More About tressa
Tressa is an accomplished educator in all forms of dance including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, modern and creative movement. With over 30 years of teaching experience, she is able to instill the necessary foundation in children to better equip them for their future in dance, school and life. Her educational expertise spans all ages and ability levels.
While earning her degrees (BA in Dance and BA in Business Management), she studied under Rory Foster (ABT and author of Ballet Pedagogy: The Art of Teaching), Eileen Cropley (Paul Taylor Company), Harriet Ross, Randy Duncan, Julie Cartier, Joel Hall and more. From 1995-1998, she was Dance Department Head at the Valparaiso Conservatory of Performing Arts, developing the dance curriculum and organizing many outreach programs and performances.
Tressa believes in the importance of continuing her own business and dance education. She regularly attends teacher seminars, conferences and movement workshops throughout the country and has been certified as a Master Dance Educator (MDE) through the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, where she now serves on the Board of Directors.
Beyond owning and operating Mohler Dance Academy for 15 years, she has founded M3 Dance, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit dance company offering additional performance opportunities for young dancers and sharing the art of dance through community outreach initiatives. She has also founded Chicago Ballet Conservatory, a pre-professional training program dedicated to training the aspiring professional ballet dancer. Chicago Ballet Conservatory was most recently honored with Youth America Grand Prix's 2020 Outstanding School Award.
While earning her degrees (BA in Dance and BA in Business Management), she studied under Rory Foster (ABT and author of Ballet Pedagogy: The Art of Teaching), Eileen Cropley (Paul Taylor Company), Harriet Ross, Randy Duncan, Julie Cartier, Joel Hall and more. From 1995-1998, she was Dance Department Head at the Valparaiso Conservatory of Performing Arts, developing the dance curriculum and organizing many outreach programs and performances.
Tressa believes in the importance of continuing her own business and dance education. She regularly attends teacher seminars, conferences and movement workshops throughout the country and has been certified as a Master Dance Educator (MDE) through the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, where she now serves on the Board of Directors.
Beyond owning and operating Mohler Dance Academy for 15 years, she has founded M3 Dance, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit dance company offering additional performance opportunities for young dancers and sharing the art of dance through community outreach initiatives. She has also founded Chicago Ballet Conservatory, a pre-professional training program dedicated to training the aspiring professional ballet dancer. Chicago Ballet Conservatory was most recently honored with Youth America Grand Prix's 2020 Outstanding School Award.