About Us

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Tracey began her journey with dance very early in her life.  She studied all genres of dance – she especially thrived in tap - and was a successful competitive student for many years in Canada and the U.S.  Since then, her passion for dance continued to grow and became a way of life for her.

Tracey is the Owner and Director of Tapps Performing Arts that she established after returning to her hometown of Orillia, Ontario in 1999. Tracey has poured her heart and soul into the studio and under her guidance, Tapps has grown to become the largest and longest running dance studio in the area. Many of her students have gone on to study dance at university, become dance instructors and have graced many pre-professional and professional stages. 

Tracey has been a dance educator for over 30 years. She gained her initial teaching certification under the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association (CDTA) and then went on to recently complete her ADAPT Teaching Certification in Jazz and Tap under the mentorship of Brian and Faye Foley. As a dance instructor, Tracey truly shines when she teaches acrobatic dance. She is creative, interactive, hands on, and extremely knowledgeable. She holds her Module 1 Certification with Acrobatic Arts and is a certified Level 2 Provincial Gymnastics coach and a Level 1 Provincial Trampoline coach.

Anyone who knows Tracey knows that she always has a large smile and an even bigger heart. She is actively involved in a number of volunteer groups in Orillia and surrounding areas and is always willing to lend a helping hand. She is heavily involved with skating clubs, gymnastic clubs, Canada Day committee and many non-for-profit events, most recently the extremely successful first annual “Dancing With the Doctors Fundraiser”.  

Emily is an educator, choreographer and adjudicator from Orillia, Ontario with almost two decades of dedicated teaching and choreography experience. As a student, Emily trained extensively in various and her dancing has taken her all over the world. She has trained in New York City (Broadway Dance Center, Pulse on Tour Summer), Los Angeles (MDC), Las Vegas (The Dance Awards), and Vancouver (Harbour Dance) and has competed all over North America. Emily has performed on many stages including shows at Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida and most memorably, she travelled to Riesa, Germany with the 2012 Canadian National Showdance Team.

As a choreographer, Emily began training students and choreographing routines at a young age. After high school she was an integral part of developing the award winning Wilfrid Laurier Competitive Dance Team where she worked as their head choreographer while she completed her Honours BBA degree and obtained her CPA,CA designation. Emily has also taken her choreography skills to screen, having been a contributing choreographer on music video sets and set choreography for a full length feature film entitled “Boy City” which was released in July 2022. She is also passionate about not-for-profit work, having choreographed for and volunteered with many local organizations geared towards the arts. She is currently on faculty with Brass Ring Dance, an organization committed to making dance accessible for everyone. 

Beyond choreography, Emily is a dynamic and nurturing dance educator who believes that consistent training is the key to any young dancer’s success. Emily has graduated from the ADAPT syllabus teachers training program, is a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, has completed her Acrobatic Arts Module 1 Certification Course and her Alixa Flexibility Module 1 Certification Course.  She is also on faculty With Destiny Dance Convention. Additionally, many of Emily’s students have moved on to study dance in post-secondary environments in some of Canada’s most prestigious programs including Intrepid Dance Company, George Brown College, TMU Dance, York University Dance, and have been featured in music videos, film and television ( including “Canada Got Talent”).

Emily is an in-demand guest teacher and choreographer but is proud to call TAPPs her home.

Shelby Dasilva is a dance educator and choreographer from Orillia, Ontario. 

Shelby’s love for dance started over 20 years ago at Tapps Performing Arts, where she spent numerous years training and competing in various styles including jazz, ballet, contemporary, and acrobatics.  Shelby began assisting and teaching at Tapps while in high school, discovering her passion and interest in dance education.

Shelby has an Honors Specialization in Health Sciences from the University of Western Ontario.  During her time at Western, she further developed her passion for dancing, teaching, and choreographing when she joined UWO Dance Force, the university’s largest club.  As one of the club’s elected team instructors, Shelby was responsible for leading classes and choreographing routines to be performed in yearly showcases, which were a large contributor to the club’s substantial philanthropic efforts.  In her fourth year, Shelby was elected team manager, and as such, was an integral part of organizing the programming and events leading up to the year-end showcase.  Shelby has also earned a Bachelor of Education degree and a Master of Education degree from Lakehead University, furthering her knowledge and commitment to providing valuable and impactful learning experiences. 

Since returning to Orillia, Shelby has been dedicated to sharing her talent, passion, and love for dance education with her students. Shelby is continuously striving for new inspiration and exuding immense commitment to nurturing her students’ potential and artistic voice.  As a teacher and choreographer, her competitive work has received numerous entertainment, choreography, high score, and overall awards at various competitions.  Recently, Shelby has also set choreography for music videos, including Cassie Dasilva’s “I Don’t Trust Anyone Anymore,” “Unsolicited Contact,” and “I Don’t Hang Out With My Exes.”

Shelby is gold seal certified in the ADAPT Syllabus teachers training program, where she completed three years of Jazz and Tap instruction training under Brian and Faye Foley. She is also a proud member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance.

Andrea Marcucci, affectionately known as Miss Andrea, is a full teaching member of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) since 2000 and is also a member of International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS).  She has trained in and taught Ballet, Modern, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap, National Dance, and Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) for over 20 years. She is also a teacher of the Dance for PD program founded by the Mark Morris Company in NY and has created a dance program, which she teaches several times a year at Empower Simcoe. 

Before joining Tapps in 2018, Miss Andrea was successful Principal and Proprietor of her own studio from 2004 to 2017, and a company member of Simcoe Contemporary Dancers from 2010 to 2014. She also has over 20 years of performance experience, and has been  involved with productions such as Godspell, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, The Odd Couple (Female Version) and Jesus Christ Superstar to name a few. She has taken master classes with many notable educators including Frank Augustine, Lynn Wallis, the Limón Company in NYC and was invited to take class company class with the Isadora Duncan Foundation in NYC in the summer of 2010.

As an educator, Miss Andrea takes her job very seriously. In 2011 she was nominated for Educating in the Arts through the Orillia District Arts Council and her former studio was also nominated for Educating in the Arts. Miss Andrea has also been the dance coach at Mariposa Gymnastics Club for the past 11 years. Additionally, she has guided a multitude of students through the successful completion of RAD exams and many of her students have gone on to pursue pre-professional, professional and teaching positons within the industry. 

Miss Andrea is extremely pleased to be a part of the Tapps Faculty and we are extremely lucky to have someone as knowledgeable, experienced and nurturing and her running our ballet program.

LaurieAnn Stevens is a dance educator and choreographer from Orillia, Ontario with over ten years of experience. She specializes in teaching Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Acro, Musical Theater and Hip Hop to all age levels and abilities from Recreational to Competitive and Adult classes. Her choreography has won numerous Judge’s Choice, Special Awards, and Overalls at industry leading competitions. Since 2018,  LaurieAnn has been on the faculty of TAPPs, where she is head choreographer for the Teen and Senior Part Time Teams and is solely responsible for the Musical Theater program.

LaurieAnn became Progressing Contemporary Technique (PCT), a division of Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), certified in 2023 under the careful instruction of Adam Blanch.

LaurieAnn’s teaching career began with Queen’s Dance Club, while completing her BAH in Classical Studies. She taught weekly classes in

Inter/Advanced Contemporary and Advanced Choreography from 2015-2018, with her works featured in the bi-yearly recitals organized by the club. Through QDC LaurieAnn was given the opportunity of running many outreach programs including free workshops for mental health, choreographing for multiple community events, and hosting an Acro workshop fundraiser for the lung disease Pulmonary Fibrosis. LaurieAnn firmly believes dance should be an integral aspect of life, and available to people of all ages and abilities to help foster community and passion for the arts.

LaurieAnn prides herself in facilitating a welcoming environment where her students can freely express themselves and reach their full potential as dancers, while learning valuable life skills to carry them into adulthood.  Safety and recovery are of the utmost importance to LaurieAnn, minimizing injuries and allowing longevity. Creative concepts that portray shared human experiences are at the heart of LaurieAnn’s choreography. Her pieces often include tableau-like moments, which push her students to connect deeply to their and the audience’s emotions through the nuanced imagery and music. Continuing her education within the industry is a top priority for LaurieAnn.

  Miss Emily is a dedicated dance educator and a full teaching member of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) through the University of Bath since 2020.  Alongside this role, she has been a Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor for levels 1 to 3 since 2020, blending a comprehensive understanding of ballet with a commitment to student development.

With extensive training in Modern, RAD and Cecchetti Ballet, Jazz, and Musical Theatre, Miss Emily brings a diverse skill set and a versatile teaching approach to their students. Prior to joining TAPPs in 2018, Miss Emily trained under Miss Andrea from 2014 onward and participated in Canada’s Ballet Jorgen summer intensives from 2018 to 2023. Additional training includes Sundance RAD Intensives (2016-2017) and involvement in local community theatre productions such as Romeo and Juliet, Spamalot, and Inherit the Wind.

Currently pursuing a new path, Miss Emily has returned to school at Oxford College to become a Registered Massage Therapist. Driven by a passion for injury prevention and recovery, Miss Emily aims to integrate their love for dance with advanced knowledge in therapeutic practices, enhancing the longevity and well-being of dancers. 

Ashley Veldboom is a Tapps Performing Arts alumni and dances professionally in acrobatic/jazz/contemporary dance. She started dancing at the age of 3; and danced competitively in many dance styles for over 9 years. In her competition years, Ashley won many awards but the one that meant the most to her was winning the title of Sr Ultimate Dancer at On The Floor Finals. 

After graduating Ashley was invited to train with Intrepid Dance Company, a post-secondary professional dance program in Markham, ON. Ashley trained with Intrepid from 2019 to 2021, where she learned from industry professionals. With Intrepid she competed on season 1 of Canada’s Got Talent; having made it to the live audition rounds. 

Aside from her training at Intrepid Ashley has danced in many other films and content such as backup dancer for artist Cassie Dasilva in her music video “Unsolicited Contact”, a dancer in the movie “Boy City”, and dance concept video “How To Be A Lady” choreographed and directed by Allie Goodbun. 

Ashley is also a member of the dance group “OPUS”, dancing in their show “The Introduction”. The group also danced in the major dance event “The Big Show In Toronto” among numerous other talented performers. 

Ashley not only has a passion for dancing but sharing that passion with others. Ashley has been teaching at Tapp's since she was 13 years old. Now at age 20, she is our acro technique teacher and teaches recreational and competitive students. Ashley is an Acrobatic Arts M2 Certified Instructor as well, she is almost completed with her Gymnastics Ontario Competition 1 Coaching Certificate program.

 Allysha Tulk has been dancing and practicing contortion her entire life. She was very excited to start assisting students at the age of 14 in all genres and her love for teaching has only grown from there. At the age of 16, she began choreographing, and hasn’t stopped since. As a dancer, she trained in both the CDTA and RAD syllabi. She continued her dance education by attending York University for Dance Choreography & English. She also completed the Dance Masters of America Teacher Training School and received a Graduate Diploma for completing all four core disciplines: Tap, Jazz, Ballet & Modern. Allysha has continued to choreograph and teach around Canada and has received Choreography Awards & Special Recognition for her work in Tap, Acro/Open, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Hip Hop & Contemporary. She continues to strive to be as well rounded as possible, so that she can instill that same belief and training into young dancers.  

Allysha is one of the very few select educators in Canada to be selected by the International Dance Council (CID), traveling to Paris, France and receiving special recognition for her teaching practices with a focus on Mental Health & Wellbeing. She is also trained in the Acrobatic Dance Teachers Association syllabi in Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced, and is certified with Acrobatic Module 2, and through Alixa Flexibility. Allysha is always continuing and expanding her knowledge by attending and volunteering at workshops such as Toronto Dance Teacher Expo, Dance Attack, Impact Dance Convention, Elite Jumpstart Dance Convention and many more. Allysha is also a trained adjudicator (PAA) and has traveled all across Canada and the United States doing so. Allysha also owned  All That’s Dance & More in Barrie, ON until its closure in June 2024. She was very grateful for the lessons that being a Studio Owner taught her, and the other amazing connections she made through the process. Her studio won multiple Overall Studio titles, and many of her dances went to dance professionally throughout North America. Many of her dancers participated in World Performers Canada, Team Canada, Ballet Jorgen, and were ambassadors for competitions and conventions. Most importantly, Allysha and her team were recognized for their kindness and professionalism in all aspects. Allysha is excited to get back to doing more of what she loves most–teaching dance & getting involved in the dance community. Allysha cannot wait to share her knowledge & dance with you!  

Karen "Kay" was born in Toronto, ON and started her journey with dance at the young age of 3 with Spirit of Aloha School. Growing up, hula dancing brought out her gracefulness but Kay, as family and friends like to call her, enjoyed watching BET and learned choreography through music videos from artist such as: Aaliyah, Monica, Missy Elliot, etc. At the age of 13, Kay took her first hip hop class with Fly Lady Di (aka Diana Reyes) at the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians (MFFC). She continued to perform with the MFFC youth group for several years fundraising money for the community.

Alongside working with the MFFC, Kay wanted to pursue her career in singing and formed a singing trio called Blush. In 2001, Blush went on to debut their first EP album working with Backstage Productions. Blush performed at several Toronto landmarks such as Harborfront Centre, Nathan Phillip Square and Metro Convention Centre. During this time she had the privilege to work with artist and choreographer Cleopatra Williams. By the time she graduated high school she got accepted into the Humber College Theatre program where she developed her skills as a dancer with classes such as; African Dance (Ballet Creole), Movement and Character Dance.

By 2009, Kay auditioned and joined the first generation of "Bucc N Flvr Dance Crew" members. As a professional dancer and a part of "Bucc N Flvr Dance Crew" Kay regularly performs as well as facilitates, mentors and teaches workshops around the GTA. She has also traveled and performed with her crew in places such as: Montreal, Ottawa, Washington DC, Dallas TX and Dominican Republic. She continues to work professionally and continues to train under Lenny Len Dela Pena.

Kay always keeps true to street dance and hip hop culture with new techniques of training and always having the mindset of a student. Kay aims to maintain and carry on the legacy of "Bucc N Flvr Dance Crew" for the love of hip hop culture and to share her passion of hip hop with all of the students.