Tonya was born and raised in Southern California. She started dancing at age 6. By age 8, she began performing in musical theater and has loved it ever since! She's trained in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, pointe, low impact cardio, voice and some modern, hip hop & tumbling. At age 15, Tonya got to teach her first dance class and knew that was her calling. Tonya was involved with the great community theater and dance programs with San Marcos and Vista Parks & Recreation, Moonlight Amphitheater, Christian Youth Theater, Dance Unlimited and Palomar Community College Dance, Theater & Applied Music (for voice) Programs. By the time she graduated high school in 1993, she was teaching and directing the San Marcos Parks and Rec program - putting on two big recitals a year. She also choreographed, costumed, and assistant directed for several community theater groups and local high school musicals as well as local pageants. At age 20, Tonya began a personal relationship with our Lord and accepted Jesus in her heart. She also began to teach dance and high school drama at her church's Christian school for two years and helped choreograph local church musicals. She took a short break to get married, become a stepmom of two, and eventually a mom of three. The Hallmark family moved to Grand Junction in 2004 and began homeschooling. She's helped out with several VBS's in the valley over the years which is always a highlight in her kids' summer. As her kids got involved in co-op groups, Tonya began teaching dance and drama at Living Springs Co-op and eventually opening up homeschool theater arts classes at her home through Legacy Dance & Arts. Her favorite things to teach are musical theater & praise dance - glorifying God through worship or expressing a story. She loves finding the God moments in everything and bringing a wholesome, godly character to all performing art forms. Tonya is also an AFFA certified group exercise instructor for 15 years and 13 years certified SilverSneakers instructor teaching at Crossroads Fitness.  She teaches water classes as well.  She and her daughter recently performed with High Desert Opera in the Wizard of Oz at CMU. She loves working with all ages and has been blessed to be able to have her kids take part in so many diverse experiences because of the flexibility of homeschooling. She enjoys watching others develop their talents & gifts as they grow in their own passions and incorporate God's heart in all they do. She is thankful to be apart of sharing God's love through the arts!