A native Oregonian, Rachel Tess made her first work as a company member at Oregon Ballet Theatre. After exploring choreography through projects in New York, Montreal, and Sweden she created Rumpus Room Dance in 2006. Originally formed as a dance collective in Sweden, Rumpus Room established a second home in Portland, Oregon in 2007. In addition to creating and presenting work for Rumpus Room, Tess continuously explores and expands her choreographic process by performing in project-based work nationally and internationally.

Tess is a 2004 Martha Hill Dance award winner and a 2003 Princess Grace Award Winner for modern dance.