Staff Bios

	Larisa Hall, Owner/Director/Instructor larisa@tapfever.com Dance has been a life-long love for her, but it didn't come easily at first. Larisa was born with severely clubbed feet, and had to wear double casts from the time she was 1 to 9 months of age. She slept with a brace to hold her feet & casts turned out, hoping to correct the problem. Doctors weren't sure if she'd walk, but thank goodness they were wrong! Dancing since kindergarten, Larisa has experienced many styles-jazz, ballet, modern, swing, hip-hop... she loves 'em all, but the rhythm and unique art of tap dance is 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 and competitions. 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. With this experience Larisa received high marks in regional and national competitions and performed as a member of Pamm's professional tap team. One of her 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!
	Akayaa Atule, African Dance Instructor akayaa@tapfever.com Drenched in the sun-bright rhythms of Africa, singer and drummer Akayaa Atule brings her own flavor of Ghanaian Highlife music to San Diego. Akayaa is a native of the Frafra tribe in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The daughter of a master drummer, she learned how to dance and drum almost as soon as she learned how to walk. As a young woman in 1980, Akayaa attended the Performing Arts School of Ghana, where she furthered her study of the talking drum and traditional dances. Akayaa first came to California in 1983, bringing with her the music and dance traditions of the Frafra tribe. As a teacher and performer, Akayaa has shared these traditions with people of all ages throughout California. She is currently a dance instructor at San Diego State University and Southwestern College, and at several elementary schools in San Diego through Young Audiences of San Diego. In addition to Akayaa and Bolga Zohdoomah, she is the founder of the dance and drumming ensemble Abaa Koma. She also conducts private dance and drumming workshops solo, and performs solo or with the band for company conferences, parties, cultural/street fairs, schools, special events, and more!
	Deanna Vick, Dance Instructor deanna@tapfever.com Deanna Vick is a North Carolina native, where she discovered her love for dance at age 10 and started assistant teaching at age 13. She quickly got involved with local musical theatre and went on the dance professionally in productions with the North Carolina Theatre, her favorites being A Chorus Line, Singin' In The Rain, Oklahoma, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Her dance experience has spanned over many studios, teachers, and styles. She has studied under such esteemed artists as Shamil Yagudin, Frank Hatchett, Mitzi Hamilton, and Luigi. In 2003, Deanna started her teaching apprenticeship with Kirstie Spadie of the NC Dance Institute in Raleigh, where she studied and taught jazz for 4 years. Since then, she has studied and taught at several studios across the country. Her most recent obsession is with the practice of yoga, and will use her Yoga Alliance Teacher Certification to teach fantastic yoga classes. Deanna works by day as an Industrial Engineer, and is thrilled to be dancing her evenings away with Tap Fever!
	Emily Cieniawa, Dance Instructor emily@tapfever.com Emily began her dance training at the age of 3. She has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical at Ct. Dance in Connecticut as well as training in modern, hip-hop, tap, and ballet at Monroe Dance Academy in Connecticut. At age 11, Emily won a tap scholarship at Ct. Dance, became an assistant teacher there throughout high school, and was asked to teach there when she was 18. In high school, Emily was a dancer on the dance team called the Markettes. The Markettes are a very popular dance team on the east coast and won first place at competitions. One of her biggest achievements in high school was her dance team won a Knicks City Dancer Competition and was able to perform at Madison Square Garden twice. At that time, Emily began teaching at Dance Etc. in Newtown, Ct. for 3-12 year olds in ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical. Emily taught 45 min- 1 hour and half classes that included a warm-up, jumps and turns across the floor to a combination at the end of class. After high school, she took a year off and trained with dance instructors at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. When Emily was 19, she began teaching at Regional Center for the Arts to 14-18 yr. olds. Emily taught lyrical, jazz and hip-hop there while also assisting a ballet class. She also choreographed the play Lil Abner for RCA. Emily has 15 years experience with working with children and enjoys all various forms of dance, but her first love is teaching young children tap and ballet. Her classes are filled with fun and high energy but focused on technique, strength, and discipline.
	JJ (Jarmar) Jackson, Dance Instructor jj@tapfever.com Jarmar Rashad Jackson, also known as "JJ", has been dancing since he was 3. He studied ballet, jazz, salsa, hip hop, African, modern, and of course tap. He loves tap because it brings out a certain attitude in the dancer. The steps and the sounds that you make, and all of the different combinations that you can come up with, are the best part of tapping. Freeing your mind and being able to have that "I believe that I can do this" attitude is what gets you through. JJ graduated from Chula Vista High School and began teaching soon after. He's taught at the boys and girls club, he's been working on student choreography at Southwestern College, and at IDC (International Dance Company). He has taken tap in Philadelphia as well as in California and says it has all been a great experience.
	Jonathan Mendoza, Dance Instructor jonathan@tapfever.com Ever since Jonathan was little, he has always loved to dance. It was not until his junior year of high school that he took a beginners class of ballet Folklorico, where he really fell in love with this type of dance form. Ever since then, he has been dancing ballet Folklorico for 5 years where he has choreographed and performed in dance concerts and national competitions. The class he is teaching is called Freestyle Folklorico where he mixes different steps from different regions of Mexico into one, and adds in some tap dancing moves!
	Kavita Sheth, Bollywood & Zumba Instructor kavita@tapfever.com Kavita is a Detroit, Michigan native, where she discovered her love for dance at age 5. She has trained in modern jazz, Indian folk dance, hip hop, belly dance, and various forms of Latin dance. Her experience in the variety of dance styles has helped form her own unique style of dance. Kavita believes focusing on technique is extremely important in learning any form of dance. Her class focuses on both learning the proper technique and also learning choreographed moves that flow together beautifully.
	Kristina Meek, Dance Instructor kristina@tapfever.com Kristina began dancing at the Marilyn Jenkins School of Dance in Cincinnati, way back in the 80s. She minored in Dance—only because it wasn’t offered as a major—at Northern Kentucky University, where she was a member of the semi-professional NKU Dance Troupe, performing ballet, jazz, tap and modern. She has performed as a dancer in many musicals, both in Cincinnati and in San Diego. Currently Kristina works as a public relations professional, writes plays, and acts in the occasional play or independent film. She is very excited for the opportunity to tap again.
	Mandy Santiago, Dance Instructor mandy@tapfever.com Mandy was born in Brisbane Australia and started her training at the early age of 3. At the age of 15 she started working professionally throughout Australia. She has toured with the Boogie Woogies children show around Australia. Mandy has been with Princess Cruise lines for 4 years and been able to travel the world with the company. In Australia she has been in many commercial shows and events, and choreographed the TV commercial 'kicks'. She has staged, choreographed and modeled for Schwarzkopf (hair shows) and has been involved in Ariel angels production team and Salsa Mania in Australia. She has been blessed to have been working along side world renowned choreographers here in the USA and Australia. She performed with the dance company UDANCEELECTRA a San Francisco based dance company, recently show casing San Franciscan fashion artist Joui Turandot in ' Vagadu'. Mandy is thrilled to be in San Diego, and hopes people will love her classes, which are nuturing, fun, knowledgeable and in a comfortable environment.
	Monica Foitzik, Dance Instructor monica@tapfever.com Monica Foitzik started dancing when she was 14 years old. Immediately, she began dabbling in all styles-ballet to jazz to hip hop to cheer. One year later, she was performing with her high school's dance and cheer teams. Before she graduated high school, she began teaching dance at a local studio in North County San Diego. And when she graduated, started teaching dance programs for the City of Vista. While attending San Diego State University and working toward her bachelor's in journalism, she decided to complete her minor in dance. There, she expanded her knowledge of dance and worked with the best teachers San Diego had to offer. Once she turned 21, she decided she wanted to earn extra money as a dancer in the club industry. Before she knew it, she was performing with the most elite dance groups in the nightlife industry and has performed at many of the hottest dance clubs in San Diego.
	Rachel Wadsworth, Dance Instructor rachel@tapfever.com Rachel Wadsworth has a degree in Theater with emphasis in Dance from the University of New Hampshire. She's trained with some of the greatest dancers/choreographers like Mia Michaels from "So You Think You Can Dance" and Shae Sullivan from Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Rachel is currently working alongside tap greats Brenda Buffalino and Dean Diggins in the show "Clara's Dream" where she stars as the lead. One of her greatest accomplishments is competing for Miss America in 2002 and having the ability to showcase her talents in front of thousands of people. As much as she likes to perform, teaching is Rachel's passion. For the last ten years, Rachel has taught ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and gymnastics for various studios across the country. When she is not in the classroom teaching or taking classes, you can find Rachel working out, playing with her dog Buster, and eating ice cream!
	Tina Chan, Hula Instructor tina@tapfever.com Tina teaches several formats: Pilates, Turbo Kickboxing, and Hot Hula (Tahitian) Fitness. Before coming to in San Diego in 2009, she was a group fitness instructor in the Bay Area for 24 Hour Fitness and Diamond Hills Club & Spa. She enjoys every opportunity to provide fitness guidance that individuals of all skill levels can enjoy and feel accomplished by keeping physically fit. Tina is also a Professional Polynesian dancer with over 20 years experience dancing and teaching for both adults and children. She's had the extreme privilege of studying under very wonderful and talented Kumu Hulas. Tina has learned from greats such as: Academy of Hawaiian Arts, Instructor Mark Keali'i Holomalu, Halau Hula Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu Dance Group, Instructor Patrick Makuakane, and Na Mamo No'eau Dance Group, Instructor Rick Smith! Tina feels very blessed to have been a part of the Hawaiian community and wants to keep this culture alive by sharing what she's learned with others.
	Wendy Tylka, Bellydance Instructor wendy@tapfever.com Belly dance is commonly expressed as a fusion of dances from North Africa, the Middle East and Turkey. Wendy has taken these influences and has been belly dancing since 1994. She's studied many different styles of belly dance with many teachers, domestically. Her influences from around the world including, samba, ballet, flamenco, Odissi, Rajasthani folk, Balken, Greek and West African have all helped to mold her own style.