HIRING
Why hire Teaona? With 17 years of dance study and 15 years of performance experience, Teaona has taken the time to learn the dances and about the cultures behind the dance forms. Teaona strives to make sure every performance is as authentic as possible and respectful of the cultures from which the dances come. She puts energy, fun, and class into every performance and brings the party to life! What should I expect? Shows are always family-friendly and appropriate for all ages! Teaona performs as a solo dancer. Show durations range from 15 to 30 minutes and audience participation is included. Some packages are an hour long, but the dancing portion is about the same length (15-30 minutes). For hour-long Polynesia packages, longer dance lessons and sometimes luau games are included, time permitting. Teaona will use props (e.g. a veil, wings, cane, sword, or fire tray for belly dance; various instruments for hula shows) at several points during the show, depending on the length of the show. For which events can I book Teaona? Birthday parties, corporate events, weddings, anniversary celebrations, festivals, bridal/baby showers, cocktail parties, and holiday parties are great examples of events for which Teaona would be a good fit. This list is not exhaustive, so feel free to ask about your event. How do I book? Start the conversation via the contact page. From there, you may send an email to inquire, or you may use the GigSalad button for easy booking. Please keep in mind that there are additional fees when booking through GigSalad. Where can I find reviews? From the contact page, click on the GigSalad button. There, you’ll find verified reviews of Teaona’s belly dance and hula shows. Where can I find video examples? Videos can be found in the gallery. |
CLASSES
Why Tahitian dance/belly dance/hula? Each of these styles of dance are art forms that can be enjoyed by anyone—any size and any age! They can be relatively vigorous cardio workouts at a certain pace, but they are also low-impact exercises especially at the base level. Learning these arts also entails learning about other cultures and can be intellectually stimulating. Who can take these classes? Adults, teens, and children (age 7 and over) can take any of our classes, regardless of gender. What should I bring to class? Bring water! If you would like to bring a yoga mat for stretching, please do. What is the dress code? Tahitian Dance: Typically, a pareo (or pareu) is worn in Tahitian dance classes. This is often referred to as a sarong, like you may see worn at the beach sometimes. If you don’t have one on the first day of class, that’s okay! These can be ordered online, and Teaona can help you find one if needed. Other than that, wear comfortable shorts under the pareo and a comfortable top that you can easily move around in. If you don’t yet have a pareo, you may wear pants that you can also easily move in, such as yoga pants or leggings. Typically, we dance barefoot for these classes as well. Belly Dance: Wear comfortable pants and top that you can easily move around in—usually students wear yoga pants and a comfortable T-shirt or tank top. A scarf to wear around the hips is helpful to see the movements better. Teaona may have a limited amount of coin hip scarves to sell, but you can also find them online. Send Teaona an email if you need help finding one! Typically, we dance barefoot, but you may wear dance shoes if that is most comfortable for you. Hula: Typically, a pa’u skirt is worn in hula dance classes. If you don’t have one on the first day of class, that’s okay! These can be ordered online, and Teaona can help you find one if needed. Other than that, wear comfortable shorts under the pa’u and a comfortable top that you can easily move around in. If you don’t yet have a skirt, you may wear pants that you can also easily move in, such as yoga pants or leggings. Typically, we dance barefoot for these classes. Will Tahitian dance/belly dance/hula make me lose weight/tone up my body? It can help. However, while these dances are all good ways to get moving and burn calories, taking one class for one hour per week and doing nothing else will not show any quick weight-loss results. It is best not to go into these classes with the expectation that they will make you quickly lose weight or give you any certain body shape with no other changes to your lifestyle. With that said, a physician or personal trainer can tell you what diet and exercise routine will help you achieve any fitness goals you have and how dance can fit into that routine. Both styles of dance are good, low-impact forms of exercise that can be practiced a few hours per week if desired, as long as you have the “all-clear” from your physician or personal trainer and go at a pace that is right for you! Will there be student recitals? Right now, no. However, if there is enough interest from students, we may start having recitals! There is a chance for pop-up performance opportunities at events, and students will be informed if those chances do come around. |