The blustery winds outside East Elementary School last Tuesday gave way to warm island breezes inside as third graders continued their studies of the Polynesian islands.

The lessons weren't coming from books though, or even DVDs. Instead this was a hands-on – and in some cases hips-on – class led by Artist in Residence Sal Jansson and her husband, Evan.

With boys seated on one side of the school's stage and girls on the other, the Janssons went through the different routines the students will perform for their families and friends on Friday. There was a “sophisticated hula” for the girls and a fierce haka for the boys, followed by a joint dance featuring brightly colored pompoms.

The big attraction though was the poi balls – a pair of cloth-covered balls suspended from braided cords. They're used by Maori women in New Zealand to imitate natural sounds and motions for teaching purposes or to tell stories.

“It's really interesting because the boys were so crazy about the poi balls and I kept thinking, 'But it's girls that do it,'” Sal Jansson said. “I did some research and found out that they used them as weapons so it's OK that boys are crazy about poi balls.”

Jansson is Tongan and has been teaching Polynesian culture in Utah schools for the past 15 years. Her classes focus on the dance, music, arts and crafts, legends and stories of the people of Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga.

“In every school I've gone to the reaction has been really positive,” she said. “They've really enjoyed learning about the culture.”

Students at East have learned to offer greetings in the native language of each island, studied the differences in clothing and ceremonial regalia, and had a chance to hit a traditional drum. Then, of course, there are the dances.

“The Polynesians didn't have a written language until the missionaries came and the explorers,” Janssen said. “Everything was taught through song and dance.”

Janssen works for the Salt Lake Community Action Program, which helped coordinate her visits to Roosevelt over the past few weeks. The Utah Arts Council – through its Artist in Residence program – funds the visits.

“This is the easiest and fastest way to introduce kids to a culture without offending anybody,” Janssen said. “You're connecting through (the heart) instead of through (the head). I find that doing it this way is more positive and powerful.”

Janssen has taught her class at East before.

In 2001, she worked with the school's third graders, too, an experience she still remembers. Janssen said several of the boys she seemed insecure and withdrawn. When these students began learning the haka – a ceremonial Maori dance sometimes employed to prepare for war or to intimidate enemies – Janssen noticed a change. The kids' parents did as well.

“One of the dads came up to me and was so thankful that his son was able to go through this process,” she said. “He'd never seen him stand up so proud and perform.”

Janssen believes its important to share traditions like the haka with those outside of her culture, a practice that is frowned on by some native peoples.

“It's a culture that they want to hold on to,” she said, “but the reality is we'll lose it if we don't give it away.”