Tommi Galaska

Tommi Galaska
Dance Area Coordinator, Teaching Associate Professor of Dance
galaskat@ecu.edu
252-328-4916
114A Messick Theatre Arts Center
Mail Stop 553
East Carolina University

A teacher at heart, Tommi Overcash Galaska (ECU BFA Dance Performance) joined the dance faculty at ECU in Fall 1998, where she began a career teaching all levels of Jazz Dance Technique. Her high energy classical jazz class has an emphasis on technique and style while developing a strong anatomically sound base essential for execution. Her professional work as a performer includes James Kelly Choreography Project Chicago, Susan Hazard and Dancers, ECU Summer Theatre, Robber Bridegroom (Airie), Peter Pan (Indian), and The King and I (Eliza), North Carolina Theatre, 42nd Street (ensemble) and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Liza), The Miss NC Scholarship Pageant (choreographer/dancer) and the Miss Mississippi Scholarship Pageant (dancer). In summer 1999, Tommi choreographed her first musical, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and to date has choreographed more than 35+ musicals for the ECU/Loessin Playhouse and Summer Theatre. Tommi’s director/choreographer credits include Smokey Joe’s Café and Mama Mia! for the ECU/Loessin Summer Theatre and Swing! for the ECU/Loessin Playhouse. To celebrate the wide range of jazz dance, Tommi has choreographed original pieces for the ECU/Loessin mainstage dance concerts beginning in 1999 to the present, using the many diverse styles of jazz to shape and build a unique work for each concert. She serves dance in the community and region by heading up the ECU Spring/Fall Day of Dance and the ECU Summer Jazz Dance Camp/Intensive. She is the founder/choreographer for Multiple Choices for the Children, a jazz dance benefit for Duke Children’s Hospital, which celebrated its 37th year in 2023. Tommi is the faculty advisor for East Carolina Dance Association, Hip Hop Commercial Dance Club, and is the Dance Program Coordinator.