Michelle Dorrance News

Lincoln Center Out of Doors one of the country's longest-running, free, summer outdoor festivals opens its 45th season on July 22, 2015. A range of concerts, dance performances, family events, related film screenings, talks, and an exhibition will be presented across three weeks, from July 22 - August 9.

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.

This year's Jacob's Pillow Dance Award, a prestigious honor carrying an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize, will be presented to contemporary choreographer Liz Gerring in recognition of her talent and outstanding contributions to the dance field. Active in the dance world for nearly 20 years, Gerring regularly garners acclaim for her 'enthralling and important' works (Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times) that also 'reveals the dancers as the splendid athletes that they are' (dance critic Deborah Jowitt). Gerring will accept the Award and members of Liz Gerring Dance Company will perform at the Pillow's Season Opening Gala on Saturday, June 20 in the Ted Shawn Theatre. The company will return to perform the evening-length work glacier in the Doris Duke Theatre August 19-23. Previous recipients of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award include tap artist Michelle Dorrance, the legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham, 2013 MacArthur Fellow Kyle Abraham, and Tony Award winner and director of New York Live Arts Bill T. Jones, among others.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces the 2015-2016 Pittsburgh Dance Council season. The Pittsburgh Dance Council, a division of Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, will explore concepts of age, gender, sexual identity, ethnicity, legacy and historical context during the upcoming season, which opens on Saturday, October 3, 2015.

Northrop announces its 2015//16 season, featuring nine renowned dance companies and five performances with live music. Returning favorites include Alivn Ailey American Dance Theater and Mark Morris Dance Group. Newcomers to the Twin Cities dance scene Jessica Lang and Michelle Dorrance will also take the Carlson Family Stage in this exciting season. Northrop Director Christine Tschida previews the season in this video.

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.

The Martha Graham Dance Company's Shape&Design theme explores Graham's defining influence as an American modernist with programs that feature the sculptural and architectural aspects of choreography by Graham and others. The Company's two-week season at The Joyce Theater in New York City, today, February 10-22, 2015, will offer Graham classics, new commissions, and premieres by guest choreographers in three varied programs. The Company's expansive 2014-15 season also includes a twenty-city U.S. tour, and several projects related to Shape&Design, including partnerships with the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology and the international art gallery Hauser & Wirth.

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.

The Bessies, formally known as the New York Dance and Performance Awards, celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Apollo Theater on Monday, October 20th. It was an exciting evening that commemorated the diverse world of dance and those who tirelessly contribute to a field that makes this city come alive.

The New York Dance and Performance Awards (The Bessies), NYC's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announced tonight the complete list of 2013-14 season award recipients. The Bessies, produced in partnership with Dance/NYC, were held at the legendary Apollo Theater at 7:30 p.m., following red carpet interviews and photographs with the nominees in attendance. NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray gave opening remarks, and Lisa Kron, whose hit musical Fun Home will make its Broadway debut this year, hosted the evening.

A sold-out audience, captivated by performances from five world-class dance companies, filled the Historic Catskill Point on October 11, 2014, for the second annual edition of Hudson Valley Dance Festival. Transforming the 19th century warehouse on the banks of theHudson River into a one-of-a-kind performance space, Hudson Valley Dance Festival (#hvdance) raised $121,125 for Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The evening featured memorable performances by Dorrance Dance, Gallim Dance, KEIGWIN + COMPANY, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Pontus Lidberg Dance. Scroll down for photos!

The Joyce Theater (Linda Shelton, Executive Director), the nation's most prestigious theater devoted to modern dance, announced today the organization's programming for its 2015 Spring/Summer season, featuring a wide array of extraordinary companies, including return engagements of fan favorites and introductions to new companies making their Joyce debuts.

Hudson Valley Dance Festival, a stunning display of world-class dance, will return to the Historic Catskill Point in Catskill, NY, for its second edition today, October 11, 2014. The event is produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

NEW YORK, September 30, 2014 - The New York Dance and Performance Awards (The Bessies), NYC's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announced today the host of the anniversary ceremony that is to be held at the legendary Apollo Theater. Broadway playwright, actress and 1993 Bessie awardee Lisa Kron will host the 30th Annual Bessie Awards. Produced in partnership with Dance/NYC, the awards will take place October 20, 7:30 p.m. Nominees will arrive starting 6:00 p.m. for Red Carpet press interviews and photo opportunities.

Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College presents two residencies as part of the CUNY Dance Initiative. The first residency with Ephrat Asherie Dance runs from September 18 - October 2, 2014. The second residency with Chloe Arnold's Syncopated Ladies will run from October 27 - November 7, 2014. Each residency will offer a Master Class to John Jay College students and a free performance open to the public.

Hudson Valley Dance Festival, a stunning display of world-class dance, will return to the Historic Catskill Point in Catskill, NY, for its second edition on Saturday, October 11, 2014. The event is produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.