Meet Tina Evans and Alice Peterson

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tina Evans and Alice Peterson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tina & Alice, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Our purpose came from realizing we share the same values surrounding the performing arts and teaching. We decided that we could collaborate to share it with future performers better than we could on our own. Our deep love for the performing arts and desire to create a space where young people could discover their voices, creativity, and confidence became what Tap into Theater is today.

We started with a simple vision: to build a community that celebrates both structure and the joy of performance. For us, tap and theater were more than just art forms- they were lifelines. They gave us structure, expression, and a way to connect with others. Over time, we realized that the same experiences that shaped us could become the foundation of something bigger: a place where students don’t just learn steps or lines, but where they discover resilience, teamwork, and self-belief.

Finding our purpose meant asking ourselves why we wanted to teach. The answer became clear when we saw the spark in our students- the moment a shy child took the stage with confidence, or when a group of dancers realized they could achieve something powerful together. Those moments reminded us that our work wasn’t just about perfecting technique, but about helping students step into their own potential.

Tap into Theater Academy was born from that purpose. It’s about giving our students tools to grow not only as performers, but as people. Our purpose is to nurture their creativity, challenge them to push beyond what feels easy, and remind them that the stage- just like life- is a place to be bold, expressive, and true to yourself.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

At Tap into Theater Academy, we are passionate about creating a space where students can grow not only as performers but also as people. We focus on teaching the fundamentals, and performance with the belief that the arts builds confidence, discipline, and a sense of community.
What excites us most is watching our students find their voices- whether it’s the shy student stepping onto the stage for the first time, or the experienced dancer discovering a deeper level of creativity. For us, the academy is about more than steps, scripts, and technique; it’s about empowering each student to step into their potential and see themselves as capable, resilient, and expressive individuals.
Right now, we’re especially excited about our upcoming production of Newsies Jr., performing at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts December 18th. Along with blending tap and theater in a fresh, innovative way. We’re also building a strong online presence through our creative content, which allows us to inspire not only our local community but also a growing audience online.
Our mission is to keep creativity alive, to challenge our students as well as anyone who’s watching, and remind them that performance is not just about entertainment- it’s about connection, growth, and discovering who you are.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities on our journey have been resilience, creativity, and leadership.

Resilience has been essential in the ever-changing world of theater and entrepreneurship. Building Tap into Theater Academy from the ground up required pushing through financial challenges, moments of doubt, and the constant demand for innovation. Resilience taught us to see setbacks not as failures, but as opportunities to learn and grow stronger, and that something that we make sure to pass on to our students. As they negate all the rejection within the industry.

Creativity has guided every decision We’ve made- from choreographing routines and writing musicals, and creating new programs for young performers. Creativity isn’t just about artistry onstage; it’s about problem-solving, marketing, and finding fresh ways to connect with students, families, and the community. Because every musical production we perform is something that people have already seen, it’s important to us to interpret and develop everything in a way that is unique to our creativity and storytelling, whether that be through the choreography, costumes, or staging.

Leadership has been the bridge between vision and reality. Running a theater academy isn’t just about teaching- it’s about mentoring young people, collaborating, and setting an example of professionalism, and integrity. Leadership is about building something bigger than yourself.

For those starting out, We would encourage you to:

Develop resilience by embracing mistakes as part of the process. Every great artist and entrepreneur has stumbled; what matters is getting back up.
Nurture your creativity daily: write, dance, draw, or brainstorm ideas- it keeps your mind open and your vision alive.
Practice leadership early. You don’t have to wait for a title- take initiative, encourage others, and look for ways to contribute to a bigger picture.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

The most helpful thing has been each other. We both bring different strengths to the table, and together we create balance.
The most impactful source of support has been our students. Teaching and mentoring young performers constantly pushes us to grow, stay resilient, and lead by example. Their curiosity and courage remind us why we started this path, and their belief in themselves inspires us to keep believing in ourselves.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: tapintotheateracademy
• Facebook: tapintotheateracademy

Image Credits

Tina Evans
Arielle Rustmann
Kelsey Downing
Jeannie Lee