Theresa Knudson received her training from Lois Ellyn in southern California. She attended intensive programs at American Ballet Theatre, NYC, Boston Ballet, Ballet Austin, Maple Conservatory, José Limón West, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. In the Bay Area, she received additional training from Christina Johnson, Christopher Lam, Xiao Liu-Moore, and Janice Garrett.

Theresa began her professional career with Nouveau Chamber Ballet under the artistic direction of the late Lois Ellyn. As a freelancer, Theresa has performed with Diablo Ballet, Oakland Ballet Company, Wonderbound, ARC Dance, Mark Foehringer Dance Project | SF, Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet, and with many independent choreographers. Her repertoire includes works by Lois Ellyn, George Balanchine, Garrett Ammon, Janice Garrett, Jennifer Hart, KT Nelson, and Marika Brussel. Theresa was a 2023 Dance Fellow at the Carmel Dance Festival's inaugural Dance & Choreography Fellowship Program.

She has taught for nearly two decades for several schools including: Lois Ellyn Ballet Studio, Academy of Dance Redwood City, Van der Zwaan Dance Studio, Moving Arts Studio, and ODC School. She has guest taught at Orinda Ballet Academy, San Francisco Youth Ballet Academy, and Los Alamitos Ballet School. Theresa is a Pointe Safe Certified Teacher through SF Performing Arts Physical Therapy Pointe Safe Program, and is CPR Certified through the American Heart Association.

Theresa holds a BA in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton, and is the owner and director of BlackBox Studios, a ballet studio based in East Oakland, CA. Theresa is also the founder of Halcyon Dance Project, and the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Ballet22.

Since founding Ballet22, the company has commissioned numerous new ballets, and has produced over 10 live productions, and created two award winning dance films. The company has also hosted educational workshops and has toured to Boise, ID and Santa Barbara, CA. Ballet22 was named by Dance Magazine “25 to Watch” in 2022 and received an Isadora Duncan Dance Award Nomination for the 2021-22 season for Outstanding Achievement in Performance – Company.