Hep Cat Instructors

 


Andrea (Andie) Gill
Instructor, Workshops Coordinator, and Hep Cats founding member

After a few workshops in Hilo with visiting swing instructors in 2000 and 2001, Andie was having tons of fun Lindyhopping...but there was a small problem--no regular swing dancing in Hilo!  The best solution was to establish the Hilo Hep Cats, along with co-founders Rachel Klein and Shane Stafford.  Since then, Andie has brought respected international instructors in Lindy, Balboa, Blues, Charleston and other swing styles to Hilo and continues to dance, perform and teach with the Hep Cats. 

 

 



Mark Unemori
Instructor and Socials Coordinator

Mark started dancing by taking ballroom classes at the Claremont Colleges in 2000.  When he first saw Lindy Hoppers doing their thing, he was completely blown away!  The moves were so varied and intricate, and the music was just inspirational!  Mark started taking Lindy Hop Classes at UCSD in 2003 and since then he has taken a variety of classes in Balboa, Lindy Hop, Charleston and Blues from world-class instructors.  He currently performs, teaches, and organizes social events for the Hilo Hep Cats.









Amy Okura
Assisant Instructor and Fun Person

Amy started dancing in November 2006 with the Hilo Hep Cats.  She has attended several workshops by World renowned instructors in Blues, Balboa, Charleston and Lindy Hop.  She enjoys paying attention to and improving upon the subtleties of her technique and is a self proclaimed "Connection Junkie."
 

 

 

 


Andolie Marten
Assistant Instructor

Andolie has always loved dancing!    For the past six years she has been taking classes in all styles of dancing and has participated in workshops in Hilo, Honolulu, Los Angeles, and Portland.    Playing with the basic forms allows her wide versatility and a constant humility to learn more.  Andolie loves the people, rhythms and connections in the joy of movement!  See you on the floor!


 

 

Gail Vincent
Assistant Instructor

For the last 12 years, Gail has been sharing the joy of movement and music with her students as a Jazzercise instructor. She added swing to her life in Southern California in 2005, and since moving to Hilo has taken classes and workshops in Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa and Blues from the many fantastic instructors brought here by the Hilo Hep Cats. Gail loves the fact that swing dance is athletic and has a sense of humor! She is currently serving as an assistant instructor and DJ for the Hep Cats.

 

 

 

 

Dane Frank
Assistant Instructor

Blues specialist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photography by Clare Yi