All of Tap Fever Studios staff provide fun, yet structured classes, abide by the same policies and work ethics, and have welcoming personalities that make all classes comfortable and fun! This is what draws dance lovers from all over San Diego County to Tap Fever Studios. Read about our staff by clicking on their photos. The YouTube link provides a short video of each instructor!
Larisa Hall
❤Since April 2008❤
The aspiration of Tap Fever’s Executive Director and Founder, Larisa Hall, is to give dance opportunities to anyone with rhythm in their heart. Dance has been a part of Larisa’s life for as long as she can remember, but it didn’t come easily at first. Larisa was born with severely clubbed feet, and had to wear casts on both legs as an infant. She slept with a brace to hold her feet and casts turned out, which the medical team hoped would correct the problem. Doctors had their doubts how well Larisa would walk, but by age 1½ she was on her feet! As a kid, her doctor recommended that Larisa take ballet lessons as physical therapy for her clubbed feet, which helped tremendously. Although Larisa had a lot of ankle pain while growing up, she never wanted to stop dancing once she got the “fever” for it!
Dancing since kindergarten, Larisa has experienced many styles— jazz, ballet, contemporary, swing, hip-hop… she loves ’em all, but the rhythm and unique art of tap dance has always been her favorite. Born and raised just outside of Washington D.C., Larisa learned a Broadway style of tap with Mary Lou Peters, and performed in many shows. After college Larisa left the snowy east coast and landed in the Bay Area of Northern California, where she broadened her skills with more classic and rhythm steps at Pamm Drake’s Dance/10 Performing Arts Center in Alameda. With this experience Larisa received high marks in regional and national competitions and performed as a member of Pamm’s professional tap team, “The Tap Dancing Christmas Trees”. One of Larisa’s most memorable experiences with that studio was dancing in the 2001 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, just two short months after the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings.
Larisa has been in San Diego since the summer of 2003 and teaching her own style of tap, which is a culmination of the variety of dance experience she’s had over the years. Larisa’s classes focus on making technique easy to understand, and having fun! Larisa loves all types of dance and wants to share that joy with anyone who is willing to try. By opening Tap Fever Studios, Larisa has been able to help other students overcome their own obstacles and experience the joy of dance. Larisa firmly believes that anyone can dance if given the chance.
Larisa has degrees in Television and Radio Production and has worked in many areas of both fields from 1997 to 2008. Larisa’s last job (before opening Tap Fever Studios) was as a Promo Writer, an Editor, Voice Over talent, and finally, as a Segment Producer for KUSI NEWS in San Diego. Her background in performing arts coupled with the TV producing skills she acquired affords her the experience and knowledge to manage Tap Fever Studios and its performances. Larisa is always working to make Tap Fever Studios the best it can be, and to serve the community with quality dance classes for all.
Certifications
Chelsea Antczak
❤Since May 2021❤
Chelsea specializes in the knowledge and connection of mind, body, and spirit through movement and community. She began dancing as a toddler In Salt Lake City Utah, training extensively in technical styles of Jazz and Ballet. Later she Majored in Dance at Nashville School of the Arts and furthered her training in Modern, Contemporary, Hip-hop, Acro and Contact Improvisation. She’s been teaching and dancing professionally since 2010 throughout Nashville and more recently San Diego. Former company member of Found movement group and current member of PGK dance! She is a Registered Yoga Teacher and instructs power vinyasa, sculpt and yin yoga. Chelsea continues to love the privilege of teaching all ages and walks of life through movement.
Diane Halcoussis
❤Since May 2022❤
Diane Halcoussis started dancing at age five, with ballet and tap, when she attended the Washington Academy of Performing Arts. Her love of dance grew as she trained in the styles of ballet, tap, hip-hop, character, lyrical, and jazz. She spent her summers studying performing arts at the Columbia Gorge School of Theatre, where she performed in published, and original works. She actively participated in the Theatre & Dance department at Santa Clara University as a teaching assistant and performer. Diane is overjoyed to have found a community of such enthusiastic dancers at Tap Fever!
Andrea Fannin
❤Since May 2023❤
Andrea is from Greenville, South Carolina. She has a BA in Dance Performance, and a BA in Music from Winthrop University. She also attended one year at California State University East Bay. Starting at age 6, Andrea began studying tap, ballet, and jazz. In high school, she added lyrical, and in college added modern to her repertoire. Andrea began teaching dance in 2005, starting with studios in South Carolina for 6 years, and in an outreach program hosted by the South Carolina Ballet Association for 3 years. After moving to San Diego, CA in 2014, Andrea continued her teaching career, and joined the Tap Fever team in 2023, where she shares her love of dance with students of all ages. In addition to dancing, Andrea can also sing, play the piano, and act.
Chantal Branscomb
❤Since August 2023❤
Chantal grew up dancing since she was three years old at the former In Motion Dance Center in Bonita. She went on to be a member of their Dance Company as well as become the Dance Captain of her competitive high school show choir, The Music Machine. She graduated with a BA in Drama from UC Irvine in 2019 and has been teaching dance ever since! She is currently a choreographer and Creative Director for The Music Machine, and Sound Unlimited show choirs. Chantal is so excited to be a part of the Tap Fever Studios family, and to share her love of dance.
Tap Fever Studios is not currently hiring any new dance instructors, but we’re always looking for great subs. All instructors must have at least 3 years of prior teaching experience, and be able to teach different age groups, in multiple dance styles. Current First Aid & CPR certification is requested. Instructors that have experience working with people that have disabilities is a plus!
If selected to be a Tap Fever Studios staff member, or substitute teach any of our dance classes,
EMAIL the following items to: dance@tapfever.com
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