Fund Nicholas Young's Vision for Dance Space

Hello,

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my GoFundMe page.

If you're here, you likely know my name, Nicholas Young. I am a career professional tap dancer, choreographer, musician, and instructor.

I have been performing professionally since the age of 15, beginning with Tapestry Dance Co. It was there, under the direction of Acia Gray and Deirdre Strand, that I was also taken under wing and began teaching. I boast that I was truly blessed to be raised in an environment where study, practice, discipline, and structure were paramount, and where creativity and individuality were placed well above competition. My mentor Acia Gray introduced me to what felt like a secret village of tap dancers, many of the best the world has ever known. Some who also became mentors, and many more that became friends. The years I spent performing with Tapestry Dance Co. and attending festivals fundamentally shaped me.

Once I moved to NYC, I continued to teach and perform. I've been on faculty at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and have toured internationally as a master teacher for tap dance and body percussion festivals.

I performed with STOMP for 10 years, played 5 roles, and acted as rehearsal director for the American Tour. Immediately following, I became a founding member of the acclaimed Dorrance Dance and was a collaborator and choreographer with artistic director Michelle Dorrance for 6 productions, spanning 10 years, and touring extensively throughout the world.

What now?

The pandemic was brutal to so many artists and dancers. Institutions shut down or went online and never came back. Communities scattered, and shows were canceled or rescheduled for literally years.

Tap dancers had fewer places to dance, gather, tell stories, or create new works.

The echo of "I NEED A SPACE!" began to ring out in my head. A space to dance, a space to teach, a space to gather for jams and clinics. A place to host residencies for artists. A space that took a different approach to percussive dance and was there to uplift and spotlight the consistently growing community of tap dancers, and the rhythmic arts!

I'm not alone in this dream. In fact, spaces like this can and do come into manifestation, but we need more! More homes to increase the visibility and celebration of rhythm-born dance and movement.

I would argue that all dance is founded in frequency, vibration and rhythm, and this is a cornerstone of my perspective.

I believe I have found a space that can be a home for our dreams, and our community. Where I can offer tap dance and body percussion, along with many other forms. Where the building blocks are rooted in music, technique, and history. Not competition and recitals.

I envision classes ranging from tap dance and modern, to West African and Solo Vernacular, to Free and Ecstatic Dance!

This studio is located in the pulsing, breathing, thriving city of Manhattan. A ground floor storefront property of just over 1000sq feet. Modest, but with room for a 19/30 foot wood floor. With your help, and the help of NYC's tap dance community. I will be laying a basket weave, style hardwood maple floor that will be glorious to both eyes and ears.

I have plans to offer other modalities and disciplines as well. I recently became a sound bath practitioner and have been working with yoga instructors and sound healers. I will offer Sound baths and eventually Yoga, as well as host lunar events and celebrations.

I will be directing the dance program fully. I will be teaching a full schedule of Tap and Body Percussion classes for kids and adults, that will be available in person and online. The studios will be fully equipped for streamed classes. Instructors in additional disciplines will be brought in as the curriculum grows, but part of my vision has always been to create an environment that has an open door policy for our community. Master classes and special event will be a regular occurrence at this studio. Frequently offering space to traveling teachers, and hosting artist. Your favorite festival teachers will be invited to teach here as often as they accept the invitation.

If you choose to make a donation, please know you are contributing directly to my dreams, and in turn to the lives and communities that this organization will touch. There will be a performance ensemble that blooms, there will be community outreach and education, and there will be residency opportunities for artists to create or to just simply explore. I cannot stress this enough! Percussive dancers and teachers need more spaces to dance and express. Tap dance is the foundation of American Dance! Tap Dance predates blues, jazz, and swing which were the catalyst for future American forms. Through the birth of this incredible art form that sprung directly from resistance and ascendency, the story of America's history can be seen and heard. Our history, your history, is built directly into the dance.

Your donation will go to securing the space, renovations, and floor installation. I can tell you from my heart, this is a passion project that needs to happen. With your help, I can build an inclusive space that represents my creativity, experience, and vision, and will be like no other.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Nicholas Van Young