Saskia Sap

Saskia Sap is a Lecturer in Educational Theory and Psychology at the Amsterdam University of the Arts (AHK), specializing in Dance in Education. She has held this position since 1994 and supervises internships for students. Her academic background includes a Master’s in Educational Studies from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and teacher training at the Nel Roos Ballet Academy. She previously operated her own dance studio for children aged 2–8 years and currently trains dance teachers for professional organizations. Her research focuses on leveraging dance to enhance language acquisition in young children, particularly those with language delays or Dutch as a second language (NT2).

Key research interests include the relationship between dance, movement, and cognitive development, with a focus on early childhood education. She has developed a pilot program integrating dance into primary education curricula to address semi-literacy challenges. Her work emphasizes creative, kinesthetic methods to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and engagement in multilingual classrooms.

Sap has presented at international conferences such as Dance and the Child International and NEOS Conferentie Cultuuronderwijs, delivering talks like Learning Dutch through Dance and 10 Reasons to Dance While Learning. She has also published articles in journals like Kunstzone and Dansdocent.nu, and produced educational podcasts on dance-based language education.

Her professional contributions extend to workshops for teachers and educators, emphasizing playful, movement-driven pedagogy. She collaborates with institutions like the Comenius Museum and the Symposium Transculturele Danspraktijken, advocating for the integration of arts into mainstream educational frameworks. Her research aligns with Dutch governmental initiatives to reduce teacher workloads through innovative, arts-infused instructional strategies.