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2024 World-Renowned Artist Lineup
Ivery Wheeler (2024 Honoree)
Ivery Wheeler brings a lifetime of experience with every shuffle and tap step.
He began his tap dancing career at the age of 3 dancing on the bar at the Louisiana Club in Las Vegas more than 50 years ago. The history, grace, style and skill this one man possesses can easily fill a stage and any room.
At age 14, Ivery met Maceo Anderson of "The Four Step Brothers". In short order young Ivery become a hoofer performing in Anderson's groups, "Four Steps and a Miss" and later "The Third Generation Steps".
For more than ten years "Anderson's kids" were on everyone's short list. They performed with Jerry Lewis, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Dinah Shore, Pearl Bailey, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Donald O'Connor, Engelbert Humperdinck, Gregory Hines, Henry LeTang, Juliet Prowse, Dr. Jimmy Slyde, Debbie Reynolds, and many others.
Publicly acknowledged by Savion Glover, and Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards as their mentor, teacher and friend; and by Dianne Walker as partner, and confidante, this humble legend is just as comfortable teaching in the studio as performing on stage.
With such monumental performances as "The Cotton Club", & the Tony award winning "Black and Blue" in Paris, and on Broadway, Ivery can do it all: sing, dance, act.
He began his tap dancing career at the age of 3 dancing on the bar at the Louisiana Club in Las Vegas more than 50 years ago. The history, grace, style and skill this one man possesses can easily fill a stage and any room.
At age 14, Ivery met Maceo Anderson of "The Four Step Brothers". In short order young Ivery become a hoofer performing in Anderson's groups, "Four Steps and a Miss" and later "The Third Generation Steps".
For more than ten years "Anderson's kids" were on everyone's short list. They performed with Jerry Lewis, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Dinah Shore, Pearl Bailey, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Donald O'Connor, Engelbert Humperdinck, Gregory Hines, Henry LeTang, Juliet Prowse, Dr. Jimmy Slyde, Debbie Reynolds, and many others.
Publicly acknowledged by Savion Glover, and Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards as their mentor, teacher and friend; and by Dianne Walker as partner, and confidante, this humble legend is just as comfortable teaching in the studio as performing on stage.
With such monumental performances as "The Cotton Club", & the Tony award winning "Black and Blue" in Paris, and on Broadway, Ivery can do it all: sing, dance, act.
Dianne Walker (2023 Honoree)
Dianne “Lady Di” Walker, a pioneer in tap dancing’s resurgence, has a 40 year career spanning Broadway, television, film, international jazz concerts, and tap festivals. Savion Glover and his contemporaries affectionately call her, “Aunt Dianne”, acknowledging her unique role as mentor, teacher, and confidante.
Dianne has been dubbed the “Ella Fitzgerald” of Tap Dance (Chicago) and “America’s First Lady of Tap” (Boston). Film credits include: Tap (Gregory Hines), PBS Great Performances: Tap Dance in America (Featuring Gregory Hines), JUBA!, and Songs Unwritten, to name a few. One of her most memorable gigs was performing with Gregory and Jimmy Slyde at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Walker is also considered the griot, the holder of the classical black rhythm canon, bestowed on her when she worked as a principal dancer in the Paris production of Black and Blue. Walker was also assistant choreographer in the Broadway production of the same show, still considered the quintessential black-rhythm tap musical of the century. Walker is the 2012 recipient of the Dance Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award. A protege of Leon Collins, Walker is known for her elegant, fluid style; both delicate and rhythmically complex. She is well known in the Berkshires from the 1997-98 Jazz /Tap Community Residency Project, teaching Pillow workshops to Pittsfield Public School students and teachers, and performing at Jacob’s Pillow in 1996, 2001, and 2005. She directed The School’s first Tap Program in 2010, its second in 2012, and continues to nurture and guide tap artists in the Berkshires and at the Pillow at every opportunity. Walker is presently Artistic Advisor to the Tap Program.
Holding a master’s degree in education, Walker has taught at numerous universities including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wesleyan University, Bates College, University of California Los Angeles, and Williams College. As a participant on many dance and education task forces, she sits on numerous boards throughout the dance community. In 1998, Dianne received the Living Treasure in American Dance Award from Oklahoma City University, The Flo- Bert Award, Dance Magazine Award, The Gregory Hines Humanitarian Award (L.A. Tap Fest). In 2008, as a Rose Fellow, she received the distinguished title of “United States Artist”. She received a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to her at the Big Apple Tap Festival in New York, adding to a long line of awards and lifetime tributes recognizing her contribution to the art form and excellence in teaching. She will be inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame in New York City this summer.
In addition to teaching and performing worldwide, she is the Director of TapDancin, Inc. and continues to collaborate with schools in Boston, Minnesota, Michigan, and Tokyo, Japan. She is currently writing a book while compiling her life’s work in digital form.
Dianne has been dubbed the “Ella Fitzgerald” of Tap Dance (Chicago) and “America’s First Lady of Tap” (Boston). Film credits include: Tap (Gregory Hines), PBS Great Performances: Tap Dance in America (Featuring Gregory Hines), JUBA!, and Songs Unwritten, to name a few. One of her most memorable gigs was performing with Gregory and Jimmy Slyde at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Walker is also considered the griot, the holder of the classical black rhythm canon, bestowed on her when she worked as a principal dancer in the Paris production of Black and Blue. Walker was also assistant choreographer in the Broadway production of the same show, still considered the quintessential black-rhythm tap musical of the century. Walker is the 2012 recipient of the Dance Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award. A protege of Leon Collins, Walker is known for her elegant, fluid style; both delicate and rhythmically complex. She is well known in the Berkshires from the 1997-98 Jazz /Tap Community Residency Project, teaching Pillow workshops to Pittsfield Public School students and teachers, and performing at Jacob’s Pillow in 1996, 2001, and 2005. She directed The School’s first Tap Program in 2010, its second in 2012, and continues to nurture and guide tap artists in the Berkshires and at the Pillow at every opportunity. Walker is presently Artistic Advisor to the Tap Program.
Holding a master’s degree in education, Walker has taught at numerous universities including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wesleyan University, Bates College, University of California Los Angeles, and Williams College. As a participant on many dance and education task forces, she sits on numerous boards throughout the dance community. In 1998, Dianne received the Living Treasure in American Dance Award from Oklahoma City University, The Flo- Bert Award, Dance Magazine Award, The Gregory Hines Humanitarian Award (L.A. Tap Fest). In 2008, as a Rose Fellow, she received the distinguished title of “United States Artist”. She received a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to her at the Big Apple Tap Festival in New York, adding to a long line of awards and lifetime tributes recognizing her contribution to the art form and excellence in teaching. She will be inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame in New York City this summer.
In addition to teaching and performing worldwide, she is the Director of TapDancin, Inc. and continues to collaborate with schools in Boston, Minnesota, Michigan, and Tokyo, Japan. She is currently writing a book while compiling her life’s work in digital form.
Linda Sohl-Ellison (2022 Honoree)
Linda Sohl-Ellison, Artistic Director and Choreographer, co-founded Rhapsody In Taps with Toni Tack in 1981. Linda has a BFA from Ohio University in Dance and Graphic Design and an MA from UCLA. Her training includes studies under the great tap masters Foster Johnson, Eddie Brown, Honi Coles and Buster Brown. She collaborated with Gregory Hines, staging and performing in his first choreographic work, Toeing the 3rd and Fifth made for Rhapsody In Taps in 1990. Recognized for her choreographic innovation in tap, she has been awarded five Choreographers’ Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, two Irvine Fellowships in Dance (1999, 2001) and a 2006 Dance: Creation to Performance grant from the James Irvine Foundation. In 1999 Linda was nominated for the prestigious Alpert Award in Dance. She has received Artist’s Fellowships from the California Arts Council, Arts Council for Long Beach, Public Corporation for the Arts, National Association for Regional Ballet, and California Community Foundation. Ms. Sohl-Ellison received a 1st place choreography award from the Palm Desert Choreography Festival (2003), a Lester Horton Dance Award for Outstanding Choreography from the Dance Resource Center and a Distinguished Alumni Award from Ohio University (2006), a Milestone Award from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for more than 25 years of performances, programs and arts leadership in Los Angeles (2007) and a Tapestry Award from the Soul to Sole tap festival in Austin Texas for 30 years of contributions to the field of tap dance (2010). A full-time Professor of Dance at Orange Coast College since 1978, Linda teaches many dance forms, directs the annual student dance concert and mentors dancers with professional career goals. Her film credits include the movie TAP, and three documentaries: Thinking on their Feet: Women of the Tap Renaissance, You Gotta Move and JUBA. Linda has toured the United States, Asia, France and Germany teaching and performing as a soloist, with Rhapsody In Taps, and with her husband, percussionist Monti Ellison.
Sam Weber (2021 Honoree)
Sam Weber is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, master teacher and choreographer who regularly appears throughout the world. A protege of Stan Kahn in San Francisco, Sam Weber has appeared with such tap legends as Charles "Honi" Coles, Steve Condos, Jimmy Slyde, Gregory Hines and the Nicholas Brothers. Sam's versatility has led him to performances in musical theater and television, where he has worked with such stars as Burt Lancaster, Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Pat Boone and Sara Vaughn. Sam co-starred in the award-winning German short film "Zwei Im Frack," directed by Christian Stahl in September, 2000. Sam has also performed with the San Francisco Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Peninsula Ballet Theatre and Smuin Ballets/SF. Sam Weber was frequently seen on PBS's "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" television show and is featured in the documentary "Juba! Masters of Percussive Dance" on Public Television.
Sam is one of the few tap dancers in the world currently performing Morton Gould's "Tap Dance Concerto" and was the first tap dancer to receive a "Bessie" award, presented in New York City in 1993 in recognition of outstanding creative achievement. In addition to his solo tap dancing career, Sam has toured internationally since 1986 as a principal dancer and choreographer with the Jazz Tap Ensemble.
Sam Weber has performed and taught at tap dance workshops and festivals worldwide. These have included the Chicago Human Rhythm Project as well as tap festivals in Boulder, CO, Portland, OR, St. Louis, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, Vancouver, B.C., Atlanta, Houston, Austin, Boston, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Prague, Kiev, Heidelberg, Freiburg, Wuerzburg, Cologne, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin, Duesseldorf, Zurich, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Rio De Janeiro, San Antonio, TX, Gainesville, FL and the San Francisco Tap Festival.
Sam has taught in the dance departments of UCLA, Cal State University, L.A., Long Beach City College, Cal State Fullerton and San Francisco State University.
Sam appears as tap dance artist in residence with Sierra Nevada Ballet www.sierranevadaballet.com.
Sam Weber frequently performs the work of German composer/violinist/tap dancer Andreas Daenel. The two dancers have performed Daenel's compositions for tap dancers and orchestra "Kontralog" and "SignADiapunktur," which premiered in the U.S. with the San Francisco Bay Area's Peninsula Symphony Orchestra in 2005.
Sam is the recipient of several awards, including the "Hoofer Award," from the American Tap Dance Foundation, the "Legacy Award," from San Antonio's "Third Coast Rhythm Project," the "Giant Steps" award for his lifelong contribution to the development of tap dance in the San Francisco Bay Area, and he has also received the prestigious "Juba" award from the Chicago Human Rhythm Project in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the art of tap dance. In 2021, he received the Legacy Award from the Orange County Tap Festival and the Inspiration Award from Chicago Tap Theatre. He is on NY Times critic Brian Seibert's list of the 25 most important tap dancers of the 20th century (see link below).
Most recently, in July, 2023, Sam received a lifetime achievement award from the Chicago National Association Of Dance Masters.
Sam is one of the few tap dancers in the world currently performing Morton Gould's "Tap Dance Concerto" and was the first tap dancer to receive a "Bessie" award, presented in New York City in 1993 in recognition of outstanding creative achievement. In addition to his solo tap dancing career, Sam has toured internationally since 1986 as a principal dancer and choreographer with the Jazz Tap Ensemble.
Sam Weber has performed and taught at tap dance workshops and festivals worldwide. These have included the Chicago Human Rhythm Project as well as tap festivals in Boulder, CO, Portland, OR, St. Louis, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, Vancouver, B.C., Atlanta, Houston, Austin, Boston, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Prague, Kiev, Heidelberg, Freiburg, Wuerzburg, Cologne, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin, Duesseldorf, Zurich, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Rio De Janeiro, San Antonio, TX, Gainesville, FL and the San Francisco Tap Festival.
Sam has taught in the dance departments of UCLA, Cal State University, L.A., Long Beach City College, Cal State Fullerton and San Francisco State University.
Sam appears as tap dance artist in residence with Sierra Nevada Ballet www.sierranevadaballet.com.
Sam Weber frequently performs the work of German composer/violinist/tap dancer Andreas Daenel. The two dancers have performed Daenel's compositions for tap dancers and orchestra "Kontralog" and "SignADiapunktur," which premiered in the U.S. with the San Francisco Bay Area's Peninsula Symphony Orchestra in 2005.
Sam is the recipient of several awards, including the "Hoofer Award," from the American Tap Dance Foundation, the "Legacy Award," from San Antonio's "Third Coast Rhythm Project," the "Giant Steps" award for his lifelong contribution to the development of tap dance in the San Francisco Bay Area, and he has also received the prestigious "Juba" award from the Chicago Human Rhythm Project in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the art of tap dance. In 2021, he received the Legacy Award from the Orange County Tap Festival and the Inspiration Award from Chicago Tap Theatre. He is on NY Times critic Brian Seibert's list of the 25 most important tap dancers of the 20th century (see link below).
Most recently, in July, 2023, Sam received a lifetime achievement award from the Chicago National Association Of Dance Masters.
Max Pollak
Max Pollak uses three instruments for his ground-breaking performances. He creates dance with his body, music with his hands and feet, and song with his voice.
Max Pollak takes his ground-breaking, unconventional approach to performing arts across multiple cultures. As a native Austrian, Pollak combines the German language and the wide-range Yodel that can be seen in his 70-minute solo performance of “All In One.” Pollak is recognized worldwide as the first person to merge Afro-Cuban music and dance with American tap and body percussion. This new style inspired the creation of his band RumbaTap, which has performed in the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Cuba, Turkey, France, Germany, Austria, and Finland. Pollak also breaks into the resurgence of contemporary Austrian folklore music (otherwise known as New Austrian Sound of Music) with a traditional, classical twist. As an award-winning choreographer, educator, and composer, Pollak is also co-creator of the off-Broadway hit show Carmen, to Havana and Back. His CD RumbaTap was released in 2015 and he is on faculty at Sarah Lawrence College and Drew University.
The innovative work of Max Pollak redefines the world of dance, music, and song within a multi-cultural approach using humankind’s original instrument – the body.
Experience the avant-garde performances for yourself.
Max Pollak is a Flo-Bert and Hoofer-Award Winner, Bessie Award nominee, Individual Artist Grantee of the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance and New York Foundation of the Arts Fellow in Choreography. He is one of the most prestigious names on the international tap scene today. He is recognised worldwide for his superior musicianship and his highly individual style as the first person to merge authentic Afro-Cuban music and dance with American rhythm tap and body music to create RumbaTap. His original a-cappella vocal arrangements have been hailed by the NY Times , his work with classical composers, symphonic and chamber orchestras is unique in the world.
Originator of Cuba’s first tap festival, he has been teaching and performing there since 1998, and has worked with Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Cuba’s top Rumba group, Chucho Valdés, Lila Downs and jazz legends Ray Brown, Phil Woods, Gregory Hines, Paquito D’Rivera, Slide Hampton and Danilo Perez. He toured with Cyro Baptista’s percussion ensemble Beat The Donkey, Manhattan Tap, Urban Tap, Rennie Harris Pure Movement, Feet 2 The Beat, Roxane Butterfly, Grupo Los Santos and more…
He is also recognized for making European and South American classical music more accessible by playing with classical ensembles in prestigious venues like Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Musikverein, Schleswig Holstein Musik Fest, Orford Festival, Musique de Chambre a Giverny, Havana’s Teatro Nacional and Teatro Amadeo Roldan. He has performed with members of the Vienna Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, St. Luke’s Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra of NYC, Les Violons du Roy as well as the Duluth Superior and Plano Symphony Orchestras.
Max Pollak takes his ground-breaking, unconventional approach to performing arts across multiple cultures. As a native Austrian, Pollak combines the German language and the wide-range Yodel that can be seen in his 70-minute solo performance of “All In One.” Pollak is recognized worldwide as the first person to merge Afro-Cuban music and dance with American tap and body percussion. This new style inspired the creation of his band RumbaTap, which has performed in the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Cuba, Turkey, France, Germany, Austria, and Finland. Pollak also breaks into the resurgence of contemporary Austrian folklore music (otherwise known as New Austrian Sound of Music) with a traditional, classical twist. As an award-winning choreographer, educator, and composer, Pollak is also co-creator of the off-Broadway hit show Carmen, to Havana and Back. His CD RumbaTap was released in 2015 and he is on faculty at Sarah Lawrence College and Drew University.
The innovative work of Max Pollak redefines the world of dance, music, and song within a multi-cultural approach using humankind’s original instrument – the body.
Experience the avant-garde performances for yourself.
Max Pollak is a Flo-Bert and Hoofer-Award Winner, Bessie Award nominee, Individual Artist Grantee of the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance and New York Foundation of the Arts Fellow in Choreography. He is one of the most prestigious names on the international tap scene today. He is recognised worldwide for his superior musicianship and his highly individual style as the first person to merge authentic Afro-Cuban music and dance with American rhythm tap and body music to create RumbaTap. His original a-cappella vocal arrangements have been hailed by the NY Times , his work with classical composers, symphonic and chamber orchestras is unique in the world.
Originator of Cuba’s first tap festival, he has been teaching and performing there since 1998, and has worked with Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Cuba’s top Rumba group, Chucho Valdés, Lila Downs and jazz legends Ray Brown, Phil Woods, Gregory Hines, Paquito D’Rivera, Slide Hampton and Danilo Perez. He toured with Cyro Baptista’s percussion ensemble Beat The Donkey, Manhattan Tap, Urban Tap, Rennie Harris Pure Movement, Feet 2 The Beat, Roxane Butterfly, Grupo Los Santos and more…
He is also recognized for making European and South American classical music more accessible by playing with classical ensembles in prestigious venues like Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Musikverein, Schleswig Holstein Musik Fest, Orford Festival, Musique de Chambre a Giverny, Havana’s Teatro Nacional and Teatro Amadeo Roldan. He has performed with members of the Vienna Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, St. Luke’s Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra of NYC, Les Violons du Roy as well as the Duluth Superior and Plano Symphony Orchestras.
Caleb Teicher
Caleb Teicher is a NYC-based dancer and choreographer specializing in musically-driven dance traditions and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Teicher began their career as a founding member of Michelle Dorrance’s critically acclaimed tap dance company, Dorrance Dance, while also freelancing in contemporary dance (The Chase Brock Experience, The Bang Group), Lindy Hop (Syncopated City Dance Company), and musical theater (West Side Story International Tour and London).
As a solo performer and collaborator, Teicher is known for choreographic collaborations with diverse musical talents: world-champion beatboxer Chris Celiz, composer/pianist Conrad Tao; the National Symphony Orchestra, and indie rock legends Ben Folds and Regina Spektor.
In 2015, Caleb shifted their creative focus towards Caleb Teicher & Company, a creative home for incubating new concert dance works from Teicher’s unique perspective. Outside of company work, projects include choreographing Regina Spektor on Broadway, Sister Aimee (streaming on Hulu), and AJR’s “Bang” music video.
Caleb is the recipient of a 2019 New York City Center Choreographic Fellowship, two Bessie Awards, a 2019 Harkness Promise Award, the 2020 Gross Family Prize, and a 2019 NEFA National Dance Project Production Grant. Their work has been featured by The New York Times, NPR, Forbes, Vogue, Interview Magazine, on the cover of Dance Magazine and, most recently, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert alongside Regina Spektor.
Caleb continues to engage with dance communities as a teacher for international tap, swing, and jazz dance festivals.
Teicher began their career as a founding member of Michelle Dorrance’s critically acclaimed tap dance company, Dorrance Dance, while also freelancing in contemporary dance (The Chase Brock Experience, The Bang Group), Lindy Hop (Syncopated City Dance Company), and musical theater (West Side Story International Tour and London).
As a solo performer and collaborator, Teicher is known for choreographic collaborations with diverse musical talents: world-champion beatboxer Chris Celiz, composer/pianist Conrad Tao; the National Symphony Orchestra, and indie rock legends Ben Folds and Regina Spektor.
In 2015, Caleb shifted their creative focus towards Caleb Teicher & Company, a creative home for incubating new concert dance works from Teicher’s unique perspective. Outside of company work, projects include choreographing Regina Spektor on Broadway, Sister Aimee (streaming on Hulu), and AJR’s “Bang” music video.
Caleb is the recipient of a 2019 New York City Center Choreographic Fellowship, two Bessie Awards, a 2019 Harkness Promise Award, the 2020 Gross Family Prize, and a 2019 NEFA National Dance Project Production Grant. Their work has been featured by The New York Times, NPR, Forbes, Vogue, Interview Magazine, on the cover of Dance Magazine and, most recently, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert alongside Regina Spektor.
Caleb continues to engage with dance communities as a teacher for international tap, swing, and jazz dance festivals.
Anthony Morigerato
Anthony Morigerato is a tap dancer, producer, director, content creator, writer, and Emmy nominated choreographer. Anthony is the executive producer and artistic director for AM Dance Productions. AM Dance Productions, short films include The Text (2015), The Subtext (2018), and the award winning When Snow Falls (2020). AM Dance Productions live theatrical shows include AM Dance Project (2006-2008), Matt and Anthony (2009), flood (in the dark corner) (2017), flood (redux) (2020), and Alternate Spaces (2021). In 2014, Anthony founded and is currently the co-director and managing partner of Operation: Tap, an online forum that is dedicated to immersing tap dancing into the public’s consciousness. In 2019, Anthony created CODA, Break The Floor’s online dance competition scoring system that provides dancers with genre specific score sheets, homework video content to improve their performance, and data analytics. Anthony worked as a tap dance teacher, performer, and adjudicator for NUVO Dance Convention from 2010-2020. As a performer, Anthony was a soloist and member of Michael Minery’s Tapaholics (2002-2012), a soloist and associate choreographer for Stacey Tookey’s Still Motion, and a soloist for various tap dance festivals, benefits, industrials, seminars, and performances since 1999. He has appeared as a choreographer and/or a performer on television shows including The Tony Danza Show (2005), America’s Got Talent (2009), The Arsenio Hall Show (2013), So You Think You Can Dance (2013-2018- Emmy Nomination 2016). Anthony holds the world record for “most tap sounds in one minute” having made 1,163 sounds. Anthony is an accomplished dancer in multiple disciplines, having trained at Marymount Manhattan College, where he performed the works of Robert Battle, Elizabeth Higgins, Jiri Kylian, David Parsons, Katie Langan and William Soleu. He has recently done choreographic residencies at Marymount Manhattan College (2014, 2016, and 2019), Pace University (2019), and is an artist in residence at the American Tap Dance Foundation (2020). Most recently Anthony performed and had choreography featured in Ayodele Casel: Chasing Magic (2021), presented by the Joyce Theater in NYC. Anthony continues to travel as a teacher and choreographer for dance organizations, festivals, competitions, theater schools, and dance studios all over the world.
Leah Silva
A native of Southern California, Leah Silva is a sought out International Dance Adjudicator and Instructor, Award-Winning Choreographer, Artistic Director, Producer, and Critically Acclaimed Performer.
Leah is well known for her enthusiastic and technique driven teaching style as well as for her expressive, impactful and dynamic choreography. Leah is also recognized for training and mentoring some of the nation's promising and up and coming young tap dance artists. Leah's students have been highly recognized and have achieved being recorded as YoungArts Winners with Distinction in Dance, have been winners and semi-finalists in the Music Center's Spotlight program, have been awarded various scholarships, have been recommended and participated in professional industry jobs, and have gone and won First Place at the International Tap Dance Championships in Germany. Featured in various publications such as Dance Teacher Magazine, some of Leah’s credits and accomplishments include being the first tap dancer to be invited as an Artist-In-Residence for Zion National Park, choreographing for the Television Academy's Emmy Awards Governor Balls, performances for Mattel Toys, vocal and dance performances for American Idol top finalists, was the featured pre-show entertainment for Broadway’s hit touring show- 42ND Street at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, choreography for a Nestle international dance campaign, and appearances on Telemundo (Siempre Ninos), and KTLA News.
Leah’s hit and award-winning choreography has also been featured at acclaimed film festivals, dance concerts, and events such as the acclaimed Newport Beach Film Festival (Official Selection), Angel Stadium, Beverly Hills Wilshire Hotel, AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, TX, Weinberg Center for the Arts and at the Barclay Theater to name a few. Most recently, Leah's choreography was seen on PBS for the Music Center's Holiday Celebration television special, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Leah’s most recent projects include being the Founder and Artistic Director of Reverb Tap Company. Her company has performed across the United States and have become recognized for their various production pieces which combines dance and film, in which they became an Official Selection for the renowned Newport Beach Film Festival.
Leah is well known for her enthusiastic and technique driven teaching style as well as for her expressive, impactful and dynamic choreography. Leah is also recognized for training and mentoring some of the nation's promising and up and coming young tap dance artists. Leah's students have been highly recognized and have achieved being recorded as YoungArts Winners with Distinction in Dance, have been winners and semi-finalists in the Music Center's Spotlight program, have been awarded various scholarships, have been recommended and participated in professional industry jobs, and have gone and won First Place at the International Tap Dance Championships in Germany. Featured in various publications such as Dance Teacher Magazine, some of Leah’s credits and accomplishments include being the first tap dancer to be invited as an Artist-In-Residence for Zion National Park, choreographing for the Television Academy's Emmy Awards Governor Balls, performances for Mattel Toys, vocal and dance performances for American Idol top finalists, was the featured pre-show entertainment for Broadway’s hit touring show- 42ND Street at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, choreography for a Nestle international dance campaign, and appearances on Telemundo (Siempre Ninos), and KTLA News.
Leah’s hit and award-winning choreography has also been featured at acclaimed film festivals, dance concerts, and events such as the acclaimed Newport Beach Film Festival (Official Selection), Angel Stadium, Beverly Hills Wilshire Hotel, AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, TX, Weinberg Center for the Arts and at the Barclay Theater to name a few. Most recently, Leah's choreography was seen on PBS for the Music Center's Holiday Celebration television special, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Leah’s most recent projects include being the Founder and Artistic Director of Reverb Tap Company. Her company has performed across the United States and have become recognized for their various production pieces which combines dance and film, in which they became an Official Selection for the renowned Newport Beach Film Festival.
Leo Manzari
Originally from Washington D.C., Leo Manzari has headlined in the touring and Off-Broadway productions of Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life, featured Guest Star on So You Think You Can Dance, The Mo’nique Show, PBS News Hour, Jerry Lewis Telethon, ABC’s The View, PBS’ Kennedy Center’s 50th anniversary. He’s performed alongside Grammy Award® winning band “The Free Nationals” in various virtual events. He’s featured with multiple POPS orchestras across the world including The Philly POPS, The San Diego Symphony, The Florida Orchestra to name a few.
Leo is also featured in two documentaries available for streaming: Maurice Hines’ Bring Them Back, and Leonard Soloway’s “Broadway.” He’s appeared in the Late Late Show with James Corden and Ariana Grande. Manzari sold out his debut headline performance at The Cutting Room (450 cap) and he has performed his original music at prominent venues in Los Angeles: El Cid, The Sun Rose, The Study, and The Hollywood Majestic. Spotify has also supported Leo’s music with placements on their highly streamed editorial playlists.
Leo is also featured in two documentaries available for streaming: Maurice Hines’ Bring Them Back, and Leonard Soloway’s “Broadway.” He’s appeared in the Late Late Show with James Corden and Ariana Grande. Manzari sold out his debut headline performance at The Cutting Room (450 cap) and he has performed his original music at prominent venues in Los Angeles: El Cid, The Sun Rose, The Study, and The Hollywood Majestic. Spotify has also supported Leo’s music with placements on their highly streamed editorial playlists.
Jason Rodgers
Jason Rodgers is a tap dance educator, dancer, choreographer, actor and musician. His dance journey began at age seven as a pupil of Paul Kennedy & Arlene Kennedy at Universal Dance Design in Los Angeles, Calif. His credits include The Academy Awards, the North American tour of the Broadway musical Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk, “Dancing With The Stars” (ABC), “So You Think You Can Dance?” (FOX) and “Station 19” (ABC).
Rodgers has also choreographed and performed tap dance for Disney, Verizon, Dodge, Gatorade, Microsoft, Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and the Closing Ceremony of the European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan. He has had the privilege of working with Debbie Allen, Tim Robbins, Jerry Lewis, Donald O’Connor, Fayard Nicholas, Eddie Brown, Danny Daniels, George C. Wolfe and Christopher Scott.
Jason Rodgers Entertainment is his Los Angeles-based company that creates live interactive shows involving song, dance and tap history. His dance work throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and Africa has included Madison Square Garden, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, The Montpellier SwingJammerz Festival, and the world-renowned Stockholm Tap Festival in Sweden.
Rodgers is currently the Director of Dance for Oasis Center International—a nonprofit organization that provides art programs for children in Orange County and Los Angeles schools. Rodgers is looking forward to sharing his love, knowledge and experience as a tap teacher with the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance.
Rodgers has also choreographed and performed tap dance for Disney, Verizon, Dodge, Gatorade, Microsoft, Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and the Closing Ceremony of the European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan. He has had the privilege of working with Debbie Allen, Tim Robbins, Jerry Lewis, Donald O’Connor, Fayard Nicholas, Eddie Brown, Danny Daniels, George C. Wolfe and Christopher Scott.
Jason Rodgers Entertainment is his Los Angeles-based company that creates live interactive shows involving song, dance and tap history. His dance work throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and Africa has included Madison Square Garden, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, The Montpellier SwingJammerz Festival, and the world-renowned Stockholm Tap Festival in Sweden.
Rodgers is currently the Director of Dance for Oasis Center International—a nonprofit organization that provides art programs for children in Orange County and Los Angeles schools. Rodgers is looking forward to sharing his love, knowledge and experience as a tap teacher with the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance.
Luke Hickey
Luke Hickey (Choreographer/Performer/Educator) is a NYC based tap dancer, choreographer, and actor hailing from Chapel Hill, NC. Named by Dance Magazine among their "25 to Watch" in 2020, Hickey began studying with his lifelong mentor, JUBA Award recipient Gene Medler, at the age of seven. Under the tutelage of Mr. Medler, Hickey completed 10 consecutive seasons studying and touring with the internationally acclaimed North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE). Hickey is an alumna of the School at Jacob’s Pillow and Pace University NYC (BA Film & Screen Studies, BA Communications Studies, cum laude). He spent his early years living in New York studying and performing with DC native hoofer Cartier Williams, performing at the Oslo Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center, DC's Lincoln Theater, George Faison's Firehouse Theater in Harlem, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Bronx Botanical Gardens and a tour to Zurich, Switzerland. In 2016, he had the unique opportunity to represent tap dance in the 2016 Harlem Fashion Week in a collaboration with Project Runway star Viktor Luna (SS17). The same year he collaborated with hip hop dancer Yusaku Komori on a duet in Karole Armitage's production American Dream that premiered at the Ravello Festival off the Amalfi Coast in Ravello, Italy.
In the Fall of 2018, Hickey made his choreographic and directorial debut with his work A Little Old, A Little New at the world famous Birdland Jazz Club in NYC. The show has since traveled across the country, including to Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Battery Dance Festival, the Joyce Theater's season at Chelsea Factory in partnership with The First Republic Foundation and most recently headlining the American Dance Festival's Fall Series.
In 2022, Hickey premiered his newest 20-minute work, "In This Time" at the Little Island Music & Dance Festival as a part of their celebration of percussive dance. Hickey's choreography is also seen in Patrick Wang’s feature film "A Bread Factory," which was listed on The New Yorker's "The Best Movies of 2018." In addition to his own choreographic pursuits, Hickey is immensely honored to be a company member of 2015 MacArthur Fellow, Michelle Dorrance’s acclaimed company, Dorrance Dance. He has also had the great opportunity to perform with Bessie Award winning tap dancer, Ayodele Casel in New York City Center's community engagement series "On the Move", Ayodele Casel and Arturo O'Farrill at the Joyce Theater and a feature on New York Times' #speakingindance series.
Aside from performing/choreographing, Hickey is very passionate about maintaining the student mindset as well as educating the next generation of tap dancers. He has been on faculty at Harlem School of the Arts, guest faculty at STEPS on Broadway, and taught at tap dance festivals around the world including the North Carolina Rhythm Tap Festival, American Tap Festival, Tap City Tap Festival, SMASH (Mexico), Oslo Tap & Swing Explosion, RIFF Dallas, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and the Palmetto Tap Festival.
Stage credits include Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room, The Kennedy Center, Guggenheim Museum, Oslo Jazz Festival, Joyce Theater, Ravello Music Festival, MGM National Harbor, New Victory Theater, New York City Center, and The Music Center at Strathmore.
In the Fall of 2018, Hickey made his choreographic and directorial debut with his work A Little Old, A Little New at the world famous Birdland Jazz Club in NYC. The show has since traveled across the country, including to Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Battery Dance Festival, the Joyce Theater's season at Chelsea Factory in partnership with The First Republic Foundation and most recently headlining the American Dance Festival's Fall Series.
In 2022, Hickey premiered his newest 20-minute work, "In This Time" at the Little Island Music & Dance Festival as a part of their celebration of percussive dance. Hickey's choreography is also seen in Patrick Wang’s feature film "A Bread Factory," which was listed on The New Yorker's "The Best Movies of 2018." In addition to his own choreographic pursuits, Hickey is immensely honored to be a company member of 2015 MacArthur Fellow, Michelle Dorrance’s acclaimed company, Dorrance Dance. He has also had the great opportunity to perform with Bessie Award winning tap dancer, Ayodele Casel in New York City Center's community engagement series "On the Move", Ayodele Casel and Arturo O'Farrill at the Joyce Theater and a feature on New York Times' #speakingindance series.
Aside from performing/choreographing, Hickey is very passionate about maintaining the student mindset as well as educating the next generation of tap dancers. He has been on faculty at Harlem School of the Arts, guest faculty at STEPS on Broadway, and taught at tap dance festivals around the world including the North Carolina Rhythm Tap Festival, American Tap Festival, Tap City Tap Festival, SMASH (Mexico), Oslo Tap & Swing Explosion, RIFF Dallas, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and the Palmetto Tap Festival.
Stage credits include Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room, The Kennedy Center, Guggenheim Museum, Oslo Jazz Festival, Joyce Theater, Ravello Music Festival, MGM National Harbor, New Victory Theater, New York City Center, and The Music Center at Strathmore.
Karissa Royster
Originally from San Antonio, Karissa is a graduate of NYU where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and was a Jackie Robinson Foundation scholar. Through her passion for carrying on the beautiful tradition of tap dance, she combines her knowledge of history and more than twenty years of training to equip her students with exceptional technique, musicality, and the ability to develop their own unique voice. Karissa enjoys connecting with students of all ages and dance backgrounds through her workshops at various institutions across the United States including UCLA, NYU, and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. Currently she is on faculty at Adrenaline Dance Convention.
While living in NYC, Karissa had the opportunity to perform as part of Dormeshia’s “Sophisticated Ladies” at the historic Cotton Club and also appeared with Emmy Award winner Jason Samuels Smith’s A.C.G.I. In April 2016, she made her Broadway debut as the Dance Captain and as a member of the dance ensemble in Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 & All That Followed, choreographed by Savion Glover and directed by George C. Wolfe. Karissa also performed in ABC’s “Taking the Stage: Changing America”, produced by Quincy Jones and in celebration of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History. She was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2016.
While living in NYC, Karissa had the opportunity to perform as part of Dormeshia’s “Sophisticated Ladies” at the historic Cotton Club and also appeared with Emmy Award winner Jason Samuels Smith’s A.C.G.I. In April 2016, she made her Broadway debut as the Dance Captain and as a member of the dance ensemble in Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 & All That Followed, choreographed by Savion Glover and directed by George C. Wolfe. Karissa also performed in ABC’s “Taking the Stage: Changing America”, produced by Quincy Jones and in celebration of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History. She was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2016.
Steve Zee
Steve is a globe-trotting master tap dancer, teacher, musician and entertainer who has trained and performed with the Nicholas Brothers, Gregory Hines and countless other tap notables. He has taught and performed across the United States, Europe, South America and China and has been a member of the Jazz Tap Ensemble and Rhapsody In Taps.
As an historian, Steve teaches a tap dance history course in the Dance Department at CSU, Long Beach and has published four oral histories of significant tap dancers (Stan Kahn, Bob Scheerer, Fred Strickler, Sarah Petronio) that are housed at prestigious scholarly institutions (Performing Arts Division of the New York Public Library, Carson Dance Library, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum). Check out his Ted Talk "Tap Dancing Is The Story Of America" and his article published by Dance Magazine.
Steve is the man behind Tap Academy Online, a subscription-based tap training program and currently teaches lessons in two languages to subscribers in 25+ countries on six continents.
Steve has taught at countless tap festivals both international and domestic such as LA Tapfest, Big Apple Tap Festival, OC Tap Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Joinville Festival de Dança, Limoges Festival de Claquettes, China International Tap Dance Festival and many, many, many more. For almost 20 years, he was the lead tap teacher for The Gabriella Foundation that gives extremely low-cost dance lessons to under-served youth in Los Angeles.
When not traveling to teach and perform, Steve can be found in the Dance Department at CSU, Long Beach and giving master classes at various dance studios in Southern California.
As an historian, Steve teaches a tap dance history course in the Dance Department at CSU, Long Beach and has published four oral histories of significant tap dancers (Stan Kahn, Bob Scheerer, Fred Strickler, Sarah Petronio) that are housed at prestigious scholarly institutions (Performing Arts Division of the New York Public Library, Carson Dance Library, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum). Check out his Ted Talk "Tap Dancing Is The Story Of America" and his article published by Dance Magazine.
Steve is the man behind Tap Academy Online, a subscription-based tap training program and currently teaches lessons in two languages to subscribers in 25+ countries on six continents.
Steve has taught at countless tap festivals both international and domestic such as LA Tapfest, Big Apple Tap Festival, OC Tap Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Joinville Festival de Dança, Limoges Festival de Claquettes, China International Tap Dance Festival and many, many, many more. For almost 20 years, he was the lead tap teacher for The Gabriella Foundation that gives extremely low-cost dance lessons to under-served youth in Los Angeles.
When not traveling to teach and perform, Steve can be found in the Dance Department at CSU, Long Beach and giving master classes at various dance studios in Southern California.
Christy Hernandez
Christy Hernandez is the Executive Director of Dance 4 Joy Ministries, a non-profit dance ministry & studio in Costa Mesa and Irvine CA that serves in communities, churches, and schools in the US and abroad training up the next generation to proclaim the Gospel in the art of dance. She is a professional tap dancer, master teacher, choreographer and producer in Southern California, holding a BA in Creative Arts and Dance from San Jose State University (SJSU) and a teaching credential in Elementary Education from California State University Fullerton. At SJSU she studied extensively in Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz under Gary Masters and Fred Matthews of the Limon Company. Christy also danced as a principal member and featured soloist with the L.A. based company, Rhapsody In Taps for eight years and was mentored by Sam Weber, Fred Strickler, and Linda Sohl-Ellison. Christy created her own company, Sound Effects in 1998 and mentored many professionals in the art of Tap Dancing including Leah Silva, artistic director of Reverb Tap Company. Christy has also been the Director/Instructor of Tap Dance at the Academy of the Performing Arts @ Huntington Beach High School for the last seventeen years, an invited facilitator of dance at the Dancer In Me Sacred Arts and Music Training Institute for the last six years, and a resident director of liturgical dance ministry in Orange County CA for the last five years.
Mary Thomas
Mary Thomas is an accomplished tap dancer from Southern California and the Associate Co-
Director of Reverb Tap Company. She started as a member of Reverb in 2016 and has performed
at dance festivals and special events around the country, including the 2018 Emmy Awards Governors Balls.
Mary is passionate about choreographing and in 2019 was awarded the Rhapsody in Taps’
Ted Gatto Memorial Tap Legacy Scholarship. Highlights include choreographing for the
Huntington Beach High School Academy for the Performing Arts and having her choreography
featured in “The Space Between” concert at the Old Town Temecula Theater in 2023.
She also enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels in Southern California and recently taught tap at Golden West College. Mary is honored to teach and perform at festivals and
workshops, including the OC Tap Festival for six years running. Her goal as a teacher is to instill
technique, musicality, artistry, and most importantly, a love of the dance in all her students.
Mary has always been encouraged in her art by Christy Hernandez, Linda Sohl-Ellison, and
Leah Silva, and she considers herself very blessed to be mentored by these three phenomenal
women and tap dancers.
Mary graduated summa cum laude from Cal State Long Beach in 2023
with her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Accounting.
Director of Reverb Tap Company. She started as a member of Reverb in 2016 and has performed
at dance festivals and special events around the country, including the 2018 Emmy Awards Governors Balls.
Mary is passionate about choreographing and in 2019 was awarded the Rhapsody in Taps’
Ted Gatto Memorial Tap Legacy Scholarship. Highlights include choreographing for the
Huntington Beach High School Academy for the Performing Arts and having her choreography
featured in “The Space Between” concert at the Old Town Temecula Theater in 2023.
She also enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels in Southern California and recently taught tap at Golden West College. Mary is honored to teach and perform at festivals and
workshops, including the OC Tap Festival for six years running. Her goal as a teacher is to instill
technique, musicality, artistry, and most importantly, a love of the dance in all her students.
Mary has always been encouraged in her art by Christy Hernandez, Linda Sohl-Ellison, and
Leah Silva, and she considers herself very blessed to be mentored by these three phenomenal
women and tap dancers.
Mary graduated summa cum laude from Cal State Long Beach in 2023
with her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Accounting.
Ryan Knudsen
Based in Brooklyn, NY, Ryan Knudsen is a Teaching Artist with Carnegie Hall’s Future Music Project, the Production Manager for Live Music Programs for Holland America Line at RWS, and a freelance performer and composer/arranger.
Born and raised in Wichita, KS, Ryan became a Gates Millennium Scholar in 2006 and attended the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he graduated in 2010.
After spending time in Brazil studying Brazilian music and percussion, Ryan moved from Indiana to Los Angeles in 2011. During his decade in LA, Ryan was the Director of Percussion for the Disneyland All American College band, and still acts as an
Entertainment Consultant for Disney and its sister company ABC.
As a drummer and percussionist, Ryan most recently performed at Birdland in NYC, has
toured the US and abroad playing with bands, solo artists, and large ensembles, while also holding chairs as Principal Percussionist for the Pacific Opera Project in LA, the SeraSymphony on its West Coast Tours, and has been the regular drummer for many groups and acts based in Los Angeles and NYC, including the multi award winning Los Alamitos Show Choir Program for a 10 year stretch.
Ryan has produced, written, and arranged on several albums with his trios Primary Colors and the Media Noche Trio (among other groups), and has composed award winning pieces for division 1 percussion ensembles, like the Union High School
Percussion Ensemble in Vancouver, Washington where he has been the Composer in Residence since 2018.
When he’s not working, Ryan is proud to live with his lovely wife Lori, and their two sweet pups, Rupert and Violet.
Born and raised in Wichita, KS, Ryan became a Gates Millennium Scholar in 2006 and attended the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he graduated in 2010.
After spending time in Brazil studying Brazilian music and percussion, Ryan moved from Indiana to Los Angeles in 2011. During his decade in LA, Ryan was the Director of Percussion for the Disneyland All American College band, and still acts as an
Entertainment Consultant for Disney and its sister company ABC.
As a drummer and percussionist, Ryan most recently performed at Birdland in NYC, has
toured the US and abroad playing with bands, solo artists, and large ensembles, while also holding chairs as Principal Percussionist for the Pacific Opera Project in LA, the SeraSymphony on its West Coast Tours, and has been the regular drummer for many groups and acts based in Los Angeles and NYC, including the multi award winning Los Alamitos Show Choir Program for a 10 year stretch.
Ryan has produced, written, and arranged on several albums with his trios Primary Colors and the Media Noche Trio (among other groups), and has composed award winning pieces for division 1 percussion ensembles, like the Union High School
Percussion Ensemble in Vancouver, Washington where he has been the Composer in Residence since 2018.
When he’s not working, Ryan is proud to live with his lovely wife Lori, and their two sweet pups, Rupert and Violet.
We are committed to bringing the best of the best to Orange County! The Orange County Tap Festival offers tap dancers from around the world the opportunity to study and connect with some of the most respected and accomplished tap dance artists in the world! The festival features a diverse and world-renowned faculty that includes Emmy nominees, leading television and industry choreographers, acclaimed Broadway performers, living legends of the art form, and international master teachers and performers! Some of the world's best in one place!
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