Jason Samuels News

Jersey Tap Fest, NJ's sole dance festival featuring world-class tap faculty and extravaganza, celebrates its ninth year, August 9-12, in East Hanover and Morristown, NJ. The expanding 4-day festival offers a full menu of over 50 beginner, intermediate and advanced classes in tap, improvisation, body percussion, hip-hop, music theory and more. In offering optimal opportunities for students to interact with the faculty and their peers, registrants also participate in jam sessions with live accompaniment, share their own works in a student showcase, and engage in tap talks with the festival's esteemed faculty.

Angela's Pulse will celebrate the fifth anniversary of its Dancing While Black initiative, May 3-5, 2018 at BAAD! Bronx Academy Of Arts and Dance. Dedicated to amplifying the voices and presence of Black dance artists, the three-day festival will host a variety of dance performances, post-performance conversations, short film screening and panel discussion.

Groove With Me's annual benefit, Tap & Tapas, will take place on Wednesday, April 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will include a walk around tasting of New York's top chefs and restaurants. The night will also include special performances by Groove With Me dancers and award-winning dancer and choreographer Jason Samuels Smith. Tickets start at $200. The event is located at SECOND at 849 6th Ave at 29th St.

Indian Kathak dance and American Tap dance are continents and ages apart, yet they share parallel stories of struggle and perseverance.  They join forces in a unique and sensational collaboration - as The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage presents SPEAK: Tap & Kathak Unite, a program that brings together MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance, Founders of Leela Institute for the Arts Rina Mehta and Rachna Nivas, and Broadway performer Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, for three performances only, March 22 - 24.

The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc. will welcome back to its stage MacArthur Foundation Genius Fellow Michelle Dorrance and her internationally renowned company Dorrance Dance from December 19 to 31.

The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc. will welcome back to its stage MacArthur Foundation Genius Fellow Michelle Dorrance and her internationally renowned company Dorrance Dance from December 19 to 31.

It's a real shame that you can't buy a ticket to a performance of Lotus, an exhilarating night of tap dancing and jazz excellence. That's because the performance was a one-night only, sold out performance full of incredible tap dance and music.

Tap dance company Dorrance Dance, founded by Artistic Director and 2015 MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance, announces New York City performance dates, new works, and tour schedule for the 2017-2018 season. The season will include performances at renowned venues across the United States and in Canada, Germany, and France.

For one night only, October 7, 2017, six award-winning tap artists, connected through their Broadway background in Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, reunite to celebrate their art form in the newly renovated Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Featuring D.C. natives Joseph Webb and Baakari Wilder along with Omar Edwards, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Derick K. Grant, and Jason Samuels Smith, this unique performance is choreographed to honor the roots of tap dance, their predecessors, and each other, all to live jazz music by the Lafayette Harris Jr. Quintet.

City Parks Foundation has announced the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. The festival is New York City's annual salute to the legendary late saxophonist, featuring storied veteran players as well as young jazz musicians who continue to shape and drive the art form.

City Parks Foundation has announced the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. The festival is New York City's annual salute to the legendary late saxophonist, featuring storied veteran players as well as young jazz musicians who continue to shape and drive the art form.

Bare Feet is a 3-time New York Emmy® Award-winning travel and dance series. The show follows executive producer, dancer, and host Mickela Mallozzi, as she travels throughout different parts of the world. What makes this show unique, is that she features, discovers, and highlights the rich dance and cultural traditions of the locals of each region she visits.

Astonishing tap artists from across the U.S. and abroad come together in a Jacob's Pillow-exclusive program curated and introduced by the "tireless ambassador of tap" Michelle Dorrance (The New York Times).

Broadway Theatre Project's (BTP) Director of Dance Herman Payne just wrapped up a three-week intensive program at New World Schools of Arts College of Dance in Miami, Florida and will join BTP in July.   

Broadway Theatre Project's (BTP) Director of Dance Herman Payne just wrapped up a three-week intensive program at New World Schools of Arts College of Dance in Miami, Florida and will join BTP in July.

Broadway Theatre Project's (BTP) visiting faculty member Chazz Palmintirit's 'A Bronx Tale' has been nominated for 4 Outer Critic's Circle awards.

Broadway Theatre Project's (BTP) visiting faculty member Chazz Palmintirit's 'A Bronx Tale' has been nominated for 4 Outer Critic's Circle awards. For Best New Musical, Best Score (Glen Slator and Alan Menken), Best Book (Chazz Palmintiri) And Best Performance by a Leading Actor (Nick Cordero).

Groove With Me's annual benefit, Tap & Tapas, took place on Monday, April 24 at Studio 450. The dazzling event included a walk around tasting of New York's hottest chefs and restaurants including Becky Flammino of Beauty & Essex, Jaime Sudberg of Vandal, Julian Medina of La Chula, Ryan Angulo & Justin Fulton of French Louie, Elpidio Escamilla of Corner Social, Garett McMahan of Baccarat Hotel, Joe Leone of Joe Leone's Italian Specialties, Joe LoNigro of Otto's Tacos, Rebecca Baez of Javelina, and Lynn Bound of Feinstein's/54 Below. Scroll down for photos!

Tony nominated Austin Pendleton returns to the faculty of Broadway Theatre Project's (BTP) this summer after directing the revival of Horton Foote's 1955 play The Traveling Lady at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Acclaimed vocalist and BTP alumni Todrick Hall, also returns as a visiting artist to the summer institute.

Internationally-known voice coaches Peisha McPhee and Michael Orland have a message for prospective Broadway Theatre Project (BTP) students to encourage them to apply for the summer institute where they will be teaching this summer.