Meet The Team

Angelica was born in Hawaii on the metropolis island of O'ahu. She comes from a long line of Samoan ancestry and has worked diligently with her community to bring more Pacific Island-focused groups and events to her local comuunity. Growing up, she danced for family and church functions but, pushed on her love of cultural dancing when she turned 21-years-old.  Angelica invested time, finances, and educated herself by creating connections, learning more about each culture her group represents, learning language, and started building a social media platform that could reach beyond her own community. Her love of dance grew to connect with Hula mentors, Tahitian mentors, and Tongan mentors that help enhance the style of dance that Angelica has adopted. It is imperative that each culture is taught by someone of that lineage as this is the way Angelica shows respect to the cultures her group perpetuates. Standing fast in the cultural correctness of each culture she learns about has aided her in pushing her passion beyond her own limits. Aside from a passion in culture, Angelica has also been working in the medical field for 17 years and she is currently pursuing a career in Neuropsych.  

George was born in North Hollywood, CA but, comes from a very rich cultural background of Tongan ancestry. Growing up, Tongan culture was not something you talked about but it was something that you just did. In 2016, he and Angelica decided to start Tatou Uma Pasefika Dance as a way for Angelica to cultivate and teach their cultures to their children as well as bring more PI-inspired events to their community. George has been working for various businesses over the years and recently graduated with his Business Management degree in which he utilizes with Tatou Uma today. He continuously seeks out funding and has been a staple in ensuring our sponsors receive all of the recognition they deserve. He continues to grow his financial knowledge of funding in order to allow more opportunities for Tatou Uma Pasefika Dance and its affiliates. George is currently working on his own skill set to contribute to the Company team. His main focus is to grow Tatou Uma's finances and keep Tatou Uma thriving. Aside from assisting in the finance department, George is passionate about sports and currently volunteers as a basketball coach for his daughter's school.  

Lilibeth has been with Tatou Uma for 6 years and has blossomed in the art of Ori. She studies under various world-renowned teachers such as Kanani Asuega, Leolani of Te Aho Nui, Jessy Munoz of Arts of Past, and Yamelle of Te AhiVai Ori School of Dance. Lilibeth is our lead instructor for Ori Tahiti and continues to grow in technique as Tahitian dance is an ever-evolving dance; however, she continues to honor the Tahitian culture by expanding her knowledge in Tahitian language as well as consistently immersing herself in Tahitian culture. Her bright and compassionate spirit aid in the growth of Tatou Uma's students. Lilibeth is second in command and assists Angelica in ensuring that all students follow the correct techniques. Education on cultural wear has been something Lilibeth has prided herself in as well as the creation of Tatou Uma's costumes. Each practice, Lilibeth pushes the team to new heights of stamina and encourages everyone to push past what they think they can do and believe that they can reach higher heights in their technique of Ori. Lilibeth is in the star of many of Tatou Uma's reels on Instagram; even one reel coming in at over 47 million viewers! "Consistency and a positive mindset is the key to success."

Vanessa has been dancing with Tatou Uma for over 3 years and is part of Tatou Uma's entertainment team. Before her 3 years with Tatou Uma, she started her journey in Hula with a halau in Washington and also participated in a local group called Jammin Island Hula. Aside from her passion of dancing, Vanessa and her husband produce beautiful videos as well as photography for Tatou Uma every year. Vanessa loves all Pacific cultures but is solely drawn to the Hawaiian culture and its spirit of Aloha. She currently studies under Aloha Ke Akua Ministries under Kumu Jerry and Aunty Caroline Angkahan. Vanessa is also part of the marketing team and consistently creates content that has gone viral. Last year, our team had a goal to reach 1,000 followers and because of Vanessa, as well as the rest of the marketing team, their consistency has paid off. Tatou Uma now holds 112K followers. 

Dalia has been dancing with Tatou Uma for 2 years and she consistently dedicates her time to get better in technique as well as aiding in the production of several shows done by the entertainment team. Dalia comes from a rich background of dance that started in Mexico and she is currently studying to become an esthetician. She wants to further her knowledge in dance as well as creating looks for dancers. Dalia is in charge of Tatou Uma's Tiktok account and continues to expand her skills in content creation. 

Lori has been dancing with Tatou Uma since 2019 and she has grown tremendously as a dancer. She is an integral part of the Admin Team as she connects and contacts possible venues for various events. Lori is also part of the team that ensures each person who walks through the studio doors is greeted and welcomed warmly. With Lori's sunny demeanor, many dancers walk away feeling a sense of what the "Aloha Spirit," is.