TESSANDRA CHAVEZ

Jazz Funk

Tessandra began dancing at the age of 5, choreographing at 11 and started her dance company, Unity Dance Ensemble, at 15. She is a San Diego native and a graduate of the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. Through scholarships, Tessandra was able to intensely train in Jazz, Tap, Modern, Ballet and Hip Hop. Because her dance experience is so versatile her choreography and classes mirror that vast training. She advocates that the best dancers are masters at various dance forms, open minded and disciplined. Her motto is to always explore new avenues of movement and to inspire dancers to truly dance from their heart and real emotions.

Since the establishment of her dance company in 1994, Tessandra has gone on to achieve several choreography awards, including the 2004 JDWC Silver Leo Award for Excellence in Choreography. She has also been producing and choreographing her own dance concerts since 1997 in which 95% of the work presented is hers. She now resides in Los Angeles where she expanded her dance company and launched Unity LA, the third branch of Unity Dance Ensemble preceding Unity San Diego and Unity 2, the apprentice company. Tessandra’s intense passion and motivational teaching skills have allowed her the opportunity to travel the world teaching and choreographing for various dance institutions. Ms. Chavez also tours various cities with LA Elite Dance Convention teaching Jazz and Hip Hop. Locally, Ms. Chavez is teaching for professional studios such as the Edge Performing Arts Center, Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.  Most recently, Tessandra was hired to choreograph a video for an all girl group called “Soccx” based in Germany.

Picture and bio courtesy of the teacher.