TapBeat Faculty & Staff
Cristina Delius I Tap Dance, Music Theory and Improvisation for Tap
Cristina Delius is the founder and director of TapBeat, International Tap Dance Center.
Cristina is one of the most distinguished tap dancers and tap dance choreographers in Europe. Trained in both classical and modern dance in Lisbon, Paris and New York, she is a dancer and a musician (Cello) and combines elements of jazz with free improvisation and the highest musical standards in her performances.
In New York she studied and danced with many of the great American tap dance masters and dancers such as Brenda Bufalino, Gregory Hines, Buster Brown, Savion Glover, Barbara Duffy, Josh Hilberman, or Chuck Green among others. She danced as a soloist and as an ensemble member with Manhattan Tap by Heather Cornell and with the American Tap Dance Orchestra (ATDO) by Brenda Bufalino. In cooperation with Brenda Bufalino she choreographed several projects as a soloist and also for her company Chili con Tap in Berlin and New York.
At her studio in Berlin, Cristina contributes to establish tap dance at the higher quality standards and she has long aquired an international renomee in this field. She receives with gratitude the recognition of her American colleagues like her great tap dance virtuoso and mentor Brenda Bufalino and Jason Samuels Smith, Joseph Wiggan or Cartier Williams, stars of the new generation of tap dancers in the USA among others.
Today, performances and teaching work regularly take her across Europe and the USA.
She works as a Soloist, with her Tap Company or as a guest dancer in several venues and with several companies around the world.
Cristina is the founder and director of the Tap Dance Company "Chili con Tap" and founder and director of “Tripeco” (Triangular Percussion Project) trio. Tripeco Musicians: Silvia Ocougne (guitar) and Johannes Gunkel (bass).
Cooperation projects (highlights): Tap Dance Soloist for the Morton Gould Concert with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra at the New Year's Concert 2022 at the Berlin Philharmonic. / Coaching and Co-Choreographer for the Schaubühne in Berlin. Piece: “House of Dance“ by Tina Satter from April–September 2023. / Tribute to Brenda Bufalino in Primrose Retreat near Chicago and Artist Residency in September 2023. Performance with Brenda Bufalino, Katherine Kramer, Acia Gray, Jeannie Hill, Jenai Cutcher, Cathy Wind and Ellen Keane.
More about Cristina on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
Luke Dowling I Tap Dance
Luke is a professional tap dancer from London. Having trained with Tap Attack and in Musical Theatre college. He graduated from Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts.
Luke joined „Tap Attack“ as a company member in 2009, remaining with the company until 2012, during which time he won 2 silver medals at the IDO World Tap Championships with choreographies by James Doubtfire. Whilst a member of "Tap Attack" and "Extreme Tap", both based in the UK, Luke performed regularly abroad with credits encompassing live television, theatrical performances, music video’s as well as corporate events. He was also a member of the “Got To Dance” series 1 semi final act.
Theatre credits include: BBC 'The One Show', Singin’ In The Rain, Footloose, AIDA, Eugenius and Starlight Express.
Luke Dowling will join the TapBeat Staff in October 2019. In his classes he offers a mixture of performance and technical skills.
Luke moved to Berlin to further his Tap ability and learn to speak fluent German. His favourite tap dancer is Jimmy Slyde for his intricate rhythms and stylish slides.
Photo: Silke Woweries (TapBeat © 2022)
Mariana Souza I Tap Dance & Musical
Mariana started her musical education at the Conservatório Brasileiro de Müusica and at the University of Music in Rio de Janeiro. Her extensive dance quality she trained at the University of Physical Education and at the Academy Ballet Simone Falcão, also in Rio de Janeiro.
She left Brazil to continue her training in New York at the Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and the Center of Arts. Jazz and Contemporary she trained mainly with Karen Savage, Christopher Hemmans, Caroline Wiehoff, Marli Tavares, Liz Imperio, Deborah Colker, Harton Tenorio, Alex Neorl, Henrique Talmah and Kristopfer Storey.
Mariana trained tap dance with Brenda Bufalino, Derick Grant, Jason Samuels Smith, Chloe Arnolds and Nicholas Young. After working successfully in Brazil for TV formats and in various dance companies, she moved to Hamburg for the legendary musical Lion King to perform as Cover Sarabi and in the position of Swing Dancer.
In 2013, the Komische Oper hired Mariana for the role of Rosalia in West Side Story and immediately kept her for the operetta Clivia. In 2014 she received another engagement in a major Stage Entertainment production in Vienna. She appeared in the ensemble and as a cover of mrs. Corry in the Disney musical Mary Poppins. In 2016 the Komische Oper brought Mariana back to Berlin for the musical Kiss me Kate where she has since worked on various productions.
Charlotte Liebenow I Solo Authentic Jazz and other Swing Dance styles + Tap Kids & Teens
Charlotte Liebenow started dancing at the age of six and tried her hand at classical ballroom, Latin, hip hop and jazz dance.
On a Summer night in Berlin, she discovered swing dancing in 2016. At first she preferred to dance solo, but soon she became addicted to Lindy Hop and wheter in berlin, Barcelona or Venice, the freat energy and openness of the swing dance community always inspires her.
Charlotte has been tap dancing with Cristina Delius at TapBeat since 2018 as tap dancing is a great complement to swing dancing.
Foto: Peter Groth
Veronika Hammer I Voice and Singing
Veronika Hammer graduatet from the Performing Academy in Vienna in 2015. Since then she has appeared in many productions in Germany, Austria and Switzerlan. Among others in Starlight Express as Carrie, Cover Pearl and Mamma Mia! as Ensemble, Cover Sophie.
She was already a lead singer in a band as a teenager and has turned her passion into a profession. Her training as a vocal coach with Perrin Manzer Allen now allows her to pass on all her vocal experience to her students.
Veronika works on the structure of the voice, breathing, use of stylistic devices and interpretation, among other things. In doing so, she creates an understanding of her own vocal apparatus.
The most important thing for her is to teach a healthy technique with wich it is possible to build up, maintain and preserve the voice.
Michail Spyridis „Lucky“ I Hip Hop and Breakdance
Michail Spyridis also known as „B-boy Lucky Look“, was born on 9th of April 1991 in Russia. At the age of 5 he moved to Greece where he grew up.
As a kid he has learned martial arts such as kickboxing and wrestling. Those technics along with his great discipline inspired him to create his individual style and to bring his own ideas in the dance world.
Lucky is an independent artist, he has developed his dance skills from 2003 till now days. In 2018 he created a dance performance named ''Hip Hop Platon''.
Lucky has the experience of big stages and worldwide bboy contests. He is the creator of (Dead Prezz Education classes) were students learn dance and its culture. Lucky is a performer, choreographer and director for group performances and his own pieces. He is travels and teaches all around the world.
Awards: please check here.
TAPBEAT GUEST TEACHERS: Brenda Bufalino, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Katherine Kramer, Jason Samuels-Smith, Cartier Williams, Joseph Wiggan, Guillem Alonso, Avalon Rathgeb, Derek Roland, Christopher Erk, Lisa La Touche, Dewitt Fleming Jr., Rubén Perez, Thomas J Egan, Jordan Pollard, Jesse Rasmussen, Silvia Ocougne, Roland Schneider, Andreas Schmidt, Guido Witte ...
TapBeat organizes workshops, shows, jams, dance partys and events on a regular basis with guest teachers and dancers. Please check our schedule for current information:
TapBeat Office Manager:
Claudia Drießler
email: claudia.buero@tapbeat.de
Social Media Manager:
Viola Schwartz
email : info@tapbeat.de
TapBeat Office Hours by appointment:
Mondays: 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Tuesdays: 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Other days can be scheduled by appointment.
Monday–Friday: by phone or email. Phone calls from 10:00 a.m. on.
Weekends: Closed. Exceptions: during workshops or events.
The office is closed during school holidays and studio holidays.
Address & Contact
TapBeat, International Tap Dance Center
Director: Cristina Delius
Jeanne-Mammen-Bogen 580-581
(between Grolman and Uhlandstraße)
D-10623 Berlin-Savignyplatz
Transportation:
S3, S5, S7, S9, S75 Savignyplatz
U1 Uhlandstraße, U9 Zoologischer Garten
U7 Wilmersdorfer Straße
M49, X34 Savignyplatz
M19, M29 Uhlandstraße and other busses
Find us here
phone: +49 30 / 886 24 158
mobil: +49 152 / 277 38 706
email: info@tapbeat.de