By David N. Young
A one-night performance coming to the Segerstrom Center May 3 may well represent a unique blend of the most basic form of dance with technical innovation to create a blended sound created by the dancers themselves.
The show, entitled ETM: Double Down, was co-created by Nicholas Van Young and Michelle Dorrance, founder of Dorrance Dance.
Young and Dorrance, who met as youngsters on the tap dance circuit, have co-created a national touring production that has excited both dance and music critics, as musical sensors (MIDI) embedded in the stage allows the rhythm of the dancers and their “tap, tap, tap” to create incredible sounds using the equipment.
Theater goers head into the venue expecting an award-winning performance from Young and Dorrance, and instead, get a “double down” dose of dance and music that resembles a ‘rock concert.
The New York Times said their performance was “a fresh and innovative show.”
Young (Co-Creator ETM: Double Down) is a dancer, musician, choreographer, and a 2014 Bessie Award recipient. He began his professional career at age 16 under Acia Gray and Deidre Strand with Tapestry Dance Company in Austin, TX, eventually rising to principal dancer and resident choreographer.
Since moving to New York, he has performed with Manhattan Tap, RumbaTap, Dorrance Dance, “Beat the Donkey,” has toured as a drummer for Darwin Deez, and spent almost a decade performing with STOMP, where he performed the lead role and acted as rehearsal director. Nicholas tours both nationally and internationally teaching and performing at various Tap Festivals, and founded Sound Movement dance company and IFTRA, Institute for The Rhythmic Arts.
Dorrance has performed with Stephen Colbert on television and was a 2015 MacArthur “Genius” award recipient
Together, they bring tap into the age of electronic music in their internationally acclaimed collaboration, ETM: Double Down.
Their inspiring effort takes the uniquely American dance form of tap to a new level, with a musical score triggered by the company of eight dancers’ fabulous footwork. Tap has always been a way of talking to the stage, but with Van Young’s electronic tap boards, the stage is now able to talk back, as every step, swipe, and scrape sets off an element of sound, turning the entire stage into a musical instrument.
The pair collaborates with noted choreographer Ephrat Asherie, and uses solo improvisation by the dancers.
The ETM: Double Down show features original music by Gregory Richardson, Young, Donovan Dorrance, Aaron Marcellus, Warren Craft and Michelle Dorrance.
Using his knowledge of dance and music, Young says he has created a set that is playable, gigantic electronic drum set, of sorts. Using the sensors, tap dancers are playing the music.
While tap dancing reigned during the vaudeville era, the art form nearly slipped away until Gregory Hines found a way to express himself to a new generation of music.
In one breath, Young calls it “percussive dance,” then speaks about “dancing on the floor with electronic shoes” before simply saying “tap continues to evolve and is very alive for us.”
Dorrance enjoys an ability unique to the profession to evoke emotion, create dynamics and create a narrative simply with her grace and talent. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Young.
Their production of EMT: Double Down Is a sign that for the newest generation of tap is intent on creating its own historical mark.
“Every generation likes to push the boundaries,” said Young. “Michelle tells stories with her feet,” and their new show brings new meaning, through talent and technology, to both tap and dance.
Tickets start at $39 and be purchased by calling (714) 556-2787 or visiting www.scfta.org.
