REM Award Honorees (2006) — Sandy Sanzaro (Maine Dance Teachers Club)

Sandy Sanzaro has been a member of Maine Dance Teachers Club for 20 years. During that time, she served as vice president and president of the Club and is currently on the Board of Directors.

Sandy began her dance training in Skowhegan at the age of four with Brad Adams, a fellow member of MDTC, and a 2004 REM Award recipient. She continued her dance studies with her sister, Sally Jo Kingsbury, at Top Hat School of Dance, and Teresa Torkanowsky at the University of Maine.

After graduating fin 1983 with a BS in Education, Sandy taught Language Arts in middle school and opened Top Hat II Dance Studio in Holden in 1986, teaching afterschool dance classes. In 1992, she decided to focus on dance and opened additional studios in Brewer and Hampden. Currently, Top Hat II offers classes in Holden and Hampden, presenting holiday shows and spring recitals at the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono. The Top Hat II Dance Team has performed at Disney World twice and will return in April, 2007.

Along with her studio classes, Sandy is in her seventh year as choreographer and director of the University of Maine Dance Team, which performs with the Pride of Maine Black Bear Marching Band. Sandy lives in Holden with her husband David, and 13-year-old daughter Krysti, who is already following in the family’s footsteps, as a member of the Top Hat II Dance Team, and an assistant teacher at the studio.

For more information about the Maine Dance Teachers Club, please visit its website.