Michela Marino Lerman, winner of the Hoofer and FloBert Awards, is a world-renowned tap dance artist, performer, choreographer, band leader, educator, and all-around creative spirit. The Huffington Post has called her a “hurricane of rhythm”... and the NY Times has called her both a “prodigy” and has described her dancing as “flashes of brilliance.” Quincy Jones has called her an “absolute tap dancing star who knows her roots.” She very proudly, was mentored by some of the masters of tap dance including Gregory Hines, Buster Brown, Leroy Myers, Peg Leg Bates, Marion Coles, Jeni LeGon and Mable Lee. Michela can be seen featured in the new US Postage Stamp series dedicated to the art form of Tap Dance. She is also the only female lifetime honorary member of the legendary tap dance fraternity, The Copasetics. Michela has performed, choreographed, written, produced, and directed many projects throughout her career including leading her own group Love Movement. She recently was commissioned by the Joyce Theater to create and premiere her full-length work “Once Upon A Time Called Now.” Some additional performance highlights include the Whitney Museum of American Art, Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Marciac Jazz Festival, HarlemStage, Joes Pub, Little Island, opening night of The Shed at the Hudson Yards, The Other Palace on London’s West End, and co-producing the documentary film American Tap. Michela has had the honor of working with many legends throughout her career some of whom include Anna Deavere Smith, Wynton Marsalis, Quincy Jones, Jon Batiste, Roy Hargrove, Steve McQueen and more. Read more

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Danté Lara is a California (Los Angeles) based tap dancer, teacher, and choreographer who continues to impact the new international tap dancing scene with cutting-edge choreography of all tap subgenres. Dante's entertaining improvisational... skills are captivating for all audiences & he aims to bring new faces of all ages into tap dance culture. Dante has tap danced in every setting imaginable, from company work, on stage and Television to living in New York City, street performing and performing with various Jazz bands & as a soloist. As a youngin, Dante was fortunate enough to take class & even share the stage with the late Gregory Hines, Feyard Nicholas & Arthur Duncan on multiple occasions, to name a few. As an original alumnus and later teacher of the legendary LA Tap festival since 2003; Dante has performed repertoire from hoofers like Harold Cromer, and Leonard Reed (the creator of the shim sham) & studied extensively with Chloe Arnold, Jason Samuels Smith, Alfred Desio, Steve Zee as a young tap dancer. Most recently, Dante was singing and dancing in the movie Spirited (2022) featuring Ryan Reynolds & Will Ferrell. Dante has also been performing all around Los Angeles, Las Vegas, & Utah with the Amanda Castro Band as a live Tap dance soloist. Some of his Acting/Dancing credits include (World of Dance Top 16), Nintendo, Ford, and Yamaha to name a few. Read more

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Josette Wiggan is an internationally acclaimed educator, choreographer, and performer dedicated to the perpetuation of African American Vernacular Jazz Dance. A UCLA graduate, her career includes Broadway, Cirque du Soleil, film, and original works performed on world stages. She is currently a professor at USC’s School of Dramatic Arts... Josette’s artistry has been shaped by her early training with Paul and Arlene Kennedy, her years with the Jazz Tap Ensemble, and a career that has spanned across award-winning stage, film, and international collaborations. Highlights include the 2001 Spotlight Award, the first national Broadway tour of 42nd Street, a Bessie Award nomination, performances with Cirque du Soleil’s Banana Shpeel and Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour, and appearances in films such as Idlewild and The Princess and the Frog. She has collaborated with Michelle Dorrance, Hannah Heller, and her brother Joseph Wiggan on works that premiered at the Joyce Theater, Kennedy Center, The White House, and beyond. Most recently, Josette founded Josette Wiggan Presents…, creating works such as On Solid Ground and her first solo, Threshing Floor, for the American Dance Platform 2024 at the Joyce Theater. Today, she continues to inspire future generations as a professor at USC, teaching Authentic Jazz and Tap Dance at USC School of Dramatic Arts. Read more

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