Michela is a world-renowned tap dance instructor and educator, known for her commitment to sharing the art of tap dance across the globe. She began her professional teaching career as a teenager, giving her first master class at the age of 15. Since then, she has taught in over 15 countries and participated in more than 30 different tap and dance festivals. Her teaching experience spans multiple prestigious universities and colleges including Yale, NYU, Tulane, Kean, Penn State, Grinnell, Nazareth and Hampshire colleges, in addition to numerous workshops and intensives worldwide.
Michela has been actively involved in educational initiatives, including the "Jazz For Young People" series run by Jazz at Lincoln Center, where she helps introduce younger audiences to the rich world of jazz and tap. Her passion for education is matched by her dedication to preserving and sharing the history of tap dance, which she feels has been generously passed down to her by the masters of the art form.
In addition to her teaching, Michela serves as Associate Producer for the documentary "American Tap," which has been described by the Hollywood Reporter as providing a comprehensive cultural history of tap dance in America. The documentary explores tap's deep connections to jazz music and the socio-political climate within which it developed.
Michela offers a range of educational services tailored to all ages and skill levels. She has experience teaching children as young as three years old, as well as offering programs for absolute beginners, advanced professionals, and everyone in between. Her educational offerings include:
1. Introductory Courses: Designed for individuals who have never tap danced before or have not danced in several years, these courses can be structured for any age group.
2. Dance Courses: Ideal for dance schools or universities, these workshops can vary in length from a single class to an entire weekend of technique and repertory, accommodating all levels from absolute beginners to advanced professionals. The courses can also be customized to focus on specific needs, such as technique or improvisation, historical repertory pieces, or can be geared towards original choreography and composition.
3. Film Showing + Lecture/Demo: This option is perfect for venues interested in hosting a historical event. It includes a screening of the "American Tap" documentary followed by a discussion, Q&A session, and a small performance.
Michela has made significant contributions to the tap dance community through her educational efforts at various festivals and institutions, including:
- Stockholm Tap Festival (Sweden)
-NYU (New York, NY) -Penn State (University Park, PA)
-Nazareth University (Rochester, NY) -Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA)
- Tap City (New York, NY)
-Green Box (Green Mountain Falls, CO)
- Turin Tap Festival (Italy)
- Barcelona Tap Festival (Spain)
- Jazz at Lincoln Center Education
-Anna Deavere Smith “Performance Lab”
- Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)
- Hampshire College (Amherst, MA)
- Kean University (Union, NJ)
- Yale University (New Haven, CT)
- Broadway Dance Center (New York, NY)
- Steps on Broadway (New York, NY)
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (New York, NY)
- Third Coast Rhythm Project (San Antonio, TX)
- Beantown Tap Festival (Boston, MA)
- Shanghai Tap Festival (China)
- San Diego Tap and Jazz Festival (San Diego, CA)
- Tap Oslo (Oslo, Norway)
- About the Swing (Harlem, NYC)
- Mark Morris Dance Center (Brooklyn, NYC)
- Herrang Dance Camp (Sweden)
Through her diverse and extensive teaching engagements, Michela continues to inspire dancers around the world while promoting the rich heritage and cultural significance of tap dance.