Tamu Ortenzio has over 25 years of experience teaching ballet technique, pointe, choreography, and arts management. Tamu is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher in levels Pre-Primary through 5 of the ABT® National Teacher Training Curriculum and Progressing Ballet Technique, a supplemental strengthening program for dancers. Additionally, she has trained, mentored, and coached students now in prominent schools and companies including the School of American Ballet, The Juilliard School, The Joffrey Ballet School, Nashville Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, State University of New York at Purchase, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, University of Arizona and Boston Conservatory. Tamu began her dance training at Mobile Ballet (Mobile, AL) and also trained as a scholarship student at the Joffrey Ballet (NYC), Atlanta Ballet, International Rotaru Ballet School, and Giacobbe Ballet School. After dancing, Tamu graduated from Spring Hill College and went on to own a ballet studio and professional company for many years. Tamu has staged full-length ballets including The Nutcracker, Carmen, Scheherazade, The Fairy Doll, Les Sylphides, as well as many mixed bill programs. Tamu has organized various performance events and fundraisers as well as private coaching and choreography for professional dancers and companies. Tamu’s experience in arts education and management includes being a full-time educator at several performing arts high schools, higher education and corporate fundraising, nonprofits, and business development.