The Big Picture
Michelle Dorrance has collaborated with many different artists to create many meaning pieces of work. Just the fact that she is a woman has a significant meaning in itself. If you do a google search for famous tap dancers, your top 5 results will be all men; Fred Astaire, Bill Robinson, Howard Sims, Gregory Hines and Savion Glover. Tap has a long history of being dominated by men. Dorrance really strives to be an influence for female tappers and to help break that stigma that only males can be successful in tap.
The form of tap was created from both slave and immigrant communities of the US. Parts pulled from dance rhythms of Africa and others from Irish jigs. Now days there are many kinds of tap. Street/ rhythm tappers or Broadway more musical theatre tap. All are pulling from the same steps, just adding a different style and almost character to it.
As for Michelle's style, she brings a much more contemporary approach. You'll notice in her work that she uses a lot more movement with the arms and torso, than you might see, for example Savion Glover doing.
One piece in particular that Michelle performed back in July of 2017 used a lot of technology. This piece was entitled Double Down which "channeled the world of electronic dance music" says Judith Mackrell in her article about Dorrance in The Guardian. Through out this piece, Dorrance uses electronic tap boards, which pretty much work the same way as drum pads. There are sound linked to each board and when tapped on, the sounds are played.
Tap is already an instrument in itself. Adding this layer of sound boards for example just takes it to another level, almost futuristic. Michelle always references how to she wants to pay tribute to tap masters and stay rooted in its history. She does this in a way that is still new an innovated. As she continues as a tapper, she is still rooted in the heart and soul of tap, but adds new elements that keeps tap growing as a dance style. Michelle Dorrance has created a new meaning for 'endless possibilities' when it comes to tap dance.
The form of tap was created from both slave and immigrant communities of the US. Parts pulled from dance rhythms of Africa and others from Irish jigs. Now days there are many kinds of tap. Street/ rhythm tappers or Broadway more musical theatre tap. All are pulling from the same steps, just adding a different style and almost character to it.
As for Michelle's style, she brings a much more contemporary approach. You'll notice in her work that she uses a lot more movement with the arms and torso, than you might see, for example Savion Glover doing.
One piece in particular that Michelle performed back in July of 2017 used a lot of technology. This piece was entitled Double Down which "channeled the world of electronic dance music" says Judith Mackrell in her article about Dorrance in The Guardian. Through out this piece, Dorrance uses electronic tap boards, which pretty much work the same way as drum pads. There are sound linked to each board and when tapped on, the sounds are played.
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| Here is a photo of Michelle rehearsing with her company on the tap boards. |
Tap is already an instrument in itself. Adding this layer of sound boards for example just takes it to another level, almost futuristic. Michelle always references how to she wants to pay tribute to tap masters and stay rooted in its history. She does this in a way that is still new an innovated. As she continues as a tapper, she is still rooted in the heart and soul of tap, but adds new elements that keeps tap growing as a dance style. Michelle Dorrance has created a new meaning for 'endless possibilities' when it comes to tap dance.
Check out these short excepts from Michelle Dorrance's 2017 work, Double Down.
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