Tessandra Chavez

Creative Director, Choreographer

The 2015 Emmy Award-winning choreographer Tessandra Chavez is the in-demand choreographer with her work spanning across the entire entertainment industry. So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, America’s Got Talent, American Idol, and X-Factor USA are just a few of the hit shows clawing for the work of this creative genius!

On September 12, Tessandra, along with celebrity dancer-choreographers Derek and Julianne Hough, took home the Emmy for Outstanding Choreography 2015 for their Dancing with the Stars season-finale routine to Sia’s “Elastic Heart.”  For anyone who has seen the routine, either on TV or YouTube, the award is no surprise. The routine captures Tessandra’s signature choreography, a progressive brand of Contemporary that is both athletic and intensely emotional. Performed by the Hough's, the exciting brother and sister dance team, “Elastic Heart” became an instant classic.

Growing up in San Diego, Tessandra began dancing at the age of 5, choreographing at the age of 11, and even founded her own dance company, Unity Dance Ensemble, at the age of 15. The struggle of growing up in a single-parent household helped drive Tessandra to dedicate her entirety to perfecting her craft. Tessandra gained extensive and versatile training in Jazz, Tap, Modern, Ballet, and Hip Hop. This mastery of multiple styles of dance has made her unparalleled in her field.

With Tessandra's innovative and groundbreaking style of Contemporary that blends Contemporary and Hip Hop, many regard her as the pioneer of ‘Contemporary Hip Hop.’ Her powerful niche as a choreographer is the ability to move her audience through her emotional masterpieces.

Amongst her many accolades for her choreography, Tessandra is also well-known across the globe as a master instructor. As one of the most sought after dance instructors in the business, Tessandra has found the perfect balance in pushing the limits of her students while inspiring them to be masters in their craft. With a firm, but loving hand, she continues to groom the next generation of masterful dancers. She is currently teaching for the prestigious Pulse on Tour Dance Convention which has single-handedly churned out the top commercial dancers of this generation. She is also the Creative Director of Velocity Dance Convention, which is the new cutting edge dance convention.

In addition to her extensive experience in the field of Television, Tessandra also has vast experience creating for some of the hottest music artists of our time. Whether it’s creating quirky, and captivating movement for the band Muse, discovering the newest and hottest dance trend with Fifth Harmony, or reviving the timeless work of the one and only Janet Jackson, Tessandra’s role in these artist’s career is paramount.

No job is too big for Tessandra to tackle, and she proves that with her role as head Supervising Choreographer for Dancing With The Stars in China, and Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition Season 2. Tapping into her skills she developed while directing her own company, she was able to guide an entire team to produce ground breaking work through these avenues. Proving that not only is she a leader in the rehearsal room, but acomplete powerhouse that has the skills and experience to take on any job in this industry.

“I create dance because I have to. There was never another alternative. choreography is my best voice.”

-Tessandra Chavez