cause, our veterans,” Callejo said.

Besides Brady, Painter and Callejo, the instructors roster includes Bev Braun from O‘ahu, and Big Island’s Bev Shiflett, Juanita Allen and Tommy Hanohano.

On Friday, Nov. 8 the social line dancing is from 5 to 10 p.m., and the tickets are $15. On Saturday, Nov. 9 the all-day pass is $30. You can also get a two-day pass for $40. Military pay only $20.

Visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3619783 to purchase tickets.