Biographies

Ephrat Asherie
Ephrat Asherie (Co-Director/Performer) is a NYC-based choreographer, performer and b-girl. A Bessie Award winner for Innovative Achievement in Dance, Asherie creates work for the dynamic group of dancers in her company, Ephrat Asherie Dance (EAD). Dedicated to honoring the ethos of NYC’s underground club community, EAD explores the inherently complex and dynamic qualities of various Black and Latine vernacular forms, including breaking, hip hop, house, and waacking. Asherie has received numerous awards to support her work including Dance Magazine’s inaugural Harkness Promise Award, a Jerome Artist Fellowship and two fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts. Asherie’s work has been presented on stages nationally and internationally with additional commissions from Vail Dance Festival, Fall for Dance, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences, PHILADANCO!, Parsons Dance and Malpaso. Asherie is honored to have been mentored by Richard Santiago (aka Break Easy) and to have collaborated with Michelle Dorrance, Doug Elkins, Rennie Harris, Bill Irwin, Gus Solomons Jr. and Buddha Stretch, among others. Asherie earned her BA from Barnard College, Columbia University in Italian and her MFA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee where she researched the vernacular jazz dance roots of street and club dance. She is a co-founding member of the all-female house dance collective, MAWU, and is forever grateful to NYC’s underground dance community for inspiring her to pursue a life as an artist. www.ephratasheriedance.com / IG: @ephratasheriedance

Michelle Dorrance
Michelle Dorrance (Co-Director/Performer) is the Founder and Artistic Director of the award-winning tap dance company Dorrance Dance, and is known as “one of the most imaginative tap choreographers working today” (The New Yorker). Mentored by Gene Medler (North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble), she studied under many of the last hoofers of the jazz era and was deeply influenced by her time working with tap dance revolutionary Savion Glover and later by her time in the Off-Broadway sensation STOMP. At once a composer and a choreographer, she is known for deeply musical, highly physical, and emotionally compelling work that lives at the intersection of innovation, tradition, and risk. Choreographic commissions include Martha Graham Dance Company, Vail Dance Festival, American Ballet Theatre, Trinity Irish Dance Company, New York City Center — and theater and film work includes James Lapine’s Flying Over Sunset and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! A MacArthur Fellow, a Princess Grace Award winner, and an Olivier Award Nominee, Dorrance is a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, and a Capezio Athlete. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from New York University and an honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of North Carolina.

John Angeles
John Angeles (Snare Composer/Performer) is from Fort Worth, TX. John obtained a music degree from TCU, where he focused on Drumset, Marimba and Marching percussion. He was a member of the 2001 DCI World Champions, The Cavaliers. From 2007-2017, John performed with the New York and the touring productions of STOMP. After STOMP, John moved back to Texas and now focuses on being a father to his son and identical twin girls. Since moving back, John has returned to the stage with Dorrance Dance and is honored to be performing again with Michelle, Ephrat and company in The Center Will Not Hold. He is looking forward to performing for the first time in front of his kids.

Manon Bal
Manon Bal (Dance Captain/Performer) is a versatile professional dancer from Marseille, France. She has trained at the IFPRO Rick Odums in Paris and at the prestigious Ailey School in New York City. She has been a member of Ephrat Asherie Dance since 2016. She has worked for respected choreographers such as Ronald K Brown, Rick Odums, Tweet Boogie, Michele Byrd McPhee, Jon Rua & Miki Tuesday. Manon is the co-founder of Maley Company in collaboration with Dhele Agbetou & Mozaik Dance in collaboration with Janine “J9” Micheletti and Sun Kim. She is also a New York City Center Teaching Artist.

Tomoe “Beasty” Carr
Tomoe “Beasty” Carr (Performer) Born in New York, Tomoe spent a decade of her upbringing in Japan. She commenced her dance training at Next Generation Dance Studios in Japan and is the first graduate of KiNEXtionSTM from NXGN Studios Japan. In 2019, she was recognized as an honorable mention recipient of the YoungArts competition. Tomoe has performed behind renowned artists such as Alicia Keys, Swaelee, Jidenna, and Freddie Gibbs. Over the past decade, she has made significant contributions to the street style battle scene, emerging victorious at Red Bull Dance Ya Style Boston 2021, Jacob’s Pillow, Ladies Of Hip Hop Festival, and Step Ya Game Up in 2022. Since 2021, Tomoe has embarked on a nationwide journey, engaging in battles, commercial endeavors, and cultural exchanges with diverse dancers. In 2023, she transitioned into the realm of yoga, obtaining her teacher training certificate in Bali. Tomoe is dedicated to becoming a valuable advocate for both the dance and non-dance communities, aiming to raise awareness within the industry.

Zakhele “Bboy Swazi” Grabowski
Zakhele “Bboy Swazi” Grabowski (Performer) is a performing and competitive Tap dancer and Breaker. He has toured with Dorrance Dance, Rennie Harris Puremovement Street Theatre, and with the musical review, We Move In Color. In 2024 he won first Silver and then Gold in back-to back international competitions at the Théatre du Rond Point and Spot 24 in Paris, took Gold at World Kidz Breaking Championships USA (U18), won Bronze at World Kidz Breaking Championship in Slovenia, took Gold in the Detroit cypher sponsored by Red Bull BC One, and then went on to be in the top 8 at the National Championships in Los Angeles. He was the 2023 National Champion of USA Breaking ’, and a member of Teen Team USA Breaking For Gold. Additionally, he was one of the cohort for the Tap Ensemble at Jacob’s Pillow that year. He is a member of Dynamic Rockers (NYC) Boxcrew (Paris) and Funky Rockerz (Worldwide). Zakhele was born in Eswatini, and is currently based in the NYC area.

Fritzlyn Hector
Fritzlyn Hector (Performer) Bessie Award-winning director, choreographer, dancer, educator, actress, and performing artist with a dynamic 25-year career. A veteran performer and cast trainer for STOMP, she was the rehearsal director for its international tour in France. in 2023, Fritz was Associate Director/Choreographer for *Ain’t Misbehavin’* at the Geva Theatre and Westport Country Playhouse (2023). Recently, she performed at the 2024 US Open and was featured in its national commercial. Her film credits include The Bride! (Warner Bros.), an Amazon Prime Music film, and Netflix’s Julie’s Greenroom starring Julie Andrews. She dances with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, collaborates with top artists, and leads her own company, The Fritzation Experience. An esteemed educator, she has taught at Hofstra, Princeton, NYU, Lehman College, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and Earl Mosely’s Diversity Dance. She is currently a professor and Director of Dance at Long Island University Post.

Caleb Lawrence Jackson
Caleb Lawrence Jackson (Performer) is a 22 year old artist/entertainer from Chicago. Caleb is a tap dancer, Chicago footworker, musician, producer and singer/actor. He began dancing at the age of 10 in MADD Rhythms’ Tap Academy. From there he joined the Bronzeville: HWCC Crew, while also apprenticing with the professional company. In 2021 he became a professional member and has since been performing, teaching, and choreographing. Caleb is an Alumni of the School at Jacob’s Pillow as of 2025, and the choreographer and creator of the show titled ‘WONDER’, MADD Rhythms’ latest show debut. Caleb began training in Chicago footwork in May, 2023, under the guidance of Donnetta “Lil Bit” Jackson and other members of the footwork group known as Creation. He has been performing professionally with Creation since summer 2024.

Michael Manson Jr.
Michael Manson Jr. (Performer) is a dancer, choreographer and educator, specializing in the form of Detroit Jit, the city’s most iconic dance style. He has been a featured dancer on the television program “So You Think You Can Dance”, and serves as a dancer and choreographer for the Detroit Pistons. He is the founder of the dance company House of Jit. He tours with the acclaimed street dance company Rennie Harris Puremovement and has been an invited teaching artist for the Rennie Harris Illadelph Legends Festival, teaching Detroit Jit. In 2020, he was awarded the Kresge Artist Fellowship grant, and he was one of five winners from across the Midwest of the 2022 Joyce Awards. In 2022, he was also honored with the Spirit of Detroit award for his dance accomplishments. In 2024, he won the Seed and Bloom: Detroit grant from the Gilbert Family Foundation. He is deeply committed to educating the next generation of Detroit dancers and frequently teaches workshops and classes in Jit and hip-hop. His teaching credits also include master classes at Arizona State University, the Columbia College Chicago Dance Center, and Broadway Dance Center. He has taught workshops and performed internationally in France, Bolivia, and Canada.

Charles “Lil Buck” Riley
Charles “Lil Buck” Riley (Performer) is a world-renowned movement artist who pioneered the global rise of Memphis Jookin’—a freestyle street dance rooted in Memphis culture and defined by intricate footwork, fluidity, and gravity-defying illusion. Raised in Memphis, he discovered Jookin’ at age 13 and later earned a scholarship to study ballet, blending street and classical training into a singular, expressive style. Lil Buck gained worldwide recognition in 2011 after his viral performance of The Swan with Yo-Yo Ma, filmed by Spike Jonze. Since then, he has performed and choreographed for Madonna, Janelle Monáe, Cirque du Soleil, and Pentatonix, and has toured internationally with Usher. His recent work includes serving as co-choreographer on Seasons 1 and 2 of the hit television series Blindspotting, further expanding his impact in film and television. His artistry has reached global audiences through major campaigns for Apple, Versace, Chanel, Jordan Brand, Lexus’ Super Bowl campaign, and Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. He is a recipient of the Wall Street Journal Innovator Award. As co-founder of Movement Art Is, Lil Buck creates socially driven works such as the award-winning Color of Reality. Through The Lil Buck Foundation, he produces transformative opportunities for young artists—including the first-ever touring Memphis Jookin’ stage show, bringing Memphis dancers into Nike’s Air Force 1 campaign, and leading efforts to build a permanent Arts & Cultural Center in Memphis dedicated to youth empowerment and cultural legacy.

Matthew “Megawatt” West
Matthew “Megawatt” West (Performer) started dancing at the age of 16 in Queens, New York. Growing up, his fascination with animals was undeniable and directly influenced his smooth, fluid, and animal-like movement style. Although the majority of Mega Watts’ training is in bboying, he is also an avid listener of house music and a dedicated student of the dance style itself. He has attended numerous practice sessions held by renowned NYC house dancers, Conrad Rochester, James “Cricket” Colter and the Ladies of Mawu. Mega Watts is an active part of NYC’s house dance community and teaches youth classes throughout the five boroughs. He can be seen in Baz Lurhman’s recent Netflix series The Get Down and performing and battling with his crew, the Mellow Animals.

Eriko Jimbo
Eriko Jimbo (Swing) is a Tokyo born NYC based performing artist, educator, creative, and collaborator. Ranging from contemporary, hip hop, partnering, house, martial arts, aerial arts, sway pole, to acting, physical theater, and Taiko. Her credits include performing for Life & Trust, Pilobolus Dance Theater, the Met Gala, Sidi Larbi Cherkoui, Michael Arden, Ephrat Asherie, MAWU, Fuerza Bruta (NYC & global), and was also an original cast & show captain of Fuerza Bruta “WA!!” in Tokyo, as well as the lead in Ships in the Night by Gypsy Snider (Les 7 Doigts de la Main). She is also an associate director for Untitled Dance Show Party Thing, by Ani Taj & Sam Pinkleton. You can follow her adventures at www.erikojimbo.com or @jb0b0.

Donovan Dorrance
Donovan Dorrance (Composer) hails from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he trained as a multi-instrumentalist. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree at UNC, he moved to Brooklyn to work with Dorrance Dance, his sister’s dance company, later becoming music director and composing original music for the company. Outside of dance, Dorrance scores films, teaches music technology, and produces and mixes music for other artists. His composition for The Center Will Not Hold was made possible, in part, by a New Music USA grant. If you’d like to hear music from this show or additional works, please visit www.donovandorrance.com.

Kathy Kaufmann
Kathy Kaufmann (Lighting Designer) is a New York City native, and two time Bessie recipient. She is resident designer at Danspace Project at St. Marks Church, has taught at Sarah Lawrence and NYU, and has toured extensively throughout the world. She designs regularly for Dorrance Dance, Joanna Kotze, The Bang Group, Mariana Valencia, Ephrat Asherie Dance, Vicky Shick, and Music From The Sole.

Christopher Marc
Christopher Marc (Sound Designer) is a NYC-based sound designer and production manager from Minneapolis, MN. He has designed and engineered sound for Michelle Dorrance, Music From the Sole, Variety Life Productions, Lincoln Center Restart Stages, Luke Hickey and Michael Jellick, as well as regional and Off-Broadway productions with the Kennedy Center, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, IJB Productions, Aquila Theatre and Mills Entertainment. Marc also designs/builds custom floors for percussive dance and is owner/operator of @ CMarcAudio.

Devin Koenig
Devin Koenig (Production Manager/Lighting Supervisor) is a lighting supervisor, production manager, and programmer based in Astoria, New York. Currently, she is the production manager and lighting supervisor for Dorrance Dance, and has previously worked with Music from the Sole, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Joyce Theater Productions, and the Radio City Rockettes.

Sid McCarty
Sid McCarty (They/Xe) is a southern sound designer and theorist from pretty close to Nashville, TN. They use their work to explore identity, belonging, and permission while striving to be expressive, curious, and compassionate. Credits include Ohio University; Medea, Imaginary Audiences, Squeakers, What The Gods Gave Me, Concord Floral, Great River Shakespeare Festival: Venus in Fur, Merchant of Venice, Jacob’s Pillow: Audio Engineer

Dorrance Dance Productions
Dorrance Dance Productions (Producer) was founded in 2011 as a tap dance company, passionately committed to sharing the complex history, powerful legacy, and infinite possibilities of tap dance on a musical, conceptual, and emotional level. After 15 years of being the world’s most lauded tap dance company, Dorrance Dance’s mission has expanded.

As a producing entity, the organization seeks after work that continues to contextualize tap dance’s history and its diaspora in a culturally significant way. The company aspires to support the development and touring of new works that continue to deepen the relationship between tap dance and the forms that have a direct relationship to its lineage.

www.dorrancedance.com | Instagram: @dorrancedance | Facebook: facebook.com/dorrancedance/

As seen in tonight’s performance, Dorrance Dance Productions is deeply committed to creating and producing new works and employment opportunities for artists that intersect, innovate, and honor the cultural legacy of tap dance.

Please join our mailing list for updates and consider donating to support the art and artists!

Dorrance Dance is generously supported by The Harkness Foundation for Dance, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, One World Fund, and The Shubert Foundation.

Rehearsal, development, and performances are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Dorrance Dance Staff
Artistic Director Michelle Dorrance
Executive Director Adriana Ray
General Manager Hillary Kooistra
Production Manager/Lighting Supervisor Devin Koenig
Associate Producer/Asst. Stage Manager Gabby Benavides
Audio Engineer Sid McCarty
Company Manager/Wardrobe Supervisor Sally Race
Administrative Associate Brooklyn Toli
Financial Administrator Arts FMS
Booking Representative Barbara Frum

Dorrance Dance Board of Directors
Henri Benaim (Chair), Marc Steglitz (Treasurer), Deb Klowden Mann (Secretary), Courtney Blackwell Burton, M’Liss Dorrance, Michelle Dorrance, Joseph Gallo, Hilary Srere