“When I dance I can completely be myself; express my inner thoughts and feelings; be more expressive than I am normally; speak without having to say a word. Dance is my therapy, my addiction, and the love of my life.”

APPROACH TO CLASS:

When students come to class, I want them to feel welcome and know that they’re about to have some fun! With a warm, inviting environment students open themselves to learning new and exciting things. I do like to challenge my students, but always open to helping and getting them to perform skills better than they thought they could.

AGES TAUGHT:

3rd-5th Grade, Adults

LEVELS TAUGHT:

I teach Beginners to Intermediate Dancers. I always believe that the basics are important, even as an advanced dancer. You can always build on a good foundation. I have youth Level I and Intro classes on the schedule this fall!

STYLES TAUGHT:

Tap, Jazz

YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Started coaching university dance lines in April 1994. Started teaching at Joy of Motion in March 2011.

TRAINING/CERTIFICATIONS:

Morgan State University – BS (Business Education); Bowie State University – MS (Secondary Education); Maryland State Education K-12 Dance Certificate; Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA) Certificate of Study (Kennedy Center)

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram: @tlh1dance 

Schedule:

Get to Know Tamara

What styles do you teach and who influences your teaching the most?

My focus has been on Tap and Jazz. I also dabble in teaching basic Salsa. My 1st Tap Dance Master class was at Joy of Motion with Barbara Duffy. She came over to me and said, “Get over yourself” she meant it as it related to body position but I have internalized it in numerous ways and often reiterate it to myself and to my students.

Who have you danced with?

I danced with Step Aside Tap Company which allowed me the opportunity to work with many renowned dancers, perform around the country, guide my journey in tap dance.

 

FULL BIO:

Tamara Henry is a dancer, musician, and artist who started her dance career at the age of four in Tuckahoe, New York. After moving to Wheaton/Silver Spring, Maryland, she continued her studies at Peter’s Studio of Dance. In college, Henry studied dance at the University of Maryland, danced with the University of Maryland Dance Team, and danced with the Morgan State University Modern Dance Ensemble. While earning her undergraduate and master’s degrees, she was the dance coordinator and choreographer for Morgan State and Bowie State marching band dance lines. Henry loves performing, choreographing, and has taught various styles of dance throughout the DMV area, including ballet, tap, jazz, salsa, and poms. At Knock on Wood Tap Studio, she was a member of its Resident Company Step Aside for eight years, had the chance to study with several renowned tap dancers, and learned salsa rueda/casino. In 2009, she founded and became the director of Artistic Rhythms Alliance/ARA Tap. In 2010, she began producing A Holiday SpecTAPular, an annual tap show that brings over 100 tap dancers from the DMV area together for a festive holiday concert. She is the director of Body Rhythms Dance Camps and Competitions, was a High School Pom & Dance Team Coach and county competition director, and enjoys judging local pom/dance competitions. Henry has had the opportunity to perform at several venues including: the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, BlackRock Center for the Arts, Publick Playhouse, Dance Place, Montgomery College, the Jack Guidone Theater; tap festivals in Austin, Chicago and New York; and at the Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Marvin Hamlisch.