Tucson Dance Academy

🩰 TDA’s Ballet Intensive begins TOMORROW! There’s still time to register—secure your spot today through the link in our bio! 🤍

✨ Faculty Spotlight: Hyla M Perillo-Wright ✨

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 trained in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Tap, and Jazz. 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!
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🩰 TDA’s Ballet Intensive begins NEXT WEEK! There’s still time to register—secure your spot today through the link in our bio! 🤍

✨ Faculty Spotlight: Elizabeth George ✨

Elizabeth George 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.
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✨ A special tribute to our Class of 2026! ✨

As we wrap up another incredible Summer Showcase, we want to recognize our seven amazing seniors. Watching you take the stage at Centennial Hall one final time as TDA dancers was both inspiring and emotional.

Over the years, you have grown not only as dancers, but as leaders, role models, and an important part of the TDA family. Your dedication, hard work, and love for dance have left a lasting impact on our studio, and we are so proud of all you have accomplished.

Thank you for sharing your talent, passion, and countless memories with us. While we’re sad to see this chapter come to an end, we can’t wait to see where your next adventure takes you.

And to our staff, parents, dancers, and supporters, thank you for helping make their final Summer Showcase so special.

Stay tuned for our Summer Showcase recap!