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Dance
Dance Arts Academy
The dance program offers all genres of dance but specializes in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, and Folklórico. The school has been in existence for over 50 years and has had a dance program from its beginning. Our dance program is run by Susan Savarese and Koreyci Santiago.
Our students are 6th, 7th & 8th graders (ages 11-14). The student’s class /level is dependent on the individual student experience. Some have only Greiner dance experience, while others may dance outside of school in a studio or with a dance group.
Our students take dance every day for 80 minutes and are given an opportunity to perform at our Winter and Spring Dance Concerts.
At the end of the 6th-grade year, students are encouraged to audition for one of our Dance Companies: Greiner Dance Company I - Concentrates on ballet, lyrical techniques, but also performs other genres. Or, Greiner Ballet Folklórico Dance Company- Focuses on traditional regional dances, but also performs other genres.
We welcome any DISD student with a love for the Performing and Visual Arts to apply and audition Greiner. We look forward to accepting more talented students for the next school year.
Susan Savarese
Dance Director
ssavarese@dallasisd.org
972.925.7114
Susan Savarese has been a dedicated dance educator in the Dallas area for the last 28 years. She completed her Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance and Related Arts at Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and Liberal Arts at Rutgers University-Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Jersey. She has taught, danced, and performed at Rutgers University, Texas Woman’s University, Collin County Community College, and various non-profit dance groups. She has taught at private studios and been co-owner and teacher at the former Dance Depot in Plano. She has been awarded recognition from the South Dallas Dance Festival board for her work with students and has been a recipient of the Dance Council of North Texas’ Larry White Dance Educators Award. Susan has become one of CEDFA’s Training Cadre members. She has presented at CEDFA, TAHPERD, and TDEA. She has served as a Big Thought’s Quality Review Panelist. She recently received a Grant from the Texas Cultural Trust and is teaching a course in Dance and Media Communications I for HS credit. Susan has many dance interests, but as a Dallas DTR teacher and TEA (TIA) Exemplary designation, she places special focus on the dance program and dance students at W. E. Greiner middle school and academy for the exploratory arts, where she has taught for the last 21 years. After so many years in dance education, she is looking forward to giving back to the dance community with her time and talents.
Koreyci Santiago
Dance Director
ksantiago@dallasisd.org
972.925.2381
Koreyci Santiago (Dance Educator/ Choreographer/ Performer) was born in Michoacán, Mexico. Koreyci received her early dance training from Ollimpaxqui Ballet Folklórico Dance Company in Dallas, TX. She earned her BFA in Dance Performance and BA in Spanish from Southern Methodist University in 2010. In 2018, she graduated with an MFA in Dance Choreography from Jacksonville University.
Koreyci has taught classes, master classes, and workshops for a variety of studios and local non-profit organizations throughout North Texas. Including the Junior Players Organization, the School of Contemporary Ballet Dallas, United Dance Academy, Tenochtitlan Ballet Folklórico Dance Academy, Big Thought, and Dallas Independent School District.
Koreyci is currently a dance educator at W. E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy, where she directs the Ballet Folklórico Dance Company. Her love for knowledge is absorbing new techniques and discovering ways to combine teaching and choreographing with technology. Because of this, she participates in any opportunity possible to continue her education to pass that knowledge onto her students.