Profile
Michelle Dorrance is a New York City-based tap dancer and choreographer. She was mentored by Gene Medler and the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble. She earned a BA from NYU Gallatin in 2001 and began teaching at Broadway Dance Center in 2002.
She toured with STOMP from 2007 to 2011 and founded Dorrance Dance in 2011. Her performance career includes work with Savion Glover, Derick Grant, Jason Samuels Smith and Ayodele Casel. Her Broadway choreography debut was Flying Over Sunset in 2021.
In ETM: The Initial Approach in 2014, contact-sensitive platforms turn dancers' steps into electronic sound and looping. The work creates a dialogue between tap and music, with movement triggering the sound environment.
She received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2015 and Doris Duke Artist recognition in 2018. Educational activities are a regular part of Dorrance Dance's touring work, and she also plays bass for Darwin Deez.
Beyond her own company, Dorrance collaborated with Derick K. Grant and Dormeshia on The Blues Project, which premiered at Jacob's Pillow in 2013 and paired their choreography with live music by Toshi Reagon. The three returned to the festival with the work in 2015, and the Pillow's archive preserves a July 25, 2013 performance.
Keep exploring
Interviews and performances
MacArthur Foundation: Michelle Dorrance, Class of 2015
The fellowship biography lists her NYU Gallatin BA, Broadway Dance Center teaching, STOMP tour, Dorrance Dance founding and the construction of ETM: The Initial Approach.
Los Angeles Philharmonic: Michelle Dorrance
The presenting institution biography lists mentors, performance credits, her Broadway choreography debut and recognition.
United States Artists: Michelle Dorrance
The grant institution profile identifies her as Dorrance Dance founder and artistic director and notes educational activity within company touring.
Earlier works
Dorrance Dance Makes a Nutcracker
Michelle Dorrance created The Nutcracker Suite with Josette Wiggan and Hannah Heller; this 2019 behind-the-scenes film gives production context for the tap adaptation of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's 1960 Tchaikovsky score.
Career history
Named a MacArthur Fellow
Dorrance is named a MacArthur Fellow in the 2015 class.
The Blues Project performed at Jacob's Pillow
The Jacob's Pillow archive records a July 25, 2013 performance of The Blues Project, choreographed by Dorrance, Derick K. Grant and Dormeshia with live music by Toshi Reagon.
Founds Dorrance Dance
After touring with STOMP from 2007 to 2011, Dorrance founds Dorrance Dance in New York and serves as its artistic director.
Follow the performer and team
Profiles and original media (external)
Article sources & photo credits
Updated 2026-10-27
2019-11-06