Both of my parents, along with my tap dance mentor, Gene Medler, are master educators. One of the powerful lessons they taught me was to always work to better myself, to always remain a student. Gene did this by constantly seeking out the living masters of our form to share the legacy and heritage of tap dance with us.

Tap dance was born on the slave plantation in horrific circumstances. To learn the heritage of tap dance is to learn the history of racial inequality in America – and how that inequality was transcended. To learn the legacy of tap dance is to also learn of the responsibility to pass down that legacy, an oral tradition, and a black form. 

Under Gene’s direction, as a member of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble from age 8 to 17, I spoke and danced in countless lecture-demonstrations helping to pass down this history. My experience doing this was at once eye-opening, inspiring, humbling, empowering, and terrifying - and is at the core of why I know that educating young people in the arts can bring about revolutionary change.

In my generation, to be a professional tap dancer is to be an educator.

NYC Tap Dance Intensive

Our NYC intensive is held annually every winter and gives the pre-professional dancer a unique opportunity to learn current company repertory with Dorrance Dance company members.

The intensive is designed for intermediate and advanced-professional dancers. Teachers include Artistic Director Michelle Dorrance, Associate Artistic Director Nicholas Van Young, Dorrance Dance company members, and guest artists. No audition required.

Join us for technique, company repertory, improvisation, new choreography, sessions working with musicians, tap history discussions & more!

Workshops and Community Engagement

With each tour, the company leads many Master Classes and Community Workshops. These include tap dance technique, company repertory, improvisation, body percussion, house and breaking fundamentals, as well as Lecture Demonstrations and Student Performances. We reach over 6,000 students annually spanning all ages, levels and abilities.

nyc public school lecture demonstrations

Dorrance Dance's NYC Lecture Demonstrations for public school students are a new and evolving initiative for today's brightest young tap dancers to perform high-caliber artistic work while reaching audiences in nontraditional and educational settings. Featuring Dorrance Dance apprentices and company members, these performances reach our local communities with a high-energy, interactive, 60-minute or less program.

education partnerships

Dorrance Dance also collaborates with partner organizations who have deep relationships to students in our local communities in and around New York City.

So far, we’ve proudly partnered with and created workshops, outreach, and master classes for 92Y Harkness Dance Center and Dance Education Laboratory (DEL), Brooklyn Academy of Music, Get Empowered!, Dancer’s Give Back, Nicholas Van Young's Institute for The Rhythmic Arts (IFTRA), NYC Department of Education’s Dance for PD, Steps Beyond Foundation, and USDAN Summer Camp for the Arts, among others.