Michelle Dorrance to be honored at the 2013 Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival

Michelle Dorrance (left) with Brenda Bufalino at Writing on Tap forum in 2012 (photo by Eva Yaa Asantewaa) 

New York's Michelle Dorrance--a Bessie Award winner, acclaimed for her fresh, innovative approach to tap dance choreography and performance--is the winner of the 2013 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award. The award--to be presented by Jacob's Pillow Executive and Artistic Director Ella Baff at the festival's opening gala on Saturday, June 15--comes with a $25,000 prize with no strings attached. She is the first tap artist to receive this award.

Baff comments, “With this year’s Award, we recognize a hugely talented young artist who is experimenting with new ideas and moving the art of tap forward.  We are also honoring the great American art form of tap, which has created some of the best dance and music-making ever.”

Dorrance will perform at the Gala with singer Aaron Marcellus. Her ensemble, Dorrance Dance, will perform at this summer’s festival, July 24-28, in the Doris Duke Theatre, accompanied by award-winning singer, musician and composer Toshi Reagon and band. Past recipients of the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award include Crystal Pite, Merce Cunningham and Bill T. Jones.

Read more about the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award here.

For complete information about the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, click here.