Sydney Burtis is a multidisciplinary dancer, choreographer, and educator based in New York City, celebrated for her dynamic tap artistry and contributions to the dance community. Born on August 7, 2000, in Central Florida, she began dancing at the age of three.
Initially diagnosed with mild autism and non-verbal tendencies, Sydney found her voice through tap dance, which became a transformative outlet for her expression and communication. Her early promise led to a role as Keeley Gibson in the national Broadway tour of Billy Elliot the Musical. She has since performed at esteemed venues and events, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Battery Dance Festival, and Little Island. Sydney has trained under renowned tap artists such as Michelle Dorrance, Derick Grant, and Sarah Reich, and is an alumna of the Jacob’s Pillow Tap Program. A passionate educator, Sydney co-founded the Orlando Tap Festival and has taught at various institutions and festivals nationwide, including Florida Dance Masters and Sarah Reich’s Tap Music Project.
She is currently a faculty member at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Sydney is also the founder and artistic director of “Elements of Sound,” a tap company that has performed at events like Arts on Site’s Tap Festival and the OC Tap Festival. She graduated summa cum laude from Pace University’s Pforzheimer Honors College with a BA in Communication Studies. Her accolades include being named a YoungArts Silver award winner in 2017, a 2018 Presidential Scholar in the Arts semi-finalist, and the 2018 Dance Spirit Magazine Cover Model Search winner.
