About the Founder

Tianna Pourciau Sykes is an artist, educator, choreographer, and creative director whose work lives at the intersection of performance, education, publishing, and visual storytelling. Through Tianna & Co., she develops original artistic works, educational resources, and creative frameworks that cultivate enduring artistic legacies and strengthen the relationship between arts, culture, and community.

With more than twenty-five years of experience in dance education, choreography, arts administration, and creative leadership, Tianna has built a career dedicated to designing meaningful artistic experiences and innovative educational models. Her work spans the creation of original dance theatre productions, curriculum and educational frameworks, publications, research, photography, and interdisciplinary creative projects.

As the founding Artistic Director of NOLA Contemporary Ballet, she leads a professional dance theatre company committed to developing new audiences, supporting emerging artists, and creating original works inspired by the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana. Under her leadership, the company has produced original performances, community-centered initiatives, and collaborative artistic programming, including Native Swamp and Spring Into Dance, both supported through competitive state and regional arts funding.

Throughout her career, Tianna has served as an educator and arts leader in schools, conservatories, nonprofit organizations, and professional settings. She has developed dance programs, designed curriculum, created educational systems, and mentored artists at every stage of their development. Her choreography has been presented nationally and selected for festivals and performance series including Dance Canvas, Southern Voices Dance Festival, Modern Atlanta Dance Festival, Dance Gathering, Drapinski Dance Company's Catharsis Series, and SHE Created IT Dance Festival and Tour.

Beyond the stage, Tianna's work extends into publishing, research, photography, and creative direction. She believes that thoughtful artistic practice has the power not only to create exceptional performances, but also to shape institutions, preserve culture, and inspire future generations.

Whether developing a full-length production, designing an educational framework, publishing original writing, or mentoring emerging artists, her work is guided by a single belief: Where Art Becomes Legacy.