Founder

SHARON LAVI

Tap artist born in Tel Aviv, currently residing in Barcelona, director of the Barcelona Tap Dance Conservatory with main base at Coco Comin School for Performing Arts, known for introducing a unique and innovative style of Tap dance choreography and pedagogy.

Since 1998 he has been traveling the globe, teaching and performing in different professional platforms in countries such as: Israel, Spain, France, Germany, US, Russia and South Africa.

In 2001, he entered Camut Band for which he moved to Barcelona and with whom he continues to dance and create to this day. His collaboration with this pioneering Spanish Tap dance and percussion company in different full- length programs has led to extensive national and international touring.

In 2002 he founded Sharon Lavi Company (previous TAPEPLAS) in which along the years he created, directed and produced works such as: “BoomBach”, “MONKEYS”, “KexevKezev”, “EPIC”, “FRAGMENTS”, & “SlideShow”. At the same time, he has been an educational driving force in different centers of reference in Barcelona (El Timbal, TAPEPLAS, Escola Luthier & Coco Comin). Within these schools he trained various generations of Tap dancers and had an important contribution in creating formation trends that have turned Barcelona into a well-considered European Tap Dance capital.

His body of work has received international critical praise, has been yearly given official Spanish grants since 2006, and won numerous prizes. Recent awards include Best Choreography within the Spanish 2017 PTMs for “Moustache, The Rhythm Musical”, and “Premi Claqueta” for his lifetime contribution to Tap Dance in Barcelona.

MANDY KOL

Choreographer, dancer and Tap Dance teacher. Currently the artistic director of Zahala Dance School in Tel Aviv, Israel. In this established and well-known dance center, she continues to articulate her fundamental belief that every person is entitled to enjoy the privilege of dancing and that dance studies can be a source of personal empowerment while balancing dance as a purpose and as a means.

After having trained extensively in the world of dance and of performing arts teaching, she’s been known in the international Tap Dance community as a choreographer with a unique style that expands the horizons of traditional Tap Dance.

Over the years she has created many works that combine diverse ethnic elements of rhythm and movement. Works such as “Walking Against Time”, “Tel”, “Chicky”, “Metamorphosis”, “El Clásico”, “Santandón”, “Luna” and “Ahavat Hadasa” have won many awards, performed at festivals, dance events and various productions in Israel and around the world.

For many years, she has been nurturing Tap dancers and teachers, who teach and dance according to the teaching method developed together with Sharon Lavi. From an early age she devotes herself to teaching and sees non-formal education as a means of strong resonance in the lives of her students. In her various roles she has developed training programs for varied audiences, and has established a wide community of dancers and dance lovers, which she continues to nurture and expand.