A Southern California native, Leah Silva is an internationally recognized educator, adjudicator, award-winning choreographer, artistic director, producer, and critically acclaimed performer. With more than two decades of experience in dance education and performance, she has cultivated a distinguished career rooted in artistic excellence, creative exploration, and mentorship. Her work as an educator has taken her throughout the United States and internationally, where she continues to inspire and mentor dancers and artists across diverse communities and cultural settings.

 

Leah currently serves as a Lecturer of Dance in the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). She travels nationwide to teach and set choreography and is also a recurring specialty master teacher at dance studios throughout Southern California.

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Leah’s career spans performance, choreography, education, and arts leadership. She has been featured in Dance Teacher Magazine and made history as the first tap dancer selected as an Artist-in-Residence at Zion National Park. Her professional credits include choreography for the Television Academy’s Emmy Awards Governors Ball, performance engagements with Mattel, and collaborations with American Idol finalists. She has taught, choreographed, and performed throughout Central and South America, including Brazil and Guatemala, as well as Australia, Canada, and across the United States.

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As an educator and mentor, Leah is recognized for her dynamic teaching approach, technical expertise, and commitment to developing the individual artistry of each student. She has trained and mentored numerous accomplished tap dancers whose achievements include top honors from YoungArts and the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards, as well as acceptance into the prestigious Jacob’s Pillow. Her students have gone on to pursue dance at leading collegiate programs and establish professional careers in dance education, television, touring, and performance with acclaimed artists and companies. These accomplishments reflect Leah’s emphasis on technical rigor, artistic development, creative independence, and individualized mentorship.

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Leah’s award-winning choreography has been presented at prestigious venues, including Symphony Space in New York City, and featured in film festival programming. Her work has also been showcased live on KTLA and PBS for multiple years as part of the Music Center’s annual Holiday Celebration at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The production received a 2026 Emmy Award for Live Special Events – Programming, with Leah’s choreography featured as part of the award-winning program. Her choreographic practice reflects an interdisciplinary approach to movement, performance, and storytelling, with particular emphasis on the evolving language and possibilities of tap dance.

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In addition to her work as an educator and artist, Leah is the Producer, Founder and Artistic Director of Reverb Tap Company, an acclaimed ensemble recognized for its powerhouse tap performances and innovative dance-film productions. The company’s work has been selected for the Newport Beach Film Festival and has captivated sold-out audiences with their full-length shows. She is also the Founder and Director of the Orange County Tap Festival, an international annual event that brings leading educators, choreographers, and dancers together for master classes, performances, and special events. Through these initiatives, Leah continues to expand opportunities for artistic exchange, professional development, and the advancement of tap dance as a dynamic art form.

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