Tammy Manville-Booth (Owner / Director) is thrilled and honored to be owner/director of Tucson Dance Academy. The strides and accomplishments that the young dancers have made in the past couple of years are phenomenal and exciting for Tammy, the studio staff, parents and the families of Tucson Dance Academy. Tammy Booth brings years of training, performing, and success at various levels of dance and gymnastics to her beloved home of Tucson. She truly enjoys the students and loves watching them progress each day, month and year as they train and perform.
Tammy has been dancing and teaching for over 30 years. She was ranked the Number 1 “Elite Gymnast” in the United States in 1975, and due to injury was alternate for the 1976 Olympic Team. Tammy danced in such movies as “Outrageous Fortune”, where she doubled for actress Shelly Long, and executed the famous leap over the canyons at the movie’s end. She also danced (and featured) in “Teen Wolf Too”, “Electric Boogaloo-Breakin II”, and “The Ratings Game” with Danny Devito, in which Joe Tremaine choreographed. Tammy was a member of the famed “Rockettes”, was a featured dancer of the Italian Television Show “Fantastico VI”, in Rome, Italy. She has lived and performed throughout the world, dancing in professional companies, videos, TV, and concert work with Jackie Sleight, Doug Caldwell, Suzi Taylor, and Billy Goodson. She also was a featured dancer and gymnast in South Africa with Bart Connor in “Gymnastics Goes to Hollywood”.
As Jazz director, Tammy has trained dancers at Tempe Dance Academy in Tempe, Arizona for over 20 years and founded the now well-known Christian Dance Academy. She has co-directed the Spirit of Christmas show since 1989, doing so with acclaimed Arizona dance teacher legend, Wanda Manville. Countless students trained by Tammy Booth have become professional dancers; dancing on Broadway in NYC, cruise Ships, films, commercial videos, professional dance companies (including River North, Ballet Arizona, Ballet Magnificat, and Cirque du Soleil), and the famed Rockettes.
Haley Carolin is both a gifted dancer and teacher, and a third generation of both disciplines. She began dancing at the age of 3. Haley received her training at Tempe Dance Academy where she studied ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, and acro. At Tempe Dance, Haley studied ballet under principal dancers from both Ballet Arizona and The Suzanne Farrell Ballet.
At the age of 9, Haley began competing and traveling with the nationally recognized Tempe Dance Company. She was also a part of the Christian Dance Company and performed in the “Spirit of Christmas” show for nearly two decades. Haley has traveled throughout Europe on three tours with the International Dance Alliance dancing in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.
Haley graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Elementary Education. She is an award winning teacher who taught 2nd and 3rd grade for over 8 years. She is also a certified member of the Dance Masters of America.
Carly Booth Lytvyn received her formal training at Tempe Dance Academy where she studied ballet, jazz, and acrobatics beginning at the age of 3. She toured nationally and internationally with the TDA Pre-Professional company. She received a college scholarship from NYCDA and to further her education, she attended Exploring Ballet with acclaimed dance teacher Suzanne Farrell at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. At the age of 16, Carly began studying ballroom where she has excelled in International Latin and American Smooth styles. She was the National and World title holder for both American Smooth and International styles in the Professional-Amateur division in 2011 and 2012. Carly is currently dancing professionally International Latin, and is a USA National Rising Star Finalist at the United States Dancesport Championship. Tucson Dance Academy is Carly’s teaching home, where she instructs all ages of dancers, specializing in ballroom, jazz and lyrical.
Vasily Lunde: Tucson Dance Academy welcomes Vasily Lunde to it’s teaching staff! Mr. Lunde is from Russia and is currently a freelance dancer/teacher in the United States. For the past couple of seasons he was a Principle Dancer with Ballet Tucson and Columbia City Ballet in Columbia, South Carolina. While he was there Vasily had the wonderful opportunity to dance principal and soloist roles, and work with ballet mistresses Patricia Miller of the Joffrey Ballet and Stacey Calvert of The New York City Ballet. He has also danced with Yacobson Ballet Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Vasily is originally from Saint Petersburg, Russia and received his training at the Kazan Choreographic Academy and Vaganova Academy in Saint Petersburg. Upon graduating Mr. Lunde was hired by the Yacobson Ballet Theatre, where he danced as a Soloist and Principle and toured Russia, Western Europe, Asia, United States, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.
Bo Brinton: Bo Brinton, born in Honolulu and raised in Tucson, began his dance training at Arizona Ballet Theatre under Cecily Bressel and Norman Walker. He went on to earn scholarships to summer programs at American Ballet Theatre and Alonzo King LINES Ballet before completing his BFA in Dance at the University of Arizona. Bo’s professional career includes dancing with Artifact Dance Project, José Mateo Ballet Theatre, San Diego Ballet, BodyVox, and Dance Kaleidoscope. He has performed both classical and contemporary repertoire, including roles such as Hilarion in Giselle and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as works by choreographers Greg Bielemeier, David Hochoy, Janice Rosario, Joshua Blake Carter, and Emmy Award-winners Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland. As a choreographer, Bo has created original works for BodyVox and Dance Kaleidoscope, known for their musicality, clarity, and emotional resonance. He has taught at Arizona Ballet Theatre, the BodyVox Dance Center and the University of Arizona, bringing a balance of technical rigor and creative exploration to the studio.
Bo is currently pursuing his MFA in Dance at the University of Arizona and is thrilled to be sharing his passion and experience with the next generation of dancers at Tucson Dance Academy. He lives in Tucson with his fiancé Richie and their two cats, Mohan and Vivienne.
Elizabeth George: Elizabeth is an Associate Professor in the School of Dance at the University of Arizona, where she has spent the past two decades teaching, choreographing, and mentoring BFA and MFA candidates. A former dancer with both Dayton Ballet and Ballet Tucson, she holds BFA and MFA degrees in Dance from the University of Arizona.
Professor George teaches ballet technique, beginning and advanced choreography, and developed a specialized yoga course for dance majors. Her teaching and research emphasize a holistic, mindful approach to dance education—one that nurtures well-rounded, self-aware artists. She is deeply committed to mentoring young dancers through practices that cultivate efficiency, safety, and body awareness.
Her recent guest teaching includes engagements with the Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company, Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp in Colorado, and the Rocky Mountain School of Dance in Wyoming. Her scholarly work explores the integration of mindfulness into both technique and pedagogy, with a focus on how intentional practices can deepen artistic understanding and physical intelligence.
In a recent creative research endeavor, Professor George participated in Imagination 1—an immersive, all-artist analogue astronaut mission at Biosphere 2—where she spent a week in a sealed habitat exploring the intersection of art, science, and human experience. She continues to share this work with the local community and currently teaches yoga at Tucson Yoga Sol.
Debra Byler: Debra is one of Tucson’s prized teachers for young aspiring dancers. Known for her ability to instruct and train children in the art of dance in a joyful, artistic and professional way, families have flocked to Ms. Debra’s classes for many years. A Mom of three beautiful daughters, Debra’s innate ability to bring out the best in young people is key to TDA’s focus on training and technique. She has taught for over 20 years and her extensive background includes high level competitive gymnastics, Modern Dance Touring Company, a dance studies at BYU (including Elementary Education, Personal Training and University level dance classes), and choreography for Junior Miss Pageants. Debra comments on her teaching position at TDA: “The difference being at Tucson Dance Academy is our commitment to teaching proper technique and dance terminology at a young age, and our success at having the students learning, without even realizing that they are learning – and having fun in the process. It is hard work, but an effort that is rewarded when we see the kids succeed by reaching their potential, whatever that might be.”
Justine Wasilewski trained at Tucson Dance Academy from its beginning until graduating high school. Justine has trained in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Acro, Improvisation, Ballroom, Tap, and Hip-Hop. She spent summers training at Juilliard, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Perry Mansfield. She loved getting to travel around the country competing with her team. Justine was the national 3rd runner-up teen outstanding dancer in 2013 and the national 5th runner-up senior outstanding dancer in 2017 at NYCDA. Being awarded college scholarships from the University of Arizona and the NYCDA Foundation enabled her to continue her pre-professional dance training at the University of Arizona School of Dance. While at UA, Justine performed works by Paul Taylor, Jessica Lang, Christopher Wheeldon, Jerome Robbins, Larry Keigwin, and George Balanchine. One of her self-choreographed pieces was chosen to perform in the Student Spotlight show at UA. In May 2021, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. After graduating college, Justine became a company dancer with Spectrum Dance Theater in Seattle under the direction of Donald Byrd for the 2021/2022 dance season. In the summer of 2022, she became a company artist with Monica Hogan Danceworks in Atlanta and a guest artist with Columbus State University. Besides performing, Justine loves teaching and choreographing and is thrilled to be back home at Tucson Dance Academy.
Beth Floress: Beth discovered the joy of dance at the age of five, beginning a lifelong journey in movement and expression. Studying ballet, tap, jazz, and modern under the guidance of acclaimed artists including Rochelle Zide-Booth, Norman Walker, John Turjoman, Richard France, Fred Kelly, and Frank Trent, Beth furthered her dance training under scholarship at the University of Arizona and Ballet Magnificat.
Melanie Jarvis: Tucson Dance Academy is very excited to welcome Melanie Jarvis to our teaching staff! Melanie grew up dancing in Southern California and later moved to Tucson to study at the University of Arizona. She has been a much sought-after dance instructor and competition choreographer for over ten years. Melanie enjoyed being an instructor for the United Spirit Association and has been the head Pom coach at Ironwood Ridge for many years. She has taught master classes in California and Osaka, Japan. Melanie is “motivated by hard-working and humble students” and is very excited to share her love of dance at Tucson Dance Academy. TDA welcomes Melanie Jarvis to our dance family!
Tanya Fisher – Dance has allowed Tanya to travel the world performing in Spain, Japan, Peru, Holland, Washington DC, and New York City. As a dancer with the University of Arizona Dance Ensemble, she performed at the Kennedy Center during the Jazz Dance World Congress and in Amsterdam, Holland at the International Theatre School Festival. While at the U of A, Tanya earned her BFA in Education with a dance emphasis graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1998. She has returned to the U of A School of Dance as both a guest teacher and panelist on several occasions. Tanya also studied dance at the Giordano Dance Center in Chicago on scholarship as well as Tempe Dance Academy. She has choreographed for Miss Arizona Pageants through the Miss America Organization. In 2002 Tanya founded Gotta Dance! Dance Academy where she was the Artistic Director for more than six years and her students and choreography won several national awards.Tanya enjoys sailing, kayaking, and the outdoors with her family.
Emma Matthies is from Portland, Oregon where she grew up training and competing in various styles of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, and hip hop. She has since developed her tap dance training with Karida Griffith, Maud Arnold, Sarah Reich, Derick Grant, Gregg Russel, Ryan Lohoff, Angela Carter, and many other astounding professionals. During her early high school years, Emma had the opportunity to begin her teaching career, and has recently began to pursue and further explore choreographing for competitions and professional companies. Currently, Emma is working on her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Arts, Media, and Entertainment at the University of Arizona. While going to school, she has had the opportunity to perform in shows for Tap 24.7 and DXX Tap, as well as be an apprentice for Tap Into the Network. Overall, Emma believes that confidence is key to a dancers success in the classroom; her goal is to help her students fine-tune their technique while allowing them to discover their individuality.
Carson Evans Carson is currently a Junior dance major at the University of Arizona. He has trained in jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, modern, hip hop, tap, and ballroom for 13 years. Carson grew up in Las Vegas, NV where he danced competitively through high school and attended Las Vegas Academy of the Arts as a dance major. Since then, Carson has been apart of the Las Vegas Aces hype squad and has choreographed multiple dances.
Delaney Hudson began dancing at the age of 3. She received her training at Tempe Dance Academy in Tempe, AZ where she studied ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, tap, hip hop, and acro. Delaney was involved in the competitive dance world for nearly 10 years. She earned numerous regional titles and was a national winner. She also traveled throughout Europe on several tours with the International Dance Alliance dancing in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, and the Netherlands! Delaney’s favorite styles of dance are ballet and contemporary, and she is passionate about choreographing and teaching young people how to dance!
Ryan Evans is a 21-year-old dancer, teacher, and performer from St. Louis, Missouri. He began his dance training at the age of 3 and studied through the age of 18 at Columbia Performing Arts Center, receiving extensive training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, tap, hip hop, etc. In 2022, Ryan was named a YoungArts Winner in Modern and Contemporary Dance, a prestigious national award recognizing outstanding young artists.
Abbey Klingler was born and raised in Tucson, AZ, where she has been dancing since the age of 7. She began training with Gotta Dance under direction of Tanya Fisher before Tammy Booth turned it into Tucson Dance Academy. Abbey has studied ballet, jazz, tap, acro, ballroom, and lyrical. She attended intensives such as Alonzo King LINES ballet in San Francisco and Modas Dance in Albuquerque both on scholarship. She also competed all over the country from California to Nevada to New York and many others.
Most recently, Abbey graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from Point Park University. There she performed in works by Kiesha Lalama, Kiki Lucas, Adam Hougland, Floyd McClean and others. In the summer of 2021, she had the professional opportunity to work with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s Julia Erickson in their outside performance Open Air. Abbey is extremely excited to get back to teaching dance here at Tucson Dance Academy and fitness with her barre certification from FITtucson!