Joy (Allen) Tolev  started dancing at the age of 3 under the instruction of Mrs. Evelyn Murray in Toronto, Ontario.  During her competitive days she successfully competed in many highland dance competitions and championships throughout Canada and the United States.  She has been teaching at her own school of highland dancing in Toronto for the past 27 years and has produced many dancers of high caliber who have captured titles in various championships including the Ontario, Canadian, Scottish, Commonwealth and World Championships.   There have been over 20 Canadian Championship Titles, many Scottish and Commonwealth Championship titles and runner-ups, and a World Champion who holds 10 World Titles.  She is a Fellow and Examiner of the BATD, North American Co-ordinator of the BATD, and adjudicator on the SOBHD Judges panel.

Besides her busy teaching schedule, she travels across Canada, the United States, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand, judging, examining and conducting workshops.