Michelle Dorrance is the Founder and Artistic Director of Dorrance dance as well as a New York City-based tap dancer, performer, choreographer, teacher, and director. She is a 2014 recipient of the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts, a 2013 Jacob’s Pillow dance Award winner, a 2012 Princess Grace Award Winner, a 2012 Field dance Fund Recipient, and a 2011/2015 Bessie Award Winner. And most recently, she was awarded the prestigious 2015 MacArthur Fellowship (a.k.a. the "genius" grant).Mentored by Gene Medler, Dorrance grew up dancing with the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble. She has performed with: "STOMP," Savion Glover’s "Ti dii," Manhattan Tap, Barbara Duffy & Co, Jazz Tap Ensemble, Rumba Tap, Ayodele Casel’s "Diary of a Tap dancer," Mable Lee’s "Dancing Ladies," Harold Cromer’s original "Opus One," Derick Grant’s "Imagine Tap," and Jason Samuels Smith’s "Charlie’s Angels/Chasing the Bird." She founded Dorrance dance in 2011 and has performed with her company throughout the world. Dorrance has a true passion for teaching and regularly incorporates educational activities while on tour. Recently, Dorrance appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," bringing the art of tap dance to a global audience.In addition, Dorrance holds a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, plays bass for Darwin Deez, serves as guest faculty at Broadway dance Center, is a Capezio Athlete, and has been featured on the covers of both "dance Magazine" and "dance Teacher Magazine."


Portrait photo courtesy the artist.