I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)Tapestry Dance Company is a professional, non-profit dance organization founded in l989 by rhythm tap dancer Acia Gray and ballet/jazz artist Deirdre Strand for the purpose of developing a foundation in multi-form dance performance and education. Initially a performing company of three, the organization has expanded to a professional company of seven resident artists, two apprentice artists, a diversified administrative and production support staff and a pre-professional and adult training facility sharing the unique Strand/Gray training syllabus.
The company residents are:
Acia Gray- Ms. Gray toured extensively as soloist, choreographer and master teacher, across not only the whole U.S.A., but worldwide in countries including England, Ireland, Cyprus and Austria. She has also the stage with such tap greats as Gregory Hines, Fayard Nicholas, Brenda Bufalino, and Sarah Petronio, to name just a few. She has also been in productions such as The Great Tap Reunion, Tap Do/Wop, Just Friends and Chicago on Tap.
Along with co-founding T.D.C. with Dedire Strand, she was a founding member and Managing Director of Austin on Tap, and served on the steering committee of The International Tap Association. She has worked with The State Theatre/Austin on such Equity productions as Nunsense, She Loves Me, Cabaret, Man of La Mancha, My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol and Dark of the Moon as well as the Zilker Hillside Theatre productions of South Pacific and Big River!
Ms. Gray has also published The Souls of Your Feet – A Tap Dance Guide for Rhythm Explorers, available at all major bookstores. For more information about the book and where you can purchase it go to: Acia Gray's Souls Of Your Feet
or you can find it on Amazon.com
-Brenna Kuhn- Brenna has been performing with Especially Tap Chicago (ETC) for the past 2 years. In addition to being the rehearsal director and a founding member of Chicago Tap Theatre. She has a BA in Dance from the University of New Mexico and is a published author in Medical Problems of Performing Artists. She is proud to have been a member of the Lloyd Storey Tap Ensemble and a continuing member of the Bill Evans Dance Company. Brenna's teaching credits include Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Giordano Dance Center. She was also a returning guest artist and faculty member at the New Mexico Rhythm Tap Festival and ACDF, Southwest Region. She was thrilled to return this year to Austin’s Soul-to-Sole tap festival as a guest artist. She is also currently serving as Tapestry Academy Director.
-Tasha Lawson- Tasha brings with her 12 years professional experience as a multi-form performer, choreographer and dance educator. A graduate from the highly acclaimed Dance Teacher Training and Dance Performance programs of Grant MacEwan College (Alberta, Canada). She has guest choreographed on numerous children's companies, dance festivals, and taught master classes in both Canada and the U.S. Tasha's choeographic work can be seen on Bravo!, Much More Music,CBC, and Ace Films. She has performed both Contemporary Dance and Rythym Tap in numerous international festivals, including 'Le Festival Internationale de Dance Encore', 'Vancouver International Tap Festival', 'Women in View' and 'Dancing on the Edge'.
Tasha has also studdied with Rhthym Tap artists including Max Pollock, Heather Cornell, Brenda Buffalino and Dianne Walker and has mentored extensively with Roxane Butterfly, Jeannie Hill and Iraina Koleseus of Feraba African Tap.
-Jason Janas-
Jason originally hails from northern New Jersey, and more recently from Charlotte, NC. His dance education is highlighted by his tenure as a charter member of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble, where Jason began his rhythm tap career under the direction of Ms. Deborah Mitchell. His interaction with other with tap dancers such as Mike Minery, Karen Calloway Williams, and Paris Mann of the NJTE, and with Ted Levy, influenced and ignited his career. He has performed with Mike Minery at the Supper Club in NYC, and more recently with Adrienne Canterna in a tribute to 9/11 in Washington DC attended by V.P. Cheney. Besides personal performances, Jason teaches for Stepp With Me Dance Convention, Dance Power Express, Wild Dance Intensive, and Dance Masters of America. Jason has instructed at Rhythm Dance Studio in Charlotte NC for several years. His tap dance choreography won the nationally televised July 2001 Showstopper National Talent Competition and he received a Runner-Up award in July 2002. HE also recived the Best Male Dancer award from Austin Critics Table in 2005 for his performance in 'In The Pocket' and was nominated again 2006 for 'Jass'. We are all pleased to have Jason back for his 5th season. Read more about Jason in Dance Magazine Dance Magazine Article
-Jacqueline Coleman- Jackie began performing at Tapestry with our pre-apprentice company, Visions In Rhythm in productions such as "Hope, Dreams, and Visions" and "A Journey Through Color". Jackie has performed as a guest artist with Stillpointe Dance Company in "The Text Movement Project" and Desert Dance Theatre in "Sister Moses". Along with the TDC artists, Jacqueline has had the honor of working with such inspirational artists as Fayard Nicholas, Brenda Bufalino, Dianne Walker, and Bill Evans. She is now in her second season as a TDC professional member.
-Matt Shields- Matt has been among the dance world for over a decade. He has traveled to such places as New York, New Orleans, Orlando, Germany, Edmonton and Calgary to explore their dance scenes. Originally from the Toronto area, he is still eager to explore more of the globe, to share and add to his knowledge of the art form. Matt has spent his most recent months in Calgary, where he could be found training and performing with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and MADD Rhythms Canada, and teaching at local studios in the area. Matt has represented Canada at national levels, and been recognized as one of the top three male performers in the world. He has spent time training privately with Heather Cornell, artistic director of the Manhattan Tap Company and has volunteered at many dance showcases such as: Calgary Cares 2004, Lilac Festival 2004, Christmas Baskets 2002, and Tribute to a Tragedy (9/11). He is constantly looking for something new in the dance world to explore and learn. He is happy to be joining Tapestry Dance Company in his 3rd season. Matt served as master of ceremonies at the 8th Annual Third Coast Rhythm Project, danced with Jason Janas at Baylor University's Tribute to Duke Ellington, and made his solo tap improvisation at the Hoofin' Ground Tap Festival in Charlotte NC in 2005. He was also nominated by Acia Gray as one of the up and coming 20 year old tap dancers for the Dance Spirit article 20/20. He also currently teaches at Alisa's Dance Academy, Shirley McPhail School of Dance, & Dance Spot. Matt was nominated for Best Male Dancer by Austin Critics Table in 2006 for his performance in 'Jass'
- Katelyn Harris- Katelyn grew up in Dallas, TX and has trained in many forms of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, modern, & hip hop. In addition to her Dallas education, she has also trained with Michelle Latimer in Denver, NYC's Broadway Dance Canter, & Steps as well as The Edge Performing Arts Center and Debbie Allen Dance Academy in LA. She has been teaching and performing in the Dallas area for the past five years and is excited to make Austin and Tapestry her new home. She is also currently instructoring for Alisa's Dance Academy.
-Tony Merriwether-(apprentice) Discovered during one of Tapestry's in-school education workshops at Matthew's Elementary. Tony has grown through the ranks of The Tapestry Dance Company Academy and the company's pre-apprentice training program Visions In Rhythm. His hard work, dedication, and love of the art form has brought Tony to premiering with the Company at the Souls of Our Feet concert this year.
-Brittany Parks-(apprentice) Brittany put on her first pair of tap shoes at age 3 & hasn't stopped moving since. A dancer in ballet, jazz, hip hop, & modern (as well as tap) she grew up as a member of Body Talk in Austin, TX and performed in the company's annual black history event. Brittany has been awarded performer of the year as well as special recognition from Capezio in a national choreographic competition in Las Vegasand has received numerous dance scholarships from major dance trainging programs including the New York City Dance Alliance. Recently she has been with the NY production of "Tap Kids" that took her through the U.S. & Europe and she proudly celebrates her first year with TDC.
The Company's 2006-2007 Concert Schedule:
Central Market Tap Jam- @ Central Market 40th & Lamar, Sat. October 28th, 2006
Souls Of Our Feet- @ Helm Fine Arts Center, Fri.-Sun. November 17-19th, 2006
Souls Of Our Feet (encore)- @ One World Theatre, December 9th, 2006
Souls of Our Feet (encore)- @ Jewish Community Center (Houston TX), Sat. & Sun. February 3rd & 4th, 2007
Souls of Our Feet (encore)- @ UT's McCullough Theatre, Fri.-Sun. March 9-11th, 2007
7th annual Soul-to-Sole Concert- May 30th-June 3rd, 2007
For more information and to look at all the classes and training opportunitys available at Tapestry, check out our website at: Tapestry Dance Company
You can buy tickets online at Texas Box Office
Read a review of "The Souls of Our Feet" on Austin360.com
Souls of Our Feet Review
