December 1-2, 2023 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Downtown

132 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

This is an all-day event. Get ready to feel amazing!

Enjoy a cultural presentation by musicians Peter Torsiello and Liliana de León and Friends!

The music of Peter Torsiello, Vincenzo Torsiello and Liliana de León of FLOR y PIEDRA brings an exciting interdisciplinary experience of their award winning songs. This performance will be a mix of traditional music, intercultural dance visions, conceptual poetry, spoken word moments, heel work, hand claps, castanets, fan and shawl work movements brought to life with emotive guitar sections, expressive vocals and percussive exclamations that bring an unforgettable experience of a celebration of life for all audiences. Beautiful and happy remembrances of time, togetherness and the journey of life filled with Color Culture and Love.

Liliana de León is a master dancer, choreographer, composer, vocalist, performer, educator, and professor of World Dance Studies who embraces dance as a powerful form of expression. Liliana brings her expertise, spirituality, and charismatic personality to the stage as choreographer, soloist, and co-composer of “FLOR Y PIEDRA”, for which she performs works that while focusing on Flamenco, use a diverse mixture of Mexican Folklorico, Latin Popular dance, Latin Jazz, Post-Modern American dance, film, light and spoken word, that showcase her interdisciplinary expression through her original creations. She was recently invited to assist Gabriela Martinez as cultural attaché and she was featured in “Azucar” at The Getty Museum in February 2022.

Cultural Experience of Hawaiian dance with 

Kikahamālie Ka’iwalani Hale o Hula 

Dolly (Iwalani) Abad is the Kumu (Teacher/source ) of Kikahamālie Ka’iwalani Hale o Hula and has been dancing hula since she was 8 years old. She has now been teaching in the Valley for 14 years. 
 
 Iwalani was born and raised in San Diego California where she began her strong foundation in Hawaiian hula dancing while learning under Kumu Hula Sharlin Soon. Iwalani also trained in the Hawaiian martial art of Kajukenbo with her her late father Shi-Zu Allen Abad and Mother Kumu Ualani . and holds the rank of 7th degree Master in Kajukenbo. With Iwalani’s combined martial arts and hula training, it soon opened up opportunities to share her knowledge with others.

In 1997, Kumu Iwalani moved to Tucson, Arizona and began dancing with Eraina Kennett the daughter of Ernie Menehune and performed in the Menehune Polynesian Review for several years until she moved to Phoenix Arizona and began her training under Kumi Kaimi Matthew Valdez in 2000.

In 2010 a year after her father passed away she wanted to fulfill her fathers wish of one day teaching Hula so when the opportunity arose, her Mother Ualani and Kumu Kaimi blessed her to teach Kumu Iwalani’s vision is to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture through dance and education. Kikahamālie Ka’iwalani Hale o Hula Keiki classes (kids) wahine (women) of all ages both beginner and experienced hula dancers. We are available to perform at birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, corporate events, or any other event you would like to experience a little piece of Hawaii!!