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.
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.
Tammy Dyke-Compton earned her BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School (2003), her MFA in Dance from the University of Arizona School of Dance (2013), and a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate with Flourish Yoga Tucson, AZ. She is a Professor of Dance at the University of Arizona School of Dance, where she teaches jazz and modern technique, choreography, dance pedagogy, dance history, and coordinates the Traveling Dance Ensemble.
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.
Hyla M Perillo-Wright is a Michigan native who began her pre-professional training at Dance Arts Academy/Company Dance Traverse under the direction of Betsy Carr and Sue Buck. She spent summers training at American Ballet Theater, Alonzo King Lines, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Rioult Dance, and BalletMet. She earned college scholarships through the NYCDA College Scholarship Foundation which enabled her to continue her pre-professional dance education.She attended Marymount Manhattan College in NYC and has performed works by Peter Chu, Twyla Tharp, May O’Donnell, Jaqueline Buglisi, Adam Barruch, Rachel Kreiling, Joey Dowling, student works, and guest performed as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Dance Arts Academy’s The Nutcracker. She graduated with a BFA in Dance with a Concentration in Ballet in 2021. Following graduation, she made her Broadway North American Tour debut as Victoria the White Cat in CATS The Musical (2021–2022).
In 2022, she relocated to Okinawa, Japan and served as the Ballet Mistress and Assistant Rehearsal Director at Okinawa School of Performing Arts (2022-2025). There, she headed the ballet program and developed the RAD and Cecchetti-based curriculum. Additionally, she taught Pilates to the DoD-Military community and choreographed for local musical productions of Madagascar Jr, Anastasia the Musical, and was the Lead Choreographer for Kadena High Schools West Side Story. She continues to share her love for dance and is excited to make Tucson her new home with her husband and 2 dogs!
Gianni Howell is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona School of Dance, where he teaches jazz, tap, and careers in dance while also serving as the School’s Marketing Coordinator. A proud University of Arizona alumnus, Howell brings a diverse background in performance, education, and arts leadership to his work with students.
His professional career includes performing with Odyssey Dance Theatre and spending seven years with Cirque du Soleil’s The Beatles LOVE in Las Vegas, where he appeared in more than 3,500 performances and later served as an Artist Coach. His additional credits include work with Carrie Underwood, Foster the People, Nevada Ballet Theatre, and Broadway Bares.
Beyond the stage, Howell is the co-producer of the Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase, one of the nation’s leading collegiate jazz dance events, connecting dancers with renowned artists, educators, and career opportunities. As an educator, mentor, and creative leader, he is committed to helping students develop the artistry, versatility, and professional skills needed to build successful careers in today’s dance industry.
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.
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.
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.
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!