named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
A Swing Suite
Choreographic debut by company members Elizabeth Burke and Luke Hickey, inspired by their mentor Gene Medler and the swing music that influenced their artistic development.
SOUNDspace | REDUX
Site-adapted performance work originally created for St. Mark's Church, exploring the acoustics of performance spaces through the percussive sounds of tap dance; remounted for the company's 15th anniversary season.
The Center Will Not Hold
Evening-length production created in collaboration with Ephrat Asherie, blending tap, house, breaking, hip hop, Chicago footwork, Detroit jit, and other vernacular dances with original music by Donovan Dorrance and live percussion.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
- Engages communities through educational outreach and performancesReaches over 6,000 students annually through lecture demonstrations, workshops, master classes, and school performances during tours. These interactive, high-energy programs are designed for diverse audiences across age, level, and ability, featuring company members and apprentices.
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Ballet and Dance Education Programs 1 activity
- Hosts annual NYC Tap Dance Intensive for pre-professional dancersOffers an annual training program in New York City for intermediate and advanced pre-professional dancers, taught by the artistic director, company members, and guest artists. The intensive includes instruction in current company repertory, such as material from "A Swing Suite."
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Original Dance Performance Production 1 activity
- Produces and tours original tap dance performancesCreates and presents world premiere tap dance productions annually, touring them nationally and internationally to major cultural institutions and festivals. Since its founding, the company has performed over 20 original works by Michelle Dorrance and other company members, including "SOUNDspace," "45th & 8th," "Myelination," "ETM: Double Down," "The Center Will Not Hold," and "A Swing Suite."
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.42M
Contributions & grants$760K53%
Program service revenue$615K43%
Investment income$46K3%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$1.33M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$824K
Grants paid out$20K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.21M
Cash$936K
Investments$0
Liabilities$30K
Net assets$1.18M
Liquid reserves8.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +12.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELLE DORRANCE | DIRECTOR/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 40 | $107K |
| JENNY NOVAC - INTERIM | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (AS OF MAY 2024) | 15 | $46K |
| ANDREA NELLIS SEE SCH L | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (TO MAY 2024) | 15 | $25K |
board members · 9
- COURTNEY BLACKWELL BURTON — DIRECTOR
- DEBORAH KLOWDEN MANN — SECRETARY
- HENRI BENAIM — BOARD CHAIR
- HILARY SRERE — DIRECTOR
- JOE GALLO — DIRECTOR
- M'LISS DORRANCE — DIRECTOR
- MARC STEGLITZ — TREASURER
- MICHAEL FELLER — DIRECTOR
- QUAMID FRANCIS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 47
Who they work with
- 92Y Harkness Dance Center Partner — Collaborates on workshops, outreach, and master classes for students in New York City.
- Aaron Marcellus Partner — Collaborated on original music composition for the performance "45th & 8th".
- Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Collaborates on workshops, outreach, and master classes for students in New York City.
- Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Performance venue for Dorrance Dance productions
- Byron Tittle Partner — Collaborated with Michelle Dorrance on choreography for "45th & 8th".
- Center for the Arts at George Mason University Partner — Presents The Center Will Not Hold in Fairfax, VA.
- Claudia Rahardjanoto Partner — Collaborated with Michelle Dorrance on choreography for "45th & 8th".
- Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) Partner — Collaborates on workshops, outreach, and master classes for students in New York City.
- Dancer’s Give Back Partner — Collaborates on workshops, outreach, and master classes for students in New York City.
- Danspace Project at Saint Mark's Church Partner — Presenting partner for the remount of SOUNDspace at St. Mark's Church in New York City.
- Dede Ayite Partner — Provided costume design for "45th & 8th".
- Elizabeth Burke Partner — Collaborated with Michelle Dorrance on choreography for "45th & 8th".
- Get Empowered! Partner — Collaborates on workshops, outreach, and master classes for students in New York City.
- Gregory Richardson Partner — Collaborated with Aaron Marcellus on original music for "45th & 8th".
- Harkness Foundation for Dance Funder — Institutional supporter funding Dorrance Dance programs
- Institute for The Rhythmic Arts (IFTRA) Partner — Collaborates on workshops, outreach, and master classes for students in New York City.
- Jacob’s Pillow Dance Partner — Hosted residencies for the development of ETM: The Initial Approach and ETM: Double Down.
- Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Partner — Performance venue and festival partner for Dorrance Dance
- Kathy Kaufmann Partner — Provided lighting design for "45th & 8th".
- Kyle Everett Partner — Collaborated with Aaron Marcellus on original music for "45th & 8th".
- Leonardo Sandoval Partner — Collaborated with Michelle Dorrance on choreography for "45th & 8th".
- Lincoln Center Education Government — Co-creator Gregory Richardson's project Music From The Sole is in residence at Lincoln Center Education.
- Lincoln Center Out of Doors Partner — Performance venue for Dorrance Dance productions
- Luke Hickey Partner — Collaborated with Michelle Dorrance on choreography for "45th & 8th".
- Matt Parker Partner — Collaborated with Aaron Marcellus on original music for "45th & 8th".
- McCarter Theatre Center Partner — Co-commissioning partner for The Center Will Not Hold, presented at Matthews Theatre.
- NYC Department of Education’s Dance for PD Partner — Collaborates on workshops, outreach, and master classes for students in New York City.
- New England Foundation for the Arts Funder — Awarded a National Dance Project Production Grant to support the creation of Myelination.
- New York City Center Partner — Performance venue for Dorrance Dance productions
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Government funder supporting Dorrance Dance
+ 17 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Advancing Tap Through Lineage and Historical Continuitymethodology: lineage_based_artistryBy integrating the techniques, styles, and sonic innovations of historic tap masters into contemporary choreography, the organization preserves ancestral artistry while evolving the form, ensuring authenticity and depth in new works.
- Creating Transformative Art Through Integrated Movement and Musicmethodology: music_centered_choreographyBy treating music as the foundation of choreography and emphasizing improvisation and dancer-audience synergy, the organization creates emotionally resonant performances where rhythm, movement, and sound are inseparable, producing transformative human experiences.
- Expanding Tap’s Relevance Through Innovation and Repertoire Developmentmethodology: innovation_through_classicsBy simultaneously touring new works and company classics, and collaborating across disciplines, the organization challenges static perceptions of tap dance and demonstrates its dynamic potential, expanding its artistic and cultural reach.
- Reclaiming and Reaffirming Tap Dance as a Black American Art Formmethodology: cultural_reclamationBy centering tap dance’s origins in Black American history and culture, and educating audiences about its roots in racial resilience and protest, the organization fosters deeper cultural understanding and transformative social impact through the art form.