Interested in having focused 1-on-1 support in your tap related endeavors? Lessons (in person or online) can include technique, everything you ever wanted to know about music theory and practice in tap, guidance in improvisation, finding your own style, dipping your toes into advanced music concepts such as polyrhythms and weird subdivision groupings, coaching, and anything else you would like to delve into on your own tap journey.
Classes with Sandra are not about learning just another combo. She approaches her classes in a conceptual way, empowering the students to find a deeper connection with themselves and their craft, and balancing the "knowing" and the "doing" aspects of Tap. Students take home valuable ideas and tools to incorporate into their own practice routine.
Sandra's specialty topics include building an efficient technique, music theory and practice, and improvisation/overcoming mental blockages
around improvisation.
"I was able to learn tap in a way that I had never learned before and don't know if I could ever get that experience with someone else. Not only was her
teaching innovative, original, inspiring, but I could tell that she had given thought every week to how she could customize each lesson to fit my ability and my specific goals. She always met me
where I was at, was willing to be flexible, but also eager to push me to explore new territory. It has been an amazing process working with Sandra and every day, her insights inspire new
uncharted directions for my own tap dancing."
- Amy O. (NY)
"Sandra's tap lessons focus strongly on a musical and rhythmic understanding as well as raising self awareness for the way the body movement influences sound.
Her lessons helped me a lot to get a deeper musical consciousness and to grow as a tap dancer. Sandra has a unique way of creating a supportive and mindful setting in her lessons."
- Cordula D. (Germany)
“Sandra shares generously her knowledge, tips, guidance & sheds a clear direction on our role as another musician amongst jazz musicians.“
- June Y. (Hong Kong)
“Excellent teacher, even through zoom! Very interested in making sure you are learning and doing the steps correctly. Looking forward to more lessons with
Sandra.“
- JoAnne C. (NJ)
Coming from a family of musicians (including saxophone and clarinet players, a violist, a classical guitar and recorder player, and a vocalist), Sandra took her first Tap steps at age 10 when she asked her Mom, an avid Tap lover, to show her some basics. Her passion for making music with her feet was ignited, and she began seeking out master teachers from around the world, as there were no tap classes in the small town in Germany she grew up in.
Her trips brought her to study with artists such as Sebastian Weber, Barbara Duffy, Pia Neises, Derick Grant, Brenda Bufalino, and many many more. Between workshops, she immersed herself in dedicated self-studies, allowing her to develop her own style and approach to the art form from a young age.
She had the pleasure of being a part of Tap City's Pre-Professional Program in NYC twice, learning and performing original material by Michelle Dorrance and Sarah Petronio, studying tap music with Heather Cornell at her Rhythm Tap Intensive, and graduating from Daniel Luka's S.O.N.T.I. with magna cum laude.
Now a well-respected teacher herself, she has been invited to teach masterclasses at the Tap Dance Days Festival (tanzhaus nrw), Rebeltanz (Münster), tap club (Cologne), Blue Tap (Berlin), Studio B (Tel Aviv), Sound Space (Philadelphia), and more. She has also been invited as a guest Tap Dancer In Residence at Thomas Marek's Studio Footprints (Hamburg). Sandra is an ongoing and guest teacher at NYC studios such as Mark Morris Dance Center, Cynthia King Dance Studio, and the American Tap Dance Foundation.