Thursday, October 1, 2026
Sara DeGennaro earned the title of dance teacher at age 12 when she first began teaching ballet to neighborhood children in the downstairs of her parents’ Valley Stream home.
DeGennaro, 49, now celebrates 30 years of teaching with Tap 2 Pointe Dance Center, a studio she opened in Malverne at age 19. In that time, she has not only taught local children dance and technique, but helped them instill life skills that last long after recital season.
“I’m proud that for 30 years my studio has been part of this community, welcoming hundreds of students through our doors,” DeGennaro said. “Many have gone on to professional dance careers and college programs, while others have carried what they learned here into successful lives in so many different fields.”
She began dancing at age 3, taking classes in the Five Towns before moving to the Robert Mann Dance Centre in Queens. At 7, DeGennaro was given a copy of “A Very Young Dancer,” by Jill Krementz, about a 10-year-old girl who performs at the School of American Ballet in New York City. The story inspired her to audition for the School, which serves as a training academy for the New York City Ballet.
While attending the school, she performed in “The Nutcracker”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, and “Coppélia” with the company. At 17, she spent a summer performing in Denmark with the Royal Danish Ballet.
But throughout her professional career, DeGennaro has always had a passion for teaching the next generation of dancers. For her birthday, her parents built a small dance studio in their home, installing a dance floor, mirrors, and bars. At 12, she began offering $5 dance classes to neighborhood kids, using the money to support her commutes into the city.
This passion led to the opening of Tap 2 Pointe Dance Center. DeGennaro wanted to share what she had learned from her dance experience with others.
“I love dance. I love teaching,” she said. “I think that dance is so important and instills so many values into these kids — including confidence, discipline, perseverance, and hard work”.
Tap 2 Pointe offers ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop classes Monday through from September to June. The studio first opened at 30 Church St., then moved to it current location at 75 Church St. after 15 years.
“We have built such a strong sense of family at this school,” DeGennaro said. “So not only are students getting wonderful technique and all the good qualities that come from dance, but a very nurturing and healthy environment for children that I’m very proud of.”
In 2022, DeGennaro published a children’s book titled “Sofia’s First Ballet Class: Ballet is Fun!” with Archway Publishing. The 28-page rhyming picture book shares the story of a young girl’s journey through dance, encouraging children to pursue their dreams.
“I want to continue sharing the beautiful art of dance with the next generation,” DeGennaro said. “I have so many different things that I can share, not only in the studio but through my writing.” DeGennaro said she is working on her next book.
Ian Bethany, a professional dancer who recently retired after 17 years in the Ballet Austin, trained with Tap 2 Pointe while growing up in Hempstead. He took ballet, tap and jazz classes with DeGennaro.
Bethany remarked that the joy and fun DeGennaro brought to her classes inspired him to continue pursuing dance as a professional career. “Ms. Sara’s school was a really big jumping point for me,” he said. “Because my favorite place to be is on the stage, performing in front of an audience, and I really found that doing her productions.”
“I started this studio because of my passion for dance and my love of teaching,” DeGennaro said. “I wanted to share everything I was so fortunate to learn and experience as a dancer, to give the children the same opportunities to grow, be inspired, and discover the beauty of dance.
“Dance shaped my life so deeply and my hope has always been to pass that same gift on to the next generation.”
Call (516) 887-9704 to learn more about Tap 2 Pointe Dance Center and the programs they offer.
