Ghanaian-Australian-Filipino contemporary dancer, Teya Leonard-Quarmyne, began studying ballet at the age of three in her hometown of Perth, Australia. In 2009 she and her family left Australia to undertake a year-long road trip across North America, and from there moved to West Africa.

Teya began her professional career in Ghana, performing with Accra Theatre Workshop in both theatre and contemporary dance productions. She also worked with International Players, a musical theatre company, both as a principal performer and assistant choreographer.

Whilst in Ghana, Teya participated in a multi-disciplinary program run by German NGO, Kabawil ev. She subsequently moved to Düsseldorf in 2015 in order to continue her work with Kabawil and to further her dance training in ballet and contemporary dance. In addition to performing in their annual production, Teya worked with Kabawil as an assistant dance instructor on Al-ailatu, an integrated music and dance project with refugees in Düsseldorf.