Tessandra Chavez is a two-time Emmy Award and five-time World Choreography Award-winning choreographer. A San Diego native, she began dancing at the age of five, choreographing at eleven, and founded her nonprofit dance company, Unity, at the age of fifteen. Raised by a single mother with a low income, Tessandra managed to become a successful choreographic dance icon thanks to her late mother and many mentors. “I owe everything to my mother. She allowed me to dream big and supported me relentlessly, even though we didn’t have much,” she says.
“I owe everything to my mother. She allowed me to dream big and supported me relentlessly, even though we didn’t have much.”
Tessandra’s unique and visionary work is a blend of Jazz, Modern, Hip-Hop, Ballet, and Tap, now widely recognized as “Contemporary Fusion.” She is considered one of the pioneers of this style. Her groundbreaking choreography spans the entire entertainment industry. Notable television broadcasts showcasing her work include So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, NBC’s World of Dance, American Music Awards, America’s Got Talent, American Idol, X-Factor USA/UK, and the MTV Movie Awards, to name a few.
In addition to her extensive television work, Tessandra has created masterful performances for legendary artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Justin Bieber, Bebe Rexha, Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, MUSE, H.E.R., and Usher. She has also served as the supervising choreographer for several television shows and live stage tours, including the highly acclaimed Derek Hough tours Symphony of Dance and Dance for the Holidays. Tessandra is the mastermind behind much of the work performed by Derek Hough and Julianne Hough, such as Step into the Movies on Hulu, which features the Houghs reimagining iconic dance scenes from legendary films. She has also choreographed many show-stopping dance numbers for the annual Disney Magical Holiday Celebration and Disney Christmas Day Parade specials on ABC.
One of Tessandra’s favorite projects was choreographing the award-winning Disneyland parade Magic Happens, which features music by Todrick Hall and offers a cutting-edge take on the classic Disney parade.
Along with being a seasoned master choreographer, Tessandra is a highly respected figure in the dance industry who mentors and teaches many of the top professional dancers in the United States. She is known for her intuitive gift of transforming dancers and artists by sensing what they need in that moment and pushing them to their fullest potential. Her impact on the dance industry as a whole has been deeply profound.
You Don’t Just Watch Her Work—You Feel It
Tessandra’s influence as a teacher and mentor is equally significant. She has spent decades training dancers across the country, inspiring the next generation to push boundaries and discover their own artistic voice. Her ability to connect, inspire, and lead is a key reason why she remains a sought-after creative force in the industry.