Teneisha Bonner facts for kids

Teneisha Phehoma Bonner (born December 31, 1981 – died September 11, 2019) was a talented dancer. She was born in Jamaica and became a famous hip-hop and street dancer in England.

Teneisha performed on stage and in movies. She danced with groups like ZooNation and the Bounce Streetdance Company. She also worked as a backup dancer for many well-known music stars. You might have seen her in the film StreetDance 3D or dancing in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Mary Poppins Returns.

About Teneisha Bonner

Teneisha was born in St. Catherine, Jamaica, on December 31, 1981. She was the oldest of her siblings. Teneisha lived with her grandmother when she was very young.

When she was seven, she moved to Peckham, London. There, she lived with her mother and stepfather.

Her Early Dance Journey

Teneisha started dancing at the Brixton Recreation Centre. When she was 13, she saw the musical Cats. This show made her dream of becoming a professional dancer.

She began going to open auditions with a group called RJC Dance. She also took local street dance classes. Teneisha was so dedicated that she would borrow a key to practice dancing by herself.

At 16, Teneisha joined the BRIT School in Croydon. By 17, she got her first professional job. She performed for the pop singer Dane Bowers. She also appeared on TV shows like Top of the Pops and CD:UK. This helped her pay for her school fees.

Becoming a Professional Dancer

When Teneisha was 18, she received a full scholarship. This allowed her to study at the London Studio Centre. During her training, she successfully auditioned for the Bounce Streetdance Company. She then went on a tour across Europe and the United Kingdom. The show was called Insane in The Brain.

Even though she was busy touring, her teacher convinced her to finish her scholarship. She graduated in 2004. After that, Teneisha danced as a backup performer for many famous artists. These included Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Take That, The Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am, and Alesha Dixon.

In 2002, Teneisha was one of the first dancers to join Kate Prince's group, ZooNation. In 2008, she got a main role in the hip-hop show Into the Hoods. She played a hopeful DJ girl named Spinderella. The show was performed at the Novello Theatre in London's West End.

Critics loved her performance. Luke Jennings from The Observer said her dancing was beautiful and captivating. Katie Colombus from The Stage also praised her, saying Teneisha danced with amazing energy.

Big Performances and Awards

In 2008, Teneisha performed at the 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. In 2010, she played Shawna, a hairdresser, in the movie StreetDance 3D. She also had a special role in the dance musical Shoes at the Sadler's Wells Theatre.

In 2011, she danced as Kerri in Some Like It Hip Hop. This show was at the Peacock Theatre. The next year, she won the Critics' Choice National Dance Outstanding Female Performance (Modern) Award. This was a big achievement, as she was the first hip-hop dancer to win this award.

Teneisha also danced in the closing ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Paralympics. In 2013, she appeared in a music video for the rapper Ty's song Let's Start.

She also helped promote the pianist Fabio D'Andrea. Teneisha toured worldwide with Heartbeat of Home, a show related to Riverdance. She played the Queen of Hearts twice in The Mad Hatter's Tea Party. These shows were at the Linbury Studio Theatre in 2014 and 2017.

Her last professional roles were in 2018. She danced in the movies Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Mary Poppins Returns. Teneisha also taught at ZooNation and helped Kate Prince with TV projects.

Her Dance Style

Teneisha was very skilled in dance styles called locking and popping. The Daily Telegraph newspaper described her movements. They said her precise, jerky movements traveled through her whole body. This created effects that were strong and athletic, yet also smooth and graceful.

Personal Life

Teneisha was a member of Kensington Temple in Notting Hill. In 2016, she faced a serious illness. She kept working through her illness, keeping it private. Teneisha passed away from this illness on September 11, 2019.