Michelle Dorrance, a renowned tap dancer and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, blends her passion for dance with cultural themes of race and democracy. Trained by legendary dancers and influenced by her professional dancer mother, Dorrance carved a niche in a previously overlooked path for tap dancers. In interviews, she reflects on her formative experiences with historical jazz masters, revealing how these influences shaped her artistic identity and her commitment to exploring the intersections of art and societal issues.
My mentor took our youth ensemble to these early gatherings of our elders who were the masters of the jazz era, like the last legends of the jazz era.
As soon as I started tap dancing, I never thought I would stop. But in the 80s... there wasn't a career path for tap dancers.
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