Mandy Santiago
Mandy started dancing at 3 years old at one of Australia’s leading performing arts schools ‘Conroy Dance Centre’ in Brisbane, Australia. At the age of 14 she started her first job performing Australia wide with the “Starz Production team”. Mandy trained in RAD and CSTD methods and received two CSTD teachers Diploma’s in Theatrical dance and Tap. Her work in Australian commercial dance includes tv commercials, movie premieres, movie extras, Cabaret theatre shows, QLD Rugby cheerleading and touring Australia with the Children’s show “The Boogie Woogies”. At 19 years old Mandy choreographed her first TV commercial “Kicks”. Mandy joined Princess Cruise lines with Australia’s “Grayboy Entertainment” and toured the world for 3 years.
In her dancer role with Princess Cruise lines she also performed an Ariel silks act. Mandy has worked with directors such as William.A.Forsythe, Jason Coleman, Troy Christian, Rhonda Miller of Pace university NYC and Kelly Kono (Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson). One of her proud accomplishments has been directing and creating four productions during her teaching years. Her teaching experience includes Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Acrobatics and contemporary for 10 years in the USA at schools in San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego. One of Mandy’s passions in teaching includes creating a solid Jazz and Tap technical foundation and adores seeing students grow and really feel proud at their hard earned accomplishments. She is thrilled to be passing on her knowledge and experience in Jazz and Tap at LDI.
