Derick K. Grant News

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival presents the world premiere engagement of And Still You Must Swing with three of the world's most celebrated tap dance luminaries—Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Jason Samuels Smith, and Derick K. Grant—July    6-10 in the intimate Doris Duke Theatre. The program embraces masterful technique, musicality, and improvisation including a live onstage band and a star-studded cast with critically-acclaimed guest artist and 2016 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award recipient Camille A. Brown.

Following the critical acclaim and record-breaking ticket sales and attendance of Festival 2015, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival will soon kick-off a new season of exciting programming featuring international artists, world premieres, an impressive number of engagements set to live music, and more than 200 free performances, talks, and exhibits.

The 2016 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award, a prestigious honor that carries a $25,000 cash prize, will be presented to contemporary choreographer, dancer, and artistic director Camille A. Brown in acknowledgement of her vision and outstanding contributions to the dance field. Regularly garnering acclaim for her 'vividness and versatility' (Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times), Brown holds a New York Dance and Performance ('Bessie') Award, two Princess Grace Awards, a Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, and her work has toured nationally and internationally. The Jacob's Pillow Dance Award was established in 2007 and, in honor of its 10th anniversary, the Pillow has broadened the scope of this honor with a commitment to the artist's growth and future work. In addition to the unrestricted cash prize, this Award also includes a committed engagement for the 2017 Festival and a Creative Development Residency at Jacob's Pillow. Previous recipients of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award include the legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham; MacArthur Fellows Michelle Dorrance and Kyle Abraham; and John Heginbotham of Dance Heginbotham, among others.

Harlem Stage is pleased to present the seventeenth edition of their acclaimed dance series E-Moves. This year Harlem Stage has commissioned four evolving choreographers to create exciting new collaborative works with musicians and visual artists. This year's choreographers include Davalois Fearon, Desiree Godsell, Jason Samuels Smith and Laurie M. Taylor.To further support the development of the commissioned works, Harlem Stage has paired each of the artists with a mentor uniquely positioned to provide guidance and insight. This year's mentors are Ted Louis Levy, who is working with Samuels Smith; Nia Love, who is working with Fearon; Edisa Weeks, who is working with Taylor; and Marya Wethers, who is working with Godsell.

Following the critical acclaim and record-breaking ticket sales and attendance of Festival 2015, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival announces a new season of exciting programming featuring international artists, world premieres, and an impressive number of live music engagements. This season signals an exciting new era in Pillow history, as the Board of Directors plans to name a new Jacob's Pillow Director in early 2016. Former Executive and Artistic Director Ella Baff stepped down from her role in September of 2015, following a successful 17-year tenure.

Northrop at the University of Minnesota presents Dorrance Dance with Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely in The Blues Project on Thu, Nov 19 at 7:30 pm. Led by Bessie Award and MacArthur 'genius' grant-winner Michelle Dorrance, this tap dancing troupe will make their Northrop debut alongside blues/rock/folk performer Toshi Reagon and her band BIGLovely.

Following two sold-out engagements in both 2013 and 2014, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival presents tap sensation Dorrance Dance with famed singer/songwriter Toshi Reagon and her band BIGLovely in the return of The Blues Project, July 1-5 in the Ted Shawn Theatre. Founded in 2011 by Jacob's Pillow Dance Award recipient Michelle Dorrance, Dorrance Dance features some of today's best tap artists, performing alongside co-choreographers of The Blues Project Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards and Derick K. Grant. Award-winning musician and composer Toshi Reagon created the music for The Blues Project, which is performed live by Reagon and members of her band, BIGLovely, on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums and percussion, and violin.

Following the critical acclaim and record-breaking attendance of Festival 2014, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival opens its 2015 season in June.

May 26, 2015 - (Becket, MA) Following the critical acclaim and record-breaking attendance of Festival 2014, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival opens its 2015 season in June. Highlights of Festival 2015 include Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host, a special dance and radio stage production starring Ira Glass, host of This American Life; the return of Nederlands Dans Theater 2; the world premiere of American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Daniil Simkin's INTENSIO; Cuban contemporary ensemble Malpaso Dance Company, performing with GRAMMY Award-winning pianist and composer Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble; and the launch of Martha Graham Dance Company's 90th Anniversary, including a world premiere by eminent choreographer Mats Ek. 

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), celebrating 25 years of creating community through American tap and contemporary percussive arts in world-class, innovative performance, education and outreach programs, presents the 25th annual Rhythm World. The oldest and most comprehensive festival of American tap and contemporary percussive arts in the world takes place July 6-August 2 at CHRP's American Rhythm Center in Chicago's historic Fine Arts Building, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Jazz Showcase. Rhythm World is presented in association with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

Stretching boundaries with new tap dance technique and choreography, the American Tap Dance Foundation returns with Rhythm in Motion, their yearly showcase of top tappers and contemporary tap dance, April 22 through April 26 at The Theater at the 14th Street Y, NYC. Two programs highlighting the rich diversity of contemporary tap dance will be shown (choreographers and presentation dates below). See promo video here.

The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc. is proud to present two acclaimed companies who will make their Joyce debuts this spring: Liz Gerring Dance Company, from March 31 - April 2 with the New York premiere of the full evening-length work glacier; and tap sensation Michelle Dorrance's Dorrance Dance, April 4 and 5, with Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely in The Blues Project. Tickets for both companies range in price from $10 to $30 and can be purchased through JoyceCharge at www.Joyce.org, or by calling 212-242-0800. Please note: ticket prices are subject to change. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu announced today that Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), celebrating 25 years as the nation's premier presenter of American tap dance and international contemporary percussive arts, is one of 919 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. CHRP is recommended for a $20,000 grant to support programming during its 25th Anniversary Season, including the Winter Tap Jamboree (February 2015), Chicago Rhythm Fest (April-May 2015), Rhythm World education programs at the American Rhythm Center (July 2015) and JUBA! concerts at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (August 2015).

November 20, 2014 – (Becket, MA) Following the record-breaking attendance and ticket sales of Festival 2014, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival moves into a new season of exciting activity. The year-round international center of dance breaks ground this month on an expansion project which will triple the areas for storage and public access to its rare and extensive dance Archives. The Pillow also announces four companies that will perform at Festival 2015: the legendary modern dance ensemble Martha Graham Dance Company, launching its 90th Anniversary Season; Jessica Lang Dance in The Wanderer, created in part during a Creative Development Residency at the Pillow; New York Theatre Ballet in a family-friendly production of Cinderella; and tap superstar Michelle Dorrance, her company Dorrance Dance, and composer Toshi Reagon and her band BIGLovely in a return engagement of The Blues Project.

Jersey Tap Fest, NJ's sole dance festival featuring world-class tap faculty and extravaganza, celebrates five years, August 14-17, 2014 in Bloomfield, NJ. The four-day festival will offer more than 30 tap dance classes and a main stage celebration event TAP 'N TIME. The Garden State tap dance festival also provides the public various opportunities to participate and interact with tap dancing through a history lesson, jam session, student showcase and faculty meet and greet.

The Apollo Theater's presentation of James Brown: Get on the Good Foot, a Celebration in Dance on Friday October 25, 2013 was an astounding array of funk and fine art, with a familiar bass line that riveted throughout the souls of the audience. The show included tap dancing, breakdancing, modern dance, fine lines, bright colors, afros, funky gyrations and, at moments, sacred translations.

'Give the people what they came for' James Brown said in reference to his shows, and it seemed that the Apollo set out to do just that on the opening night of 'James Brown - Get on the Good Goot' dance celebration concert in Harlem.

Highlighting the depth and breadth of national and international tap artistry, Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), the nation's premier presenter of American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts, presents Rhythm World, the oldest and most comprehensive festival of American tap and contemporary percussive arts in the world, beginning today, July 22, and running through August 4 in downtown Chicago.