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

• American Emergency Medical Advisory Association: CPR, AED and First Aid Program Certification Course, Administered by National Health Care Provider Solutions
• National Training Center on Inclusion: "Introduction to Inclusion", Administered by Kids Included Together
• National Training Center on Inclusion: "Respectful Accommodations", Administered by Kids Included Together
• National Training Center on Inclusion: "Partnering With Families", Administered by Kids Included Together
• National Training Center on Inclusion: "Supporting Positive Behavior", Administered by Kids Included Together
• National Training Center on Inclusion: "Stop, Schedule, Support", Administered by Kids Included Together
• National Training Center on Inclusion: "Easing Transitions for All Children", Administered by Kids Included Together
• National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Pacific Southwest Chapter: Outstanding Achievement Nomination for Program Promo - Single Spot or Campaign, with KUSI NEWS

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.

Wen Song

❤Since October 2024❤
Wen is a graduate of CPMA and SDSCPA where she received her training in numerous dance styles. Including ballet, Horton, Limon, Graham, jazz, tap, Fosse, and Bennett. Alongside dance, she has trained in acting and voice, as well as design and visual arts. She has continued her dance training at SD Mesa College where she is also pursuing an associates in child development. She is currently attending UCSD to pursue her bachelors in dance. When she is not in school, you can find her teaching, performing, and taking classes throughout the San Diego community. She plans to work toward her teaching credential to help youth grow their passion for the arts as her teachers have done for her.

Jen Martin

❤April 2024 - current❤
Jen fell in love with dance at a young age and began taking lessons when she was 3 at Judy's School of Dance in Randolph, MA. She started with tap and ballet, and then successfully bargained with her parents to let her take acro, jazz, and 'dad's & daughters' dance as well. Dance kept Jen inspired and always smiling in classes as well as on stage! Jen's passion for performing grew throughout her childhood as she and her 5 siblings entertained themselves by rehearsing and hosting talent shows for their parents and neighbors. As the oldest child, Jen gained experience in directing talent shows for her siblings and their friends to perform dances they choreographed together. From around age 7, Jen loved creating an environment that was as close to a real theater as possible- complete with curtains she would hang, stage lights, costumes, concession stand, programs, and always a videographer (Dad).

Jen continued dance lessons until age 14 and then put it on pause when she started high school. Life became even more busy when she continued on to nursing school and then started working as a Registered Nurse. She moved from the east coast to San Diego in 2014 and loves her career as an oncology nurse at UCSD Jacobs Medical Center. Jen's love of dance was re-ignited in February 2023 when she dropped in to Tap Fever for a Cardio Tap class. Since then she has been attending as many different classes as she can possibly fit into her schedule, and she has found it to be an incredible outlet for her days off work. Jen's enthusiasm for dance quickly led her back onto the stage and she has enjoyed having many opportunities to perform in recitals, Vaudeville Fever shows, San Diego Fringe Festival, and at Disneyland. You’ll often hear her talking about how dancing at Tap Fever has filled her life with an abundance of joy, inspiration, new energy, and an amazing community.

Jen acknowledges that her passion was sparked by the influences of her childhood dance teachers, especially Miss Judy and Miss Shauna; and her flame for dance has been re-ignited by Larisa and all of the supportive and talented instructors and other dancers at Tap Fever. Jen brings an undeniable passion for dance to her new role as Director's Assistant and is excited to collaborate with the other staff and to help Larisa with administrative duties, marketing, and event planning as this wonderful community at Tap Fever continues to grow!