faculty spotlight

Luyz Baldijão, from São Paulo, Brazil, is a renowned leader in the international tap dance community. With over 40 years of experience, he studied with masters in New York at Steps on Broadway in the late 1980s, attending daily classes for over a year. Returning to Brazil, he built a successful career as an educator and choreographer, founding his own dance company and performing globally in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and the U.S.

Featured in the film Tap World (available on Amazon), Luyz gained recognition for his work with underprivileged youth in Campinas, a program now led by one of his former students. He also developed sinTAPses, a methodology blending movement and rhythm to enhance coordination and musicality, sought after in studios and universities worldwide. Recently, Luyz introduced his method in China and currently directs TAP STUDIO BALDIJÃO with Mariana Mickengagen.