Teresa grew up in the DC metro area and was a gymnast, figure skater, swimmer and diver as a kid. In her senior year of high school, she became an avid Lindy Hopper (the original swing dance). While attending the College of William and Mary, Teresa started to teach Lindy Hop in downtown Richmond with Buck Smolow. They later expanded to teaching in Richmond's East End, Richmond's West End, Williamsburg and Fredericksburg. Buck & Teresa created the Richmond Lindy Hop scene and their first students are now the core. Teresa has done well in dance competitions. In 1998, she and Bill Puschman competed in the DC Dancesport Inferno and won first place in Lindy Hop. In 1999, Teresa competed in the Hanover Dance Festival with Buck Smolow and was awarded first place in the Advanced Swing division and first place overall in the Advanced division. Due to the success of Buck & Teresa's regular classes, they were invited to teach as special guests at big events. The American Red Cross invited them to teach Lindy Hop at their national convention. Later, the Charlottesville Swing Dance Society invited Buck & Teresa to teach a full day workshop in 2000. Also in 2000, The Model A Restorers Club invited them to teach at their national meet. In addition, Teresa received a scholarship to learn from the best Lindy Hoppers in the world in Sweden, Finland, and Russia in 2002.