About Our Staff
Stephanie Chace
Partner, Aloha Style
Stephanie has always had hula in her heart. An architect by profession, Stephanie started taking hula as a way to relieve stress and maintain an active healthy lifestyle. Along the way, she found Hula and ‘Ori Tahiti provided an outlet for artistic expression and her passion for the dances and the cultures flourished.
Stephanie (Kailani) loves being a member of the Aloha Style family, “Everything I know I learned at Aloha Style, and I didn’t quite live until after I started Polynesian Dance. It is my new passion in life.” Stephanie’s strength as a teacher comes from the mix of her unique talents, architecture, music and Polynesian dance—and nowhere is it more evident than in her choreography where all those artistic expressions are intertwined. You can always rely on Stephanie to think outside of the box and give a different perspective, to help explain dance moves in a new way, or to give you the counts to a song. Always yearning to learn more she is constantly digging deeper into the music and cultures, researching and attending classes and workshops with kumu and ra’atira whenever possible. She teaches classes in both Hula and ‘Ori Tahiti and is currently under the guidance of Nā Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina of Hālau Hula ‘O Nāpunaheleonāpua and Kanani Lokelani Asuega.
Lauren Ouano Yeremian
Partner, Aloha Style
Dance has always been a part of Lauren’s life. Ballet in childhood led to Filipino Folk Dancing as a teenager, and ballroom dancing and salsa in her young adult years.
Lauren’s passion for dance has led her to hula. She was introduced to hula as a teenager in the Filipino dance troupe where she and the other members of the dance troupe learned some hulas from their “auntie” who grew up in Hawaii and danced in a halau (hula school). It wasn’t until many years later that Lauren read a newspaper article about a hula dance school called Aloha Style Polynesian Dance. She couldn’t believe how close it was! After checking out a class, she was hooked! “When I dance hula, I love how I feel physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s such a wonderful experience!” Much of what she has learned of hula has been at Aloha Style. She enhances her hula education by attending area workshops from kumu hulas who visit from Hawaii. During a trip to Hawaii in 2011, she had the opportunity to take private classes with kumu hula Puamohala Kaholokula. Lauren teaches hula classes for keiki (children) and adults and is currently under the guidance of Nā Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina of Hālau Hula ‘O Nāpunaheleonāpua.
Suzanne Aumack
Founder, Aloha Style
Suzanne started dancing hula when she was only 13. Inspired by her teacher, Kumu Hula Terry Johnson, former Dance Masters of America Hula Chairperson, Suzanne found her passion in teaching others the elegant movements of ‘Auana and the vigorous rhythms of Tahitian. In order to reach more people Suzanne founded Aloha Style in 2007. It is the only authentic hula studio in the Philadelphia region.
Suzanne encourages an atmosphere of relaxed learning but always with respect to the Hawaiian culture. Aloha Style was founded on the principal of “o’hana” (family), and Suzanne invites everyone to experience the beauty of hula and the camaraderie of dancing together.
“E lawe i ke a`o a malama, a e `oi mau ka na`auao”
He who takes his teachings and applies them increases his knowledge.
Connie Majka
Founder, Aloha Style
It was 1981 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The Brothers Cazimero were singing and gliding as if on air came hula dancer, Leina’ala Kalama Heine. From that first time, Connie decided she wanted to hula. If she could only be one-quarter as graceful as “’Ala”, she would be content. And so, as she started lessons with Makalani Andrada, she developed a love and deep passion for hula. It is this love and passion that breaths life into her teaching.
She has danced for numerous shows in Hawai’i and in the Philadelphia region. As a teacher, she cultivates a respect for the traditions of Hula, a respect for the Hawaiian people as keepers of the traditions, the Hawaiian language, and the “aina” (the land) where Hula originated.
She believes that one never achieves perfection—that the creativity and joy comes from always learning, always striving. She continues to study hula and has taken classes with Kumu Noelani Zuttermeister and Kumu Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett.
“’a’a i ka hula, waiho ka hilahila ma ka hale.”
Get up and dance, leave shyness at home.