Alexandria's Native Son

Terrance Johnson is a native of Alexandria, Louisiana, where the vibrant colors of the Red River and the sounds of Zydeco music are woven into daily life. As a proud descendant of Louisiana-French Creole heritage, he grew up in a family deeply connected to cultural traditions. These roots shaped his upbringing and instilled a lasting appreciation for the expressive arts, which remain central to his identity.

 

Terrance’s artistic journey began not with dance, but with music. His first love was the clarinet, which he began playing in fifth grade at Ball Elementary School. His early success in music led him to district and state honor bands, solo and ensemble contests, and eventually to a place in the Peabody Magnet High School marching band.

 

After high school, Terrance traded his clarinet for a megaphone, becoming a co-ed cheerleader at Southern University A&M College. Cheerleading opened the door to dance, as he often trained with the university’s Gold and Bluez dance team before practice. As his skills in jazz technique grew, so did his passion for dance. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Sales Marketing from Southern University.

 

Following graduation, Terrance relocated to Dallas, Texas, where he built a career in corporate America as a sales marketing professional for Fortune 500 companies, including Bank of America and International Business Machines (IBM). At the same time, he continued to pursue dance, training at the Dallas Black Dance Academy and later performing with Dallas Black Dance Theatre II.

 

Through DBDT, he had the opportunity to study with master teachers and perform works by acclaimed choreographers. He furthered his training at institutions such as The Ailey School, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, the American Dance Festival, and The School of Contemporary Ballet Dallas, and performed with companies including Beckles Dance Company, Contemporary Ballet Dallas, Dallas Neo-Classical Ballet, and the Dallas Opera.

 

Terrance later earned a Master of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from Texas Woman’s University. He has since served as adjunct faculty at Dallas College, Tarrant County College, and Texas Woman’s University. He is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity.

 

In 2016, Terrance founded the TMJ Dance Project, dedicated to providing children in underserved communities with equal access to high-quality dance training. Nearly a decade later, the organization continues to impact youth and families through dance, culture, and education.

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Today, Terrance serves as Professor of Dance and Dance Minor University Liaison for Advancement at Southern University A&M College, where he combines his artistry, leadership, and passion for education to inspire the next generation of dancers and cultural leaders.