Digging deeper into the backstory of American tap’s African roots, melding with Irish jigs and English clogging, and picking up blues, jazz, funk and hip-hop influences along the way, Michelle Dorrance has been praised for “blasting open our notions of tap.” Her works look back and forward and in Dorrance’s hands and feet, tap dance feels unequivocally contemporary, peppered with fresh riffs and cutting-edge collaborators. 

Read the Full Interview - MICHELLE DORRANCE

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• IS MENTORSHIP NEEDED AND WHY?
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Your responses...

• Therese G. - The minute we stop learning or are no longer open to learning, we become stagnant and lose the potential for any level of growth. We need the accountability of a mentor, who can question and push the boundaries we have created within our field.
• Mariah L. - Yes. Mentorship is important to expand the knowledge of those who seek to increase their education and grow in any field. Choreographers need to have their own expression however, the knowledge of older generations is useful.
• Mecca M. - I believe mentor ship is definitely needed. Sometimes choreographers get in their head and need another party to talk them off the ledge. It’s also good to have someone more experienced than you giving constructive criticism.

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