Born and raised in the Bay Area, Lisa was born a dancer and always will be a dancer.  At the age of 5, Lisa was already learning the fundamentals of tap dancing, ballet and yes….hawaiian dancing!  But when the family moved to the community of Walnut Creek in 1968 and upon joining a polynesian dance group, Dances of the Pacific, was then that Lisa’s passion for polynesian dancing took a spinning turn.  The following 22 years with the dance company, Lisa not only learned as much as possible about all the Polynesian cultures but developed a deep interest and love in the dance, history and culture of Tahiti.  Upon the passing away of the Founder of Dances of the Pacific, Lisa and husband, Rey, joined directorship with Rick Smith and thus, Drums of Polynesia was developed.  The following five years as Drums of Polynesia and throughout all the previous years, Lisa constantly pursued to learn and research about the styling, language, translations which were developed through rapport with Polynesians and Tahitians that live in the Bay Area/California and through constant communication with ties developed in Tahiti.  In December 1997, Te Mana O Te Ra took its name after Rey and Lisa decided that they both wanted to focus solely on the culture of Tahiti - the purpose to educate not only themselves and the students they taught, but to educate as many people publicly about the dance, history and most of all, the love one can develop for Tahiti. 

      Highlights of events that Rey and Lisa have coordinated and/or have led the dance company to perform in: 

·        Co-directed annual show concerts/luaus

·        Co-directed trips to England and Spain through the European Folk Federation of the Performing Arts

·        Entered numerous Tahitian Competitions both locally and abroad, including Tahiti

·        Performances in Ethnic Festivals throughout California

·        Shows for Corporate Events (such as PacBell, 3Com Park, Oakland Coliseum, Stern Grove, San Francisco City Hall, Apple Computer, Chevron, Shell, California Business Arts Council, San Francisco Galleria, and major hotels)

·        Numerous private parties (weddings, birthdays, anniversarys etc.)