Tatum Backer was raised in Huntington Beach, CA. She began her ballet and contemporary training at Southland Ballet Academy. Under the artistic guidance of Salwa Rizkalla, she performed with Festival Ballet Theatre and Ballet RED, working with teachers and choreographers such as Juliano Nunes, Lex Ishimoto, Andrea Schermoly and Josie Walsh. In 2019, Tatum began attending Boston Conservatory with a merit scholarship, currently on track to obtain a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance. Her teachers include Kurt Douglas, Marcus Schulkind, and Marissa Parmenter. Since moving to Boston, she has worked with choreographers such as Victor Quijada, Gabrielle Lamb, and Margot Gelber.