Another week, another spotlight on DVP’s incredible teaching talent. This week we’re shining a light on the incredible DVP Teaching Artist talent – Sandra Rivera!
Background: “I was born and raised in East Harlem to Puerto Rican parents, Ana y Manuel Rivera. Ours was a dancing community. My community.”
Dance Origin: “I started my dance training at the Tina Ramirez School of Spanish Dance and started my professional career as a founding member of Ballet Hispanico. Another significant mentor is Carla De Sola who invited me to dance with her company, Omega Dance Co., at the amazing Cathedral of St. John the Divine where I was an artist-in-residence, and where the opportunity to first choreograph would be encouraged.”
Fun Fact: “I have found that the skills I developed through my many years as a teaching artist for a younger population have helped and informed my teaching for DVP. “
Personal Insight: “There are two particular dances that I choreographed for DVP that I am most proud of. In the dance Fuerza (Strength) I found inspiration on the power of dance in the Puerto Rican community. In Revival 5 I was able to draw from my remarkable Spanish dance training and created the dedication dance, Para Tina Ramirez.
I am most grateful to Naomi Goldberg Haas for providing opportunities to continue my dance artistry and to the extraordinary DVP teaching artists that I have collaborated with, including: Ellen Sackoff, Gabriela Aponte-Quiles, Bryanna Dean, Magda Kaczmarska, Marisol Morales, and Rebecca Teicheira”