Page 12 - MidWeek - July 13, 2022

12 MIDWEEK JULY 13, 2022
Their Dance Journeys Go On
More than 55,000 former Hawai‘i resi- dents now call the ninth island home. Many made the move to the Vegas Valley decades ago, purchasing homes, starting businesses and raising their families. Fortunately, the Pacific Island culture was not left behind, providing opportunities for these keiki to con- nect with the place that many only got to visit while growing up. Two youth, whose families moved here from Hawai‘i, credit their current entertainment careers in two of the hottest shows in Vegas to their start in dance at Tevakanui Poly- nesian Dance Studio in Las Vegas.
He fell in love with hip-hop at the age of 7 while watching the Jabbawockeez perform on America’s Best Dance Crew. Throughout his participation in dance classes and competitions, Bernales wasn’t sure where his love of dance would take him. He just knew that he wanted to dance. Ironically, his passion for dance took him full circle to the very thing that sparked his in- terest in hip-hop in the first place. Bernales now transforms into Rated G of the Jabbawockeez, showing off his skills to packed crowds night- ly at MGM Grand Casino for the group’s latest show, Timeless.
Walter saw many dancers who came from Poly- nesian backgrounds, which gave him the confi- dence to make his love of dance a career.
Gaevin “Rated G” Bernales enjoyed Tahitian dance as a little kid, but found his true calling in hip-hop. He recalls being a youngster trying to perform flips in his pareo at dance classes.
For more information on the Jabbawockeez performances, visit mgmgrand.mgmresorts. com.
For more information on Michael Jackson ONE performances, visit cirquedusoleil.com.
“Tahitian dancing showed me I had rhythm in me, so I could try something else,” explains Bernales, the son of Rex and Alena.
Chaz Walter also began his dance career in Tahitian dance at the age of 7.
Catch Sebastian and Ninth Island Connection at 7 p.m. Wednesdays on K5 and 2 p.m. Sundays on KGMB.
info@ninthislandconnection.com
“Without Tevakanui and competing with them I don’t think I would have ever gone into hip hop
Gaevin “Rated G” Bernales is one of the Jabbawockeez.
PHOTO COURTESY GAEVIN “RATED G” BERNALES
or dance,” Walter shares. When he turned 14, Walter started dancing hip-hop with the group Prodigy, making appearances on The Ellen De- Generes Show and America’s Got Talent, as well as competing in Hip Hop International through his teen years. Throughout his dance journey,
Walter also credits his parents, Chad and Shai, along with his sisters for all of the support along the way. At the age of 18, fresh out of high school, Walter auditioned for Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE and has been a part of the iconic show since.
“Coming from an island myself, I could see the potential that I could do this. If they could do it, I could do it,” he says.
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