Sandra Torijano received her BA in dance at the National University of Costa Rica and danced in Danza Una, the resident professional company of the National University. Her principal teacher was Elena Gutierrez. Ms. Torijano then became a soloist with The National Dance Company of Costa Rica and toured extensively throughout Latin America, performing as a soloist in Fausto, Carmina Burana, and The Soldier’s Tale, among others.

After coming to the U.S. in 1992, Torijano continued her career as a freelance dancer, teacher, and choreographer throughout Europe, Latin America and the U.S., working with Ann Arbor Dance Works, The Gyory Ballet Company of Hungary, The Institut del Teatre in Barcelona, National Institute of Fine Artes in Mexico, Steps on Broadway, NYC, San Diego Dance Theatre, and Pointe Park University.

Torijano is also the recipient of several awards and grants for her choreography, including the National Prize of Costa Rica. In 2004, at the invitation of Nobel winner and President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, Torijano choreographed a solo that was performed for His Holiness the Falai Lama of Tibet. In 2008, while on research leave from the University of Michigan, she was appointed by the Costa Rica Cultural Minister to serve as the Director of Integrated Arts. She created several new collaborative works with notable Costa Rican composers, choreographers, and writers.