TINA RUEB

Aloha!  I’m Tina. 

 

I began dancing hula at a very young age.  Aunty Loke Thomas was my first teacher with a smile so big and a personality to match.  Over the course of many years, she would take me to workshops held by teachers from Hawaii and Tahiti to broaden my knowledge on the various styles of Polynesian dance.

On one occasion she brought me to the San Francisco Bay Area to “try out” with a new teacher from Oahu.  That is when I met Kumu Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu.

 

His unique style of dance and rigorous training was on a scale unparalleled from anything I previously experienced.  

 

I loved it! Practices were intense, but I was up for the challenge.  I strived to execute each move with energy and precision to match the power of his voice. After a few years with Kumu Mark, life steered me in a different direction.

 

Hula was put on hold for over 30 years.

In 2023, I returned during AHA’s Open Enrollment.

What I learned back then still resonates with me today.  Perfecting your basics is imperative.  Maintain good posture.  Be adaptable to change and embrace the knowledge you receive.  Stretch before class; drink plenty of water and practice, practice, practice! 

 

If you’re interested in starting your own AHA journey, sign up during the Open Enrollment period.  

 

Hopefully, our paths will cross and we can share in this adventure together!