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From barre to Broadway: A journey in dance and theater
ON HER TOES Tessa Garcia stars as Moana in Second Baptist School’s production of Disney’s Moana. Though she had her start in ballet, she has gone on to excel in musical theater. This past year, she was in Second Baptist’s production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, which won several Tommy Tune Awards in June. (Photo: Second Baptist School Yearbook)
The stage is where dreams come alive – a place where I can become someone I’ve always imagined. Theater and dance demand both discipline and creativity, precision and imagination. Once you’re drawn in, it becomes a lifelong passion.
I began dancing and performing in theater at a young age, and from the start, dance became my first love. It came naturally to me, and I chose to dedicate myself to it. For 11 years, I trained at the Houston Ballet Academy, where I had the privilege of performing in productions like The Nutcracker and The Academy Spring Showcase. While ballet shaped my foundation, over time, I transitioned into competitive dance and dove deeper into theater. This opened a whole new world where I could explore dance styles I had never tried before. Theater offered a perfect blend of movement and storytelling, allowing me to combine my skills in dance and performance. My ballet background gave me an edge in musical theater choreography, and I quickly found joy and confidence on stage. As I continued to grow in acting and singing, I realized by the end of my sophomore year that musical theater was what I wanted to pursue as a career.
One of the most impactful experiences on my journey was playing Gavroche in Les Misérables for Theater Under the Stars’ (TUTS) All-State Musical, alongside some of the most talented high school performers in Texas. Eager to deepen my involvement, I auditioned for the TUTS Pre-Professional Company and was honored to be accepted. Through this program, I worked with Broadway professionals and was even cast in the teen ensemble for mainstage productions.
These experiences gave me a glimpse of what it’s like to be part of a Broadway-level production – and I fell in love with it more every day. My artistic journey has taken many turns, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m grateful for every step, and excited to continue doing what I love most: telling stories on stage through dance and theater.
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