Helen Taukave
Helen Taukave has been dancing professionally as a Pacific dancer since the age of 11. In 2008, she joined the Pacific dance company 'Spirit of the Islands' (the longest running Pacific dance company in Australia) where she gained more of her experience dancing at corporate events, weddings, birthdays and many events and occassions across Australia under amazing mentorship from Tito Schmidt. In 2011, Helen also taught Hula classes at Caramell Studios for both children and adults in Camperdown in the heart of Sydney under the guidance of Melanie Louise. It was also in the same year and the next where she took her love for Pacific dance internationally to Korea and Thailand.
After a three year break focusing on family commitments, Helen's love for entertainment specifically for dance and music always remained. In 2011, when Helen was teaching Hula dancing she always wanted to bring out her own type of Hula fitness classes and remain teaching young children. That dream was ignited in 2015 when given the opportunity to dance and teach in the performing arts school led by friend Chris Ladera and husband Mestre Formiguinha (one of the best Capoeira Tapazio greats in Australia) in Sydney City, however due to the lead up of Helen's second child's birth she put that dream on hold.
In 2016, Helen's dream finally came to fuiton with the announcement of 'HULAVA'- Hula fitness with an edge. With family being her main focus- Helen set to Launch Hulava in the heart of her hometown Caringbah and with a bigger vision for classes- she later moved her classes to neighbouring suburb Miranda where Helen also teaches Tahitian dance to young girls from ages 3-12 years old otherwise known as 'Hulava Mini Hula Girls'.
Helen hopes that the first end of year concert for the Mini Hula Girls will welcome new faces for the new year and bring more awareness of the beautiful dance culture from the South Pacific which her parents derive from.
As Helen always says "God is so good and I'm humbled to be sharing my knowledge and love for my culture through dance and be the only Pacific dance style and fitness class in the Shire. Its a beautiful thing to use this platform to bring joy to others and also a legacy I hold rich to my heart."