Melinda Sullivan-Featured Artist, Phase Two
Melinda Sullivan is a dancer, choreographer and actress. She is best known for her work on the U.S. version of So You Think You Can Dance, where she was a finalist in the television series' seventh season, and as the 2012 winner of the Capezio A.C.E. Award. That entry, "Gone", debuted in expanded form in New York in August 2013.
Born in East Meadow, NY, and raised in Thousand Oaks, California, Melinda began tap dancing at a studio at age 4, turning professional at age 14. Her mentors included Jason Samuels Smith and Chloe Arnold. In 2004, she won the coveted Music Center Spotlight Award in Non-Classical Dance, culminating in a solo performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. As a high school senior, she won a role in the Cats 25th anniversary touring company, followed by the inaugural national tour of High School Musical on Stage!.
In 2009, she played Zoe Finn in the American soap opera As The World Turns. The following year, she finished 9th place in the seventh season of the U.S. version of So You Think You Can Dance. Melinda has also toured with Emmy-Award winner Jason Samuels Smith's A.C.G.I. tap company, which blends an improvisational style with tap dance choreography.
Recently, Melinda's dancing and choreography on her work "Gone" won Dance Teacher magazine's Capezio A.C.E. Award and its $15,000 production budget to create a show in New York. "In weathered boots and dresses that could have crossed the plains in a covered wagon, six tap dancers not only drill it down with their feet, they use their full bodies to convey loss and grief", wrote Dance Magazine. "'Gone' is a moody work that blends the drama of modern dance with the heart-pumping thrill of rhythm tap." The magazine named her among the "25 to Watch" for 2013. An expanded version, Gone: A Sound and Theater Project, debuted at New York's Ailey Citigroup Theater on August 5, 2013, with a new score by Nikos Syropoulos. The Melinda Sullivan Dance Project has also been featured at the Pasadena Dance Festival, Dance For LIfe Palm Springs, and most recently at the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT).
Ms. Sullivan is on facultly at Trudi Zipper Dance Institute at The Colburn School. Her current artistic projects include Campfire Vaudeville, a new song and dance experience executivey produced by Galen Hooks.
Melinda Sullivan is a dancer, choreographer and actress. She is best known for her work on the U.S. version of So You Think You Can Dance, where she was a finalist in the television series' seventh season, and as the 2012 winner of the Capezio A.C.E. Award. That entry, "Gone", debuted in expanded form in New York in August 2013.
Born in East Meadow, NY, and raised in Thousand Oaks, California, Melinda began tap dancing at a studio at age 4, turning professional at age 14. Her mentors included Jason Samuels Smith and Chloe Arnold. In 2004, she won the coveted Music Center Spotlight Award in Non-Classical Dance, culminating in a solo performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. As a high school senior, she won a role in the Cats 25th anniversary touring company, followed by the inaugural national tour of High School Musical on Stage!.
In 2009, she played Zoe Finn in the American soap opera As The World Turns. The following year, she finished 9th place in the seventh season of the U.S. version of So You Think You Can Dance. Melinda has also toured with Emmy-Award winner Jason Samuels Smith's A.C.G.I. tap company, which blends an improvisational style with tap dance choreography.
Recently, Melinda's dancing and choreography on her work "Gone" won Dance Teacher magazine's Capezio A.C.E. Award and its $15,000 production budget to create a show in New York. "In weathered boots and dresses that could have crossed the plains in a covered wagon, six tap dancers not only drill it down with their feet, they use their full bodies to convey loss and grief", wrote Dance Magazine. "'Gone' is a moody work that blends the drama of modern dance with the heart-pumping thrill of rhythm tap." The magazine named her among the "25 to Watch" for 2013. An expanded version, Gone: A Sound and Theater Project, debuted at New York's Ailey Citigroup Theater on August 5, 2013, with a new score by Nikos Syropoulos. The Melinda Sullivan Dance Project has also been featured at the Pasadena Dance Festival, Dance For LIfe Palm Springs, and most recently at the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT).
Ms. Sullivan is on facultly at Trudi Zipper Dance Institute at The Colburn School. Her current artistic projects include Campfire Vaudeville, a new song and dance experience executivey produced by Galen Hooks.
Sarah Reich-Featured Artist, Phase Two
Sarah Reich (Performer, Choreographer, Instructor) has emerged as one of the new leaders in the Art Form of Tap Dance. At the young age of 15, this Los Angeles native was featured in Dance Spirit Magazine’s article, “20 Hot Tappers Under 20” and has since been sought after to perform, choreograph, and teach in over nine countries outside the United States including France, Spain, China, Brazil, Costa Rica, Argentina, Honduras, Canada, and Sweden.
Sarah was recently seen as a guest performer at Madison Square Garden for the opening game of the NY Knicks 2013-2014 season. Sarah has also performed on FOX’s Hit Television Series, So You Think You Can Dance with Emmy-Award Winner Jason Samuels Smith’s tap company, Anybody Can Get It (ACGI). Sarah is a member of Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies (A Female Tap Band) and is the Artistic Director of her own company, Tap Con Sabor with the goal to expose tap to the Latino community throughout Los Angeles and abroad. For eight years, Sarah has worked alongside her mentor and tap legend, Harold Cromer teaching at numerous tap festivals and events. Previously she extensively trained with Cyd Glover, Paul & Arlene Kennedy, and Becky Twitchell studying technique, performance, musicality and improvisation, making Sarah one of the most well-rounded tap dancers in the business.
In addition to her vast international travels and countless television appearances, Sarah has had the honor to perform at some of the most prestigious venues back home in Los Angeles such as The Hollywood Bowl, The Ford Amphitheatre, the Greek Theater with Mexican Pop-Star, Cristian Castro and the Kodak Theater with the great Herbie Hancock.
Currently Sarah is developing new exciting works, Tap Music Project and Sole Sisters – a collaboration with Melinda Sullivan. Sarah produces a weekly class/tap jam for the Los Angeles tap community, Monday Night Tap Experience.
Sarah Reich (Performer, Choreographer, Instructor) has emerged as one of the new leaders in the Art Form of Tap Dance. At the young age of 15, this Los Angeles native was featured in Dance Spirit Magazine’s article, “20 Hot Tappers Under 20” and has since been sought after to perform, choreograph, and teach in over nine countries outside the United States including France, Spain, China, Brazil, Costa Rica, Argentina, Honduras, Canada, and Sweden.
Sarah was recently seen as a guest performer at Madison Square Garden for the opening game of the NY Knicks 2013-2014 season. Sarah has also performed on FOX’s Hit Television Series, So You Think You Can Dance with Emmy-Award Winner Jason Samuels Smith’s tap company, Anybody Can Get It (ACGI). Sarah is a member of Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies (A Female Tap Band) and is the Artistic Director of her own company, Tap Con Sabor with the goal to expose tap to the Latino community throughout Los Angeles and abroad. For eight years, Sarah has worked alongside her mentor and tap legend, Harold Cromer teaching at numerous tap festivals and events. Previously she extensively trained with Cyd Glover, Paul & Arlene Kennedy, and Becky Twitchell studying technique, performance, musicality and improvisation, making Sarah one of the most well-rounded tap dancers in the business.
In addition to her vast international travels and countless television appearances, Sarah has had the honor to perform at some of the most prestigious venues back home in Los Angeles such as The Hollywood Bowl, The Ford Amphitheatre, the Greek Theater with Mexican Pop-Star, Cristian Castro and the Kodak Theater with the great Herbie Hancock.
Currently Sarah is developing new exciting works, Tap Music Project and Sole Sisters – a collaboration with Melinda Sullivan. Sarah produces a weekly class/tap jam for the Los Angeles tap community, Monday Night Tap Experience.
