Sandra M. Black

Owner/Director

Past President of Chicago National Association of Dance Masters

Adult Jazz, Adult Ballet, Ballet, Pointe Barre

Sandra Black has been teaching dance for over 30 years, first in the Detroit area and then Midland to concentrate on the Dean/Black School of Performing Arts, Inc. where she is the owner/director.

Sandra received her formal education in dance at Western Michigan University and Wayne State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree and a Certification K-12 in Dance Education. While at Wayne State University she performed and traveled with their dance company and was also part time faculty member. She also received the coveted "Copperfoot Award" for choreography from WSU.

Sandra has tested through written and oral examinations in areas of ballet, tap, and jazz and received her membership to the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM).  She has also received her Certified Dance Educator and Master Dance Educator certification through CNADM.  Sandra is Former chair for the National Ballet Forum Summer Intensive and past President of CNADM.    

She has been a teacher and performer for Paradigm Dance Theatre, Detroit Ballet Theatre and Dancers Workshops in St. Clair Shores and Eastpointe. She was artistic liaison for the Cincinnati Ballet, Oakland Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Charleston Ballet and with the Grand Rapids Ballet for the companies’ performance of "The Nutcracker" at the MCFTA. Sandra was also a jazz technique consultant at Saginaw Arts and Science Academy and she taught ballet and jazz at Delta State University for 25 years. She also choreographed West Side Story and Singin’ In the Rain for Music Society at the Midland Center for the Arts. Sandra has also been a part of the PAM project through Midland Public Schools and MCFTA, teaching area fifth graders dance as part of an educational awareness of visual and performing arts.

Sandra believes each student should develop strong dance technique. She takes her students through both a tap and jazz syllabus, stressing basic technique to accomplish and develop a strong center as well as correct body placement. Both of which are needed to become a strong and competent dancer. She also believes in constantly challenging the mind, so new combinations are introduced and learned each class. In ballet, Sandra prefers teaching a combined method, Cecchetti, French and Vaganova. She believes students benefit from each style. She enjoys teaching all students from the very young through adults, from beginner through advanced.