Tamara Thompson Levi

Dance Producer | Educator | Entrepreneur | Speaker

Tamara found her second home and family at just three years old when she began dancing at the Sandra Gray School of Dance in Edmonton, Alberta. Her passion quickly evolved into a profession—by her mid-teens, she was performing on camera, in industrials, and with the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, launching what would become a lifelong career in dance.

She went on to perform internationally for companies and brands including Alberta Ballet, Calvin Klein, and Festival Cruise Line, and to choreograph for events with MAC Cosmetics, and New Balance. Her on-screen credits include TV movies, commercials, music videos, and the multi-award-winning dance film Black Angels.

In the early 2000s, Tamara began the transition into teaching and adjudicating while continuing to perform and choreograph. She soon discovered a deep sense of purpose in education—guiding dancers of all ages in studios, schools, and at events across Canada, and later joining the faculty at The Dance Initiative Professional Dance Training Program and Capilano University in Vancouver. Her teaching and mentorship emphasize wellness, leadership, and developing both the artist and the human behind the dancer.

In 2005, she founded Shine Dance Festival, a series of youth-focused events created to foster a more holistic and supportive competition environment. Through her work as festival director and mentor, Tamara became a trusted voice in Canada’s dance community—especially during the pandemic, when she facilitated virtual sessions that united educators and studio owners from across the region in shared support and collaboration.

Tamara’s leadership and mentorship within the industry led to the creation of The Dance Leadership Institute, a professional education platform supporting dance educators and business owners through training and certification, mentorship and consulting, and program development. Among TDLI’s signature offerings, the Dance Adjudicator Training and Certification Program stands as one of the initiatives she is most proud to have developed and facilitated—reflecting her long-standing commitment to elevating standards of professionalism and integrity in dance adjudication.

A former mentor with WeBC for women entrepreneurs, Tamara has also been a featured presenter at the Toronto Dance Teacher Expo and a guest on numerous industry podcasts. As a speaker and educator, she continues to share her insights on leadership, culture, and educator wellness—empowering artists and educators across Canada and internationally to lead with purpose, clarity, and care.

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🎥 Get to know Tamara by watching her interview on Dance Talks.