Daielma Santos-Decker

Ballet Instructor and coach

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Daielma Decker began her training in music and dance at an early age in her native country Brazil. By the age of 14 she was dancing principal roles in classical and contemporary works with Studio de Danças Company. She is a graduate from The Royal Academy of Dance of London and holds a major in Psychology and Pos graduation in child psychology from Instituto Metodista de Ensino Superior. Daielma has performed with various companies in Brazil including Ballet Stagium, Ismael Guiser and Cisne Negro and Principal dancer with Opera Paulista. She came to the United States on a scholarship to study the Russian Method at Western Michigan University, and because of this trip, she met Fred Garbo. She has toured with Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company nationally and internationally. Some of the venues are: The Kennedy Center; New victory Theater on Broadway; Aspen Dance Festival; International Festivals across Europe, Canada and Asia; China’s First International Arts Festival in Tin Jin. In addition to her work with Fred Garbo, she was invited to dance with Portland Ballet as a principal dancer and later on became their resident choreographer, as well as directing their performing arts school program for pre-professional dancers. Today, she continues her ties with Portland Ballet as a member of the Advisory Board of Directors. Ms Decker, while living in Chicago, worked for The Joffrey Ballet teaching their Trainees and Studio Company. Now, being a recent resident of Austin, TX, she is delighted to be coaching dancers at the Dance Institute.

Her choreographic works expands from classical and contemporary to musicals, operas and collaborations with Symphony Orchestras.