Dorrance Dance: SOUNDspace

July 2–11 | 8PM

SOUNDspace (2013)

Choreography by Michelle Dorrance with solo improvisation by the dancers and additional choreography by Ephrat Asherie, Zakhele “Bboy Swazi” Grabowski, Byron Tittle, and Nicholas Van Young
Original Music by Gregory Richardson
Lighting Design by Kathy Kaufmann

Performers

Thursday, July 2nd

Christopher Broughton, Elizabeth Burke, Michelle Dorrance, Zakhele “Bboy Swazi” Grabowski, Sterling Harris, Luke Hickey, Addi Loving, Claudia Rahardjanoto, Gregory Richardson, Byron Tittle, Nicholas Van Young

Friday, July 3rd & Saturday, July 4th

Elizabeth Burke, Michelle Dorrance, Zakhele “Bboy Swazi” Grabowski, Luke Hickey, Emiko Nakagawa, Claudia Rahardjanoto, Gregory Richardson, Leonardo Sandoval, Byron Tittle, Tommy Wasiuta, Nicholas Van Young

Tuesday, July 7th & Thursday, July 9th

Elizabeth Burke, Brittany Destefano, Michelle Dorrance, Zakhele “Bboy Swazi” Grabowski, Asha Dahomey Griffith, Luke Hickey, John Manzari, Gregory Richardson, Leonardo Sandoval, Dylan Szuch, Byron Tittle

Friday, July 10th & Saturday, July 11th

Elizabeth Burke, Michelle Dorrance, Zakhele “Bboy Swazi” Grabowski, Sterling Harris, Luke Hickey, Addi Loving, Claudia Rahardjanoto, Gregory Richardson, Leonardo Sandoval, Byron Tittle, Nicholas Van Young

The creation of SOUNDspace was made possible, in part, by the Danspace Project 2012-2013 Commissioning Initiative, with support from the New York State Council on the Arts. As part of Danspace Project’s Choreographic Center Without Walls, Dorrance Dance received a production residency supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

A NOTE FROM MICHELLE

“SOUNDspace (2013) was created as an exploration of – and percussive love letter to – the sonic sanctum that is the theater/sanctuary of St. Mark’s Church. When this piece was created, I was asked by Danspace Artistic Director, Judy Hussie-Taylor, to consider my influences, lineage, and legacy – “the web of connections that new generations of artists trace with the past through their work.” I would argue that no dancers call upon such a wealth of individual influences of their elders and innovators more directly and more prodigiously than tap dancers. Their personalities, music, movement, style, invention, generosity, and care live deeply within us. And their lessons and invitations live deeply within this work. In honor of Dorrance Dance’s 15th Anniversary season, I am remounting one of my favorite works in one of my favorite places to experience movement as music – and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate than through the rich and myriad sounds and textures of the feet.”

– Michelle Dorrance

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Michelle Dorrance (Artistic Director/Choreographer/Performer) is known as “one of the most imaginative tap choreographers working today” (The New Yorker). Mentored by Gene Medler (North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble), she studied under many of the last hoofers of the jazz era and was deeply influenced by her time working with tap dance revolutionary Savion Glover and in the Off-Broadway sensation STOMP. Choreographic commissions include Martha Graham Dance Company, Vail Dance Festival, American Ballet Theatre, Trinity Irish Dance Company, and New York City Center. Theater and film work includes James Lapine’s Flying Over Sunset and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! A MacArthur Fellow, a Princess Grace Award recipient, a Bessie Award winner, and an Olivier Award nominee, Dorrance is a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, and a Capezio Athlete. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from New York University and an honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of North Carolina.

Gregory Richardson (Music Director/Performer) is a composer and multi-instrumentalist focusing on upright and electric bass and guitar, and also the co-artistic director of Music From The Sole. Gregory is a founding member of Dorrance Dance, and is so pleased to be celebrating the company’s 15-year Anniversary alongside his friends and mentors as SOUNDspace returns to its original home in NYC.

Kathy Kaufmann (Lighting Designer) is a New York City native, and two time Bessie recipient. She is resident designer at Danspace Project at St. Marks Church, has taught at Sarah Lawrence and NYU, and has toured extensively throughout the world. She designs regularly for Dorrance Dance, Joanna Kotze, The Bang Group, Mariana Valencia, Ephrat Asherie Dance, Vicky Shick, and Music From The Sole.

Elizabeth Burke (Dance Captain/Performer) is a New York City based tap dancer, performer, choreographer, and teacher from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A “deft and impassioned” (The New York Times) performer, she has worked consistently with Dorrance Dance since their inaugural 2011 season; highlights include being an original cast member of many repertory works. More recently, she and lifelong collaborator Luke Hickey have been touring their work “A Swing Suite” throughout the United States, produced by Dorrance Dance. She trained under her mentor, Gene Medler, in the acclaimed North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, performing worldwide. Elizabeth is a sought after teacher, frequently teaching in festival and conservatory settings throughout the US and abroad. Stage: Carnegie Hall; Radio City Music Hall; New York City Center; Sadler’s Wells; The Joyce Theater; Jacob’s Pillow; Birdland Jazz Club; The White House; Screen: “The Bride!” (dir. Maggie Gyllenhaal); “Keeping Time” (dir. Skyler Poiley). Double Deez Double Down. @ElizabethRBurke

Christopher Broughton (Performer) is an accomplished tap dancer, performer, and educator from Los Angeles who began dancing at age 11. He trained under renowned tap masters Paul and Arlene Kennedy at Universal Dance Design and performed with the Kennedy Tap Company. As a young artist, he earned the prestigious NAACP ACT-SO National Award twice, recognizing his excellence in the performing arts. Christopher is a longtime member of Dorrance Dance, the internationally acclaimed New York-based tap dance company led by Michelle Dorrance. With the company, he has toured extensively, bringing innovative tap dance to audiences around the world. His performance credits include the Tony Award-winning Broadway production After Midnight, the film Spirited, Capezio’s 130th Anniversary Celebration, New York City Center’s Cotton Club Parade, and JUBA! Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance at the Kennedy Center. Passionate about education, Christopher is dedicated to mentoring young artists and sharing the artistry, history, and joy of tap dance with the next generation.

Brittany DeStefano (Performer) is a multi-form dancer from New York who began her training at Seven Star School of Performing Arts under the mentorship of Nicole Aravena. After dancing competitively, she pursued dance professionally, touring with Tap Kids across the U.S. and Canada and performing as a guest artist with Ohio-based contemporary dance company Exhale Dance Tribe. She later trained under the direction of Derick K. Grant at Steps on Broadway and The American Tap Dance Foundation and is also an alumna of the School at Jacob’s Pillow (Tap Programs 2012 and 2014). Brittany has collaborated and performed with Dorrance Dance, Music From the Sole, and Caleb Teicher & Company at venues such as The Joyce Theater, Jacob’s Pillow, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. She has also taught internationally at festivals and studios throughout the U.S., Brazil, Canada, and the U.K.

Zakhele “Swazi” Grabowski (Performer) is a competitive and performing Breaker, Tap dancer, and musician, originally from Eswatini. He is a member of NYC’s Dynamic Rockers crew, and the global crew, based in Europe, Formless Corps. He has won multiple medals, nationally and internationally. Swazi is an alumni of The School at Jacob’s Pillow and Carnegie’s The B-Side. He was a member of Olympic Teen Team USA Breaking For Gold, and Red Bull’s “Under My Wiiings.” As well as touring and performing with Dorrance Dance, Swazi’s credits include: tours of: “Nuttin’ But A Word” & “American Street Dancer” with Rennie Harris Puremovement, “Ikigai” at The Guggenheim, “We Move In Color” at The Strand and the Kennedy Centre’s Millennium Stage .IG @ swazi.zg

Asha DaHomey Griffith (Performer) Driven by passion, Asha DaHomey (a.k.a. Asha Griffith) is more than just a tap dancer and choreographer, but an international hip hop artist, songwriter, producer, and all-around creative force. She is a faculty member at Steps on Broadway and is the Co-Artistic Director of Stage14C, a performance wing of ARTS14C in Jersey City.

Sterling Harris (Performer) a Chicago native now based in NYC, is grateful to be able to pursue his passion for tap dance as a performer, choreographer, and educator. He is currently an Artistic Associate of Chicago Tap Theatre, a Company Member of MADD Rhythms and Music From the Sole, and began the honor of performing with Dorrance Dance in 2023. Sterling is also a two-time alumnus of the School at Jacob’s Pillow and recipient of the 2021 Lorna Strassler Award.

Luke Hickey (Performer), “never unmusical” (New York Times), is a tap dancer, choreographer, actor and teacher based in New York City. Named by Dance Magazine “25 To Watch” in 2020, Hickey studied with legendary tap educator and founder of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, Gene Medler. As a choreographer, he has presented work at venues including Birdland Jazz Club, Little Island, and Jacob’s Pillow. Hickey has performed consistently with Dorrance Dance since 2019. With Dorrance Dance Productions, he and longtime collaborator Elizabeth Burke are currently touring their work, A Swing Suite, now into 2026, across the United States. As an educator, Hickey is dedicated to passing on the history and wisdom that Gene, Brenda Bufalino, Dianne Walker and many others so generously shared with him. Stage: New York City Center; LA’s The Ford; Detroit Jazz Festival; Guggenheim Museum; Kennedy Center. Screen: The Bride! Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal; “A Bread Factory” Directed by Patrick Wang.

Addi Loving (Performer) is a New York–based performer represented by MSA Agency. Originally from North Carolina and St. Louis, she trained under Gene Medler and was recognized as a 2019 YoungArts winner. Recent work includes Chez Joey at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Addi is honored and grateful to dance alongside her inspirations for these performances at St. Mark’s Church.

John Manzari (Performer) is a dancer, singer, actor & choreographer. Stage: Funny Girl (OBC); White Christmas (TUTS); Anything Goes (MUNY); The Tap Dance Kid (Encores!); Bzzz. Television: Law & Order SVU; Black Broadway: A Proud History, A Limitless Future; Rooted; The Kennedy Center at 50. Concerts: solo shows Recenter & The First Set; guest appearances with NY Pops, NSO, Seattle, Houston, Vancouver, and other symphonies; The Hot Sardines; Fall for Dance; Fall for Dance North; Amelia Island Dance Festival. Film: Reimagined. Short Films: I Get Knocked Down; Ghost; To: Everything I Love; Slip. Documentaries: Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back; Leonard Soloway’s Broadway.

Emiko Nakagawa (Performer) is a Japanese tap dance artist based in New York City. She began developing her tap artistry at the age of eight under the mentorship of Yukiko “Smilie” Misumi, and has served as Dance Captain in various productions, including ARTN Company’s Legends of Tap series (2015–2020) in Japan. Prior to moving to New York, she gained international recognition through performances at “JUBA!” at the Chicago Tap Festival and Big Apple Tap Festival.

Since relocating to New York, Emiko continues to expand her artistic scope, and made her circus debut with New York Circus Project. She is an alum of The School at Jacob’s Pillow. Most recently, she was selected for Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” for 2026, and is deeply grateful to perform with Dorrance Dance.

Claudia Rahardjanoto (Performer) Born and raised in Berlin, Germany, Claudia, a tap dancer, body musician, singer, choreographer, and teacher, started her professional dance career at the Deutsche Oper Berlin at the age of nine before falling in love with tap dance at fifteen under the tutelage of Sven Göttlicher, Marie-Christin Zeisset and Andreas Dänel. In NYC since 2003, she has had the honor of working with numerous tap dancers, choreographers and musicians.

A core company member of Dorrance Dance since its inception in 2011, Claudia is currently also a member of the Max Pollak Group, collaborates with pianist Michael Jellick as a piano/tap dance duo and is the choreographer and featured tap dancer for drummer Allison Miller’s Rivers In Our Veins. Claudia hopes to continue sharing her love and passion for the art of tap dance and music through her performing and teaching globally and is excited to be returning to Danspace Project at St.Mark’s Church for Dorrance Dance’s 15th Anniversary season.

Leonardo Sandoval (Performer) Brazilian tap dancer and choreographer Leonardo Sandoval is renowned for blending America’s great tap tradition with Brazil’s rich rhythmic and musical heritage. He founded Music From The Sole with composer Gregory Richardson in 2015, and he has been a core member of Dorrance Dance since 2014. As a solo dancer and choreographer, he has appeared at the National Folk Festival, Caramoor Jazz Festival, and was recently commissioned a new work as part of composer Philip Glass’ 85th birthday celebrations. A true dancer-musician, he was one of Dance Magazine’s “25 To Watch”, and received a 2022 Vilcek Foundation Prize for Creative Promise, as well as a 2022 NYSCA/ NYFA Artist Fellowship in Choreography, and a 2024 Princess Grace Award in Choreography.

Dylan Szuch (Performer) (he/they) is a 21-year-old tap dancer and musician from Wilmington, NC. He has been tap dancing for 12 years. They invest their tap dance energy in training under the mentorship of Brenda Bufalino, performing, and studying music at Berklee College of Music as a tap dance percussionist. From 2018 to 2023, under the artistic direction of Gene Medler and Nicholas Van Young, he was a member of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble. In 2022, they were named a finalist in dance by the National YoungArts program and he is an alumni of the Jacob’s Pillow School program. He stays busy writing music based on the rhythms of tap dance and touring with tap dance company “Dorrance Dance”. They are most proud of their time performing with Brenda Bufalino at the Guggenheim museum in NYC. Szuch is pursuing tap dance and music as a professional career.

Byron Tittle (Performer) made his Broadway debut originating the role of “Cass” in the Tony-award-winning musical Illinoise choreographed by Justin Peck. He has toured both nationally and internationally with the “virtuosic” tap dance company Dorrance Dance (NYT). Commercial credits include Bad Bunny: Super Bowl LX, Janet Jackson, Lady Gaga, GAP, H&M, Doechii, Tate McCrae, Sabrina Carpenter, Usher, Doja Cat, Ravyn Lenae, Karol G and more. Television/Film credits include In the Heights, Maestro, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The View, The James Corden Show, Good Morning America, The BET Awards, The Video Music Awards, and the 2022 Met Gala. He is humbled to be a recipient of a 2019 Princess Grace Fellowship in dance and a 2024 Chita Rivera nominee for Outstanding Performance in a Broadway Show. With extensive training at BDC, Byron would be nowhere without the sacrifices of his parents and sister, Shamfa.

Tommy Wasiuta (Performer), “a breath of dance freedom” (New York Times), is a tap dance artist based in New York City. Performance credits include Dorrance Dance, Michela Marino Lerman, Max Pollak, Luke Hickey, and Ulysses Owens Jr. at venues like The Joyce Theater, 92nd Street Y, Little Island, and Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center. His solo tap album, Drum Shoes, explores the tap shoes as a percussive instrument, and was presented at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference (PASIC). He was a choreographer with Dance Lab New York and the Making Moves Dance Festival. Tommy is a professor at New York University and on faculty at Steps on Broadway, the Joffrey Ballet School, and OneBeat Dance Brands. He is an alumnus of the University of Missouri–St. Louis and the Tap Program at The School at Jacob’s Pillow.

Nicholas Van Young (Performer) is an artist, choreographer, dancer, musician, and a 2014 Bessie Award recipient. He began his professional career at the age of 16 in Austin, TX with Tapestry Dance Company under the direction of Acia Gray and Deirdre Strand. As Principal Dancer and Resident Choreographer of the company, he was awarded Best Male Dancer (2001) and Best Choreography (2003) by the Austin Critic’s Council. In the New York City cast of STOMP from 2003-2013, he moved forward with the production playing the lead role and acting as Rehearsal Director for the US Tour. Most recently, Nicholas served as the Associate Artistic Director of Dorrance Dance and has been a choreographer and collaborator with Artistic Director, Michelle Dorrance, for nearly a decade. Choreographic and conceptual collaborations with Dorrance Dance include: ETM: The Initial Approach, ETM: Double Down, Guggenheim Rotunda Project, Elemental (BAM), and Ways to Now (Jacob’s Pillow). Nicholas’ solo choreographic contributions to the company include Elastic Time which premiered at The Joyce Theater in New York City and Untitled Waveforms which premiered at Jacob’s Pillow. His work has been performed at Jacob’s Pillow, Sadler’s Wells, Fira Tarrega, The Joyce Theater, City Center, and Hong Kong Arts Festival, among others. As a musician, Nicholas has performed and toured with Cyro Baptista’s Beat the Donkey, as drummer for Darwin Deez and Dorrance Dance, was cast in the Amazon film Música, and has created two electronic music scores for the documentaries Tap or Die and Aces and Knaves, produced by Jackie Pare.

Devin Koenig (Production Manager/Lighting Supervisor) is a lighting supervisor, production manager, and programmer based in Astoria, New York. Currently, she is the production manager and lighting supervisor for Dorrance Dance, and has previously worked with Music from the Sole, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Joyce Theater Productions, and the Radio City Rockettes.

Dorrance Dance was founded in 2011 as a tap dance company passionately committed to sharing the complex history, powerful legacy, and infinite possibilities of tap dance on a musical, conceptual, and emotional level. After 15 years of being the world’s foremost touring tap dance company, Dorrance Dance’s mission has expanded; as a producing entity, the company aspires to support the development and touring of new works and artists that continue to contextualize tap dance’s history and its diaspora in a culturally significant way.

www.dorrancedance.com | Instagram: @dorrancedance | Facebook: facebook.com/dorrancedance

As seen in tonight’s performance, Dorrance Dance is deeply committed to creating and producing new works and employment opportunities for artists that intersect, innovate, and honor the cultural legacy of tap dance. Please join our mailing list for updates and consider donating to support the art and artists!

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Dorrance Dance is generously supported by The Harkness Foundation for Dance, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, One World Fund, and The Shubert Foundation.

Rehearsal, development, and performances are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Dorrance Dance Staff

Artistic Director: Michelle Dorrance
Executive Director: Adriana Ray
General Manager: Hillary Kooistra
Production Manager/Lighting Supervisor: Devin Koenig
Associate Producer: Gabby Benavides
Company Manager: Sally Race
Administrative Associate: Brooklyn Toli
Financial Administrator: Arts FMS
Booking Representative: Barbara Frum, WME
Development Consultant: The Fundraising System

Dorrance Dance Board of Directors

Henri Benaim (Chair), Marc Steglitz (Treasurer), Deb Klowden Mann (Secretary), Courtney Blackwell Burton, M’Liss Dorrance, Michelle Dorrance, Joseph Gallo, Hilary Srere

Danspace Project pays respect to Lenape peoples. We acknowledge that this work is situated on the Lenape island of Manhattan (Mannahatta) in Lenapehoking, the Lenape homeland. We pay respect to Lenape land, water, and ancestors past, present and future.

ABOUT DANSPACE PROJECT

Danspace Project presents new work in dance, supports a diverse range of choreographers in developing their work, encourages experimentation, and connects artists to audiences.

For over 50 years, Danspace Project has supported a vital community of contemporary dance artists in an environment unlike any other in the United States. Located in the historic St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, Danspace shares its facility with the Church, The Poetry Project, and New York Theatre Ballet. Danspace Project’s Commissioning Initiative has commissioned nearly 600 new works since its inception in 1994.

More about our staff, our mission, and values

For information on our funders, visit danspaceproject.org/support

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