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Deborah Mitchell-Festival Honoree |
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 Celebrates 18 years as Founder and Artistic Director of New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble. This St. Louis, MO native is known throughout the New York area as a distinguished tap professional. She is the protégé of Leslie "Bubba" Gaines of the Copasetics and student of many tap masters including Broadway Choreographer Henry LeTang. Her many credits include The Cotton Club Motion Picture, Broadway and Paris Productions of Black and Blue, PBS Great Performances, 5 international tours with the legendary Cab Calloway, and a partnership with Philadelphia native Germaine Goodson as The Rhythm Queens.
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Alexandria Bradley a native from Flint, MI is a practioner of music. She expresses her love and knowledge through her voice and feet. She has performed at the “Cannes Film Festival” in France in 2001, the 2002 Winter Olympics, The Nijinski Awards Show in Monaco, France and “Improvography” at the Joyce Theater in New York City along with many other performances throughout the country. She performed as a vocalist/tap dancer in the Atlanta, GA production of “Bubblin’ Brown Sugar” starring Diane Carroll. In 2004 she was in a production as one of the main acts singing and tap dancing in Hamburg, Germany for 4 months.
Photo by Ben Johnson © |
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Cherisse Bradley is a dancer and vocalist - one of the Original Flintstone Hoofers. Cherisse is currently working as a vocalist and dance teacher in New York, continuing to use her skills to reach out to other youth. Cherisse has appeared in Debbie Allen's "Chocolate Nutcracker". She danced and trained with tap legend Chester Whitmore and was a member of the vocal group Attraction. She trained and taught at Creative Dance Studio in Flint. |
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A Flint, MI native Frances began her training under the guidance of her father, Bruce Bradley, at Creative Expressions Dance Studio. She served as an instructor and choreographer for the Bradley’s Flintstone Hoofers. A 2006 graduate of Philadelphia’s University of the Arts with a BFA in Illustration she worked recently for the world renowned Mural Arts Summer Program in Philadelphia. Other notable performances would include: “Tap Masters Honorarium” in Oklahoma City, Savion Glover’s “Footnotes” in Detroit, MI, The 2000 National Tap Dance Day “Tap Extraganza” in New York City, “Bubblin’ Brown Sugar” in Atlanta GA and the West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival in Philadelphia. |
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Quynn Johnson is a professional Tap dancer who incorporates West African rhythms into her love of the dance. One of the original Flintstone Hoofers, Quynn has performed with Marvin Hamlish; at Lincoln Center in New York; on Sunset Beach in Jamaica; and at Latido Negro at Gala Hispanic Theater. Ms. Johnson performed with Prassana Kasturi bridging Kathak, classical Indian dance with American tap; and in Lima Peru as part of the International Cajon Festival. She was recognized as the #1 Maryland State choreographer for students 12 and under in 2006 and holds a BA in Health Management from Howard University in Washington, DC. |
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Maurice Chestnut thrilled audiences at the Zurich “Theater Spektakel” in August 2010 when he performed together with Savion Glover and Marshall Davis Jr. with “Bare Soundz.” He is often invited to perform or tour as a special guest with such prominent jazz musicians as Christian McBride, Cyrus Chestnut and Thelonius Monk III. A New Jersey native, Chestnut began dancing at age 5. He became an original member of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble under the direction of Mrs. Deborah Mitchell at age 9. As one of tap's brightest young stars, he was featured in "My Kid's a Star" and was a gold medalist in the NAACP Act-So competition. |
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Michela Lerman first appeared on Sesame Street at the age of 5. In February 2002, she was showcased on the cover of Dance Teacher magazine with Gregory Hines. In 2005, she was named by Dance Spirit magazine as one of the 20 hottest tap dancers under 20, and in 2008, Dance magazine named her as the only female tap dancer in its “25 to Watch in 2008.” Michela has appeared in both Tap Extravaganza and Tap City numerous times over the past decade. She won first prize in the Harlem Jazz Dance Festival’s “Hoofer’s Challenge” in 2002 and 2003. |
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Cartier Williams - As a member of Savion’s dance troupe Ti Dii, Williams' performances include the opening of the Cannes Film Festival in the South of France, The Jerry Lewis Telethon, Savion Glover and Friends at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. He also appeared with Glover in Spike Lee’s movie "Bamboozled." A prodigy of Glover, Cartier has appeared on Oprah Winfrey and performed for: President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at the White House with the late great Ketter Betts, and for President George W. Bush for the Congressional picnic at the White House. He played Da Kid in the Broadway show "Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk," in which he was the youngest dancer to ever hold that role. His first Instructional DVD, "CARTIER WILLIAMS’ HOOFING WITH THE BASICS VOL.1" is available at all Capezio Retail Stores.
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Currently the Artistic Director of TapDancin’ Inc, of Boston, Dianne also works in conjunction with major dance organizations in Dallas, Minneapolis and Tokyo to facilitate collaborations and work opportunities for tap dance and dancers. Dianne Walker is considered a pioneer in the resurgence of tap dancing. Her twenty-eight year career spans Broadway, television, film and international dance concerts. Throughout the world of tap, she has been dubbed the “Ella Fitzgerald” of Tap Dance”. The Boston Herald called her “America’s First Lady of Tap” and in Dallas, “The Ballerina of Tap”. Diane is presenting the hisotical lecture.
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Mable Lee, is often described as irrepressible and exciting. At 80+ years young, Mable Lee is still entrancing audiences with her own special style. She will present for the Visiting Schools Day program to introduce young students to the wonders and history of tap. She also presents for the Senior Citizens outreach portions of the program. |
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This Chicago native has been tap dancing, teaching and choreographing for almost a decade. His is currently performing with Sour Apples Crew, Just'LisTeN and 3 Feet High. Nico is also a former member of M.A.D.D. Rhythms, where he attained most of his professional tap training. Since then, he has taught and performed in Los Angeles, Arizona, New Mexico, New York City and internationally in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Costa Rica and Switzerland. |
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 A unique Dancer, composer, comedian, actor, choreographer, stuntman, and bandleader who combines his talents to create surprising performances. He has been teaching at the Alvin Ailey dance school and lecturing at the renowned Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., among others. Chester Whitmore has his own well-reputed dance company, Black Ballet Jazz specializing in Afro-American vernacular dance. Mr Whitmore is an outstanding teacher & performer, whose knowledge of tap and vernacular jazz is endless. He is also a Master of Karate.
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 "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" by Eleanor Roosevelt. This is a quote Bianca Revels lives by. Bianca grew up in Detroit, Mi where at the tender age of three, her mother began, and nourished, her dancing journey which has now developed into a successful career. Over the course of her 12 year professional career she has worked with some of the most prominent mentors, companies, and artists of our generation. Such influential people are: The Flinstone Hoofers, Mr. Bruce Bradley, Mary J. Blige, Neyo, Mariah Carey, and Rihanna, just to name a few. Her attributions and talents can be seen on memorable TV shows from Showtime at the Apollo to So You Think You Can Dance. But throughout all of these successes and accomplishments, Bianca is also dedicated to giving back and sharing the simple truth. Through prayer, being thankful, giving back, staying humble and hard work, anything is possible...
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Get your tickets here at The Whiting Ticket Center!