Ms. Tessa has been teaching in the Tuscaloosa area for over 15 years. Originally from Arab, AL, she trained with Jane Kohl at Kohl Academy of Performing Arts, where she discovered her love of teaching early on. She furthered her education at Dance Master's Teacher Training School and has continued her professional development through Dance Teacher Summit and Rhee Gold’s DanceLife Teacher Conference.

​

Having trained hundreds of dancers, Ms. Tessa has a unique gift for making each student feel valued and supported. Her passion is endless, and her dedication to her dancers is unparalleled. Under her direction, students have earned some of the highest honors and awards at both regional and national competitions. She has a remarkable ability to make dance accessible and meaningful for dancers of all ages and skill levels.

​

In 2025, Ms. Tessa was honored as the Druid City Arts Educator of the Year, a recognition of her outstanding impact on the arts community.

​

With a degree from the University of Alabama in Dance Instruction and Studio Management, Ms. Tessa is eager to continue sharing her love of dance with aspiring artists throughout Tuscaloosa.