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Tehani Staff
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Tehani Dance Studio Director: JULIE TEHANI BUGARIN
I started dancing at a very young age. My dad was born on the
Island of Oahu on the north shoreside, Wailua. At age 4.5 my
parents started me dancing with Nelani Rogers in San
Francisco. As a teen I was invited to dance in a Professional
Performing group, Spirit of Polynesia where their roots came
from the late great Tiare Clifford. There I attained great
showmanship, competition experience and a lifetime of
friendships. I have participated in several award winning
projects both as dancer and choreographer. And have
attended many workshops with kumu hulas and various ra'atira
available in our area and abroad. I am not a "kumu hula"
meaning not undergone uniki rites. However, I have received
the stamp of approval from local polynesian folks, God and the
Angels, which is good for now. Wanted to uniki with auntie
Nona Beamer unfortunately auntie is doing hula with the
angels. But she was happy to have me when i met her in
honolulu because I was one of Kimo's girls. I am happily
married to my high school sweetheart and a mother of 2
beautiful little hula girls. For a detailed history of experience
please see resume here
I started dancing at a very young age. My dad was born on the
Island of Oahu on the north shoreside, Wailua. At age 4.5 my
parents started me dancing with Nelani Rogers in San
Francisco. As a teen I was invited to dance in a Professional
Performing group, Spirit of Polynesia where their roots came
from the late great Tiare Clifford. There I attained great
showmanship, competition experience and a lifetime of
friendships. I have participated in several award winning
projects both as dancer and choreographer. And have
attended many workshops with kumu hulas and various ra'atira
available in our area and abroad. I am not a "kumu hula"
meaning not undergone uniki rites. However, I have received
the stamp of approval from local polynesian folks, God and the
Angels, which is good for now. Wanted to uniki with auntie
Nona Beamer unfortunately auntie is doing hula with the
angels. But she was happy to have me when i met her in
honolulu because I was one of Kimo's girls. I am happily
married to my high school sweetheart and a mother of 2
beautiful little hula girls. For a detailed history of experience
please see resume here
Rachel Morales
Assistant Hula/Tahitian Instructor
Rachel has been Auntie Julie's dedicated dancer since age 14.
Years later we have watched her blossom into an amazing and
graceful hula dancer, energetic Tahitian dancer & drummer, and
can sing for our dancers as well!! She enjoys teaching na keiki
and watch them improve their skills as they grow with us. Rachel
continues to learn and blossom and looks forward to passing on
the mana'o (knowledge), passion and legacy on to these young
kids!
Assistant Hula/Tahitian Instructor
Rachel has been Auntie Julie's dedicated dancer since age 14.
Years later we have watched her blossom into an amazing and
graceful hula dancer, energetic Tahitian dancer & drummer, and
can sing for our dancers as well!! She enjoys teaching na keiki
and watch them improve their skills as they grow with us. Rachel
continues to learn and blossom and looks forward to passing on
the mana'o (knowledge), passion and legacy on to these young
kids!
Gaby Lemus
Hip Hop Instructor
Gaby is an amazing hip hop teacher! The kids look forward to
their fridays to spend time with him! He relates well to the
kids and incorporates moves that challenges them and brings
out their best potential! He is experienced in hip hop and
capoiera and has attended many competitions.
Hip Hop Instructor
Gaby is an amazing hip hop teacher! The kids look forward to
their fridays to spend time with him! He relates well to the
kids and incorporates moves that challenges them and brings
out their best potential! He is experienced in hip hop and
capoiera and has attended many competitions.
Yssabelle Cutchon
Assistant Hula/Tahitian Instructor
Yssa has been dancing under Auntie Julie's training since age 7!
She teaches with joy and passion to the keiki and passes down
Auntie's legacy to our next generation of dancers. Yssa has
attained great showmanship and charisma and has received
recognition in competitions as a finalist and has been awarded
placement in a few. Yssa has proven to be a dedicated mentor
to Tehani haumana and looks forward to sharing and inspiring
your little ones to shine bright, stand tall and SMILE!
Assistant Hula/Tahitian Instructor
Yssa has been dancing under Auntie Julie's training since age 7!
She teaches with joy and passion to the keiki and passes down
Auntie's legacy to our next generation of dancers. Yssa has
attained great showmanship and charisma and has received
recognition in competitions as a finalist and has been awarded
placement in a few. Yssa has proven to be a dedicated mentor
to Tehani haumana and looks forward to sharing and inspiring
your little ones to shine bright, stand tall and SMILE!
Maricar Rodriguez
Office Manager/Asst. Hula Instructor
It was a great blessing from above when Auntie Maricar came to the
studio! She has been a professional dancer alongside Auntie Julie in
Spirit Of Polynesia. Maricar has many years of experience as one of
the line leaders and performed for many venues such as cruise ships
and 49er half times. She has attended merrie monarch to support
and kokua our hula brothers in the past and attained great
knowledge and experience from it. We look forward to her sharing
her expertise and knowledge for our haumana's precision and craft!
Office Manager/Asst. Hula Instructor
It was a great blessing from above when Auntie Maricar came to the
studio! She has been a professional dancer alongside Auntie Julie in
Spirit Of Polynesia. Maricar has many years of experience as one of
the line leaders and performed for many venues such as cruise ships
and 49er half times. She has attended merrie monarch to support
and kokua our hula brothers in the past and attained great
knowledge and experience from it. We look forward to her sharing
her expertise and knowledge for our haumana's precision and craft!
Papabarbara Malu
Consultant/Mentor/Asst. Choreographer
Welcome to our halau Auntie Papa! She has come from world
famous TIHATI Honolulu! A halau known for their great
showmanship and entertainment. She was chosen to be
director of the TIHATI Japan division. Auntie Papa has also
been a dancer of the Polynesian Cultural Center where she
attained vast knowledge of all the Polynesian Islands. She
graciously shares with us all her wonderful mana and mana'o
to help us grow together as one ohana. We count our
blessings and thank Akua daily for sending her our way.
Consultant/Mentor/Asst. Choreographer
Welcome to our halau Auntie Papa! She has come from world
famous TIHATI Honolulu! A halau known for their great
showmanship and entertainment. She was chosen to be
director of the TIHATI Japan division. Auntie Papa has also
been a dancer of the Polynesian Cultural Center where she
attained vast knowledge of all the Polynesian Islands. She
graciously shares with us all her wonderful mana and mana'o
to help us grow together as one ohana. We count our
blessings and thank Akua daily for sending her our way.
Mayosh Room
Ballet Instructor/Hula Poise and Grace Instructor
I started my love affair with dance at age 5. I received my early ballet
training from New Manila Ballet Center in the Philippines. I took a
break from dance when I was 12 years old and switched to
gymnastics for a year and a half before we moved to the U.S. I
resumed dance in high school when I joined the cheerleading squad.
When I got to college, I decided to take a few Ballet and Jazz classes
for stress relief. Before I knew it, I had taken a bunch of Modern,
Jazz and Ballet classes. At that point, I decided to get my minor in
Dance. At the same time, I joined "Barkada," the Filipino organization
at Santa Clara University. I ended up getting heavily involved as a
dancer and teacher of Filipino cultural dance while I was attending
SCU and for several years afterwards. My love for Filipino cultural
dance led me to dance with Barangay Dance Company which was a
great learning experience for me. I stopped dancing for several years
as I focused on being a busy working Mom, but my love for dance
wouldn't let me stay away. I had always wanted to learn Hula, so
when I came across the flyer for Tehani Dance Studio, I thought it
was a perfect way to start dancing again. The rest is history. I was
hooked from the first day I took a class from Julie. I love Tehani
because it is truly a community and because Julie truly teaches in
the name of love. When she asked me to teach the Kinder Ballet
class, how could I say no? I am the proud Mom of a little ballerina
named Melia, and I am thrilled to be a Hula Mom at Tehani!
Ballet Instructor/Hula Poise and Grace Instructor
I started my love affair with dance at age 5. I received my early ballet
training from New Manila Ballet Center in the Philippines. I took a
break from dance when I was 12 years old and switched to
gymnastics for a year and a half before we moved to the U.S. I
resumed dance in high school when I joined the cheerleading squad.
When I got to college, I decided to take a few Ballet and Jazz classes
for stress relief. Before I knew it, I had taken a bunch of Modern,
Jazz and Ballet classes. At that point, I decided to get my minor in
Dance. At the same time, I joined "Barkada," the Filipino organization
at Santa Clara University. I ended up getting heavily involved as a
dancer and teacher of Filipino cultural dance while I was attending
SCU and for several years afterwards. My love for Filipino cultural
dance led me to dance with Barangay Dance Company which was a
great learning experience for me. I stopped dancing for several years
as I focused on being a busy working Mom, but my love for dance
wouldn't let me stay away. I had always wanted to learn Hula, so
when I came across the flyer for Tehani Dance Studio, I thought it
was a perfect way to start dancing again. The rest is history. I was
hooked from the first day I took a class from Julie. I love Tehani
because it is truly a community and because Julie truly teaches in
the name of love. When she asked me to teach the Kinder Ballet
class, how could I say no? I am the proud Mom of a little ballerina
named Melia, and I am thrilled to be a Hula Mom at Tehani!