Gabriela Santos
Dance Teacher
© Ingo Schaefer
Gabriela Santos is a dance artist and teacher. Her work combines creative movement, fundamental technique, and child-friendly teaching methods. She completed her bachelor's degree (BFA) in dance at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. During her studies, she also worked as a freelance dancer in New York, gaining her first professional stage experience alongside her academic training. While still a student, she danced a wide repertoire of works by leading American choreographers such as Bill T. Jones, Twyla Tharp, and Paul Taylor, which had a significant influence on her artistic development.
In addition to her stage work, Gabriela developed a sound teaching practice and taught at institutions such as the Ballet Academy East in New York City and the Peabody Preparatory of Dance in Baltimore. There she led classes and workshops for children and young dancers of various ages and skill levels.
After completing her bachelor's degree, she joined the performance ensemble of TUI Cruises – Mein Schiff 1, where she danced in daily theatre productions and further expanded her professional stage experience.
Since 2019, Gabriela has been living and working in Germany as a dance teacher and workshop leader. Her teaching is based on structured creative practice, development-related mindfulness, and body-oriented learning. The focus is on promoting self-confidence, coordination, and expressive potential in dancers of all ages. She has taught extensively at the Rosenthal Ballet and is currently working at Tanzhaus NRW. Gabriela is also involved in outreach and participatory education programs at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, such as “Tanz mit! + Tanz mal!”, “Ballet ganz nah”, open courses for adults, and open courses for people with disabilities. Gabriela holds a master's degree from the Palucca University of Dance, which further deepened her professional experience through a reflective, methodologically sound approach to dance practice, movement analysis, and body-oriented pedagogy.
In addition to her stage work, Gabriela developed a sound teaching practice and taught at institutions such as the Ballet Academy East in New York City and the Peabody Preparatory of Dance in Baltimore. There she led classes and workshops for children and young dancers of various ages and skill levels.
After completing her bachelor's degree, she joined the performance ensemble of TUI Cruises – Mein Schiff 1, where she danced in daily theatre productions and further expanded her professional stage experience.
Since 2019, Gabriela has been living and working in Germany as a dance teacher and workshop leader. Her teaching is based on structured creative practice, development-related mindfulness, and body-oriented learning. The focus is on promoting self-confidence, coordination, and expressive potential in dancers of all ages. She has taught extensively at the Rosenthal Ballet and is currently working at Tanzhaus NRW. Gabriela is also involved in outreach and participatory education programs at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, such as “Tanz mit! + Tanz mal!”, “Ballet ganz nah”, open courses for adults, and open courses for people with disabilities. Gabriela holds a master's degree from the Palucca University of Dance, which further deepened her professional experience through a reflective, methodologically sound approach to dance practice, movement analysis, and body-oriented pedagogy.