Tami Castillo

With degrees in theatre and comparable degrees in dance, Tamara (Tami) Castillo has a unique ability to see connections between the arts and other educational disciplines. With her vast experience as a professional dancer, choreographer, theatrical director, and arts educator, her multi-faceted work has been commissioned and critiqued both nationally and internationally. As a performer, she has worked with many acclaimed choreographers and directors, such as Danny Lewis of Juilliard and Donald McKayle of the Alvin Ailey Company, while collaborating in performance with many wonderful artists including pianist Tom Grant.

Castillo has instructed students of the arts, with age groups spanning from pre-K to college, and is educated as a Kennedy Center Teaching Artist. Years of working with teachers to learn what is relevant, effective, and needed in the classroom helped develop her successful approach to incorporating dance and theatre into fields of education. Due to her lengthy involvement in mentorship and teaching programs, she is a recipient of the Sunburst Award, given to heroes in Oregon and Washington communities who display exemplary commitment to arts in education. She has been on the faculties of Portland State University, Lewis and Clark, Linfield, Clark, and Mt. Hood Community Colleges in Oregon and Washington, and the Artistic Director for regional professional dance and theatre groups. She has been a Roster Artist for Sierra Arts and the Nevada Arts Council and has taught workshops for Artown in Reno, NV.