Dorrance Dance Company Class
Dorrance Dance Company Class
TEACHERS
ELIZABETH BURKE
Elizabeth Burke is a New York City based tap dancer, performer, choreographer, and teacher from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A "deft and impassioned" (The New York Times) performer, she has worked consistently with Dorrance Dance since their inaugural 2011 season; highlights include being an original cast member of many repertory works. More recently, she and lifelong collaborator Luke Hickey have been touring their work "A Swing Suite" throughout the United States, produced by Dorrance Dance. She trained under her mentor, Gene Medler, in the acclaimed North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, performing worldwide. Elizabeth is a sought after teacher, frequently teaching in festival and conservatory settings throughout the US and abroad. Stage: Carnegie Hall; Radio City Music Hall; New York City Center; Sadler’s Wells; The Joyce Theater; Jacob’s Pillow; Birdland Jazz Club; The White House; Screen: "The Bride!" (dir. Maggie Gyllenhaal); "Keeping Time" (dir. Skyler Poiley).
STERLING HARRIS
Sterling Harris, a Chicago native now based in NYC, is grateful to be able to pursue his passion for tap dance as a performer, choreographer, and educator. He is currently an Artistic Associate of Chicago Tap Theatre, a Company Member of MADD Rhythms and Music From the Sole, and began the honor of performing with Dorrance Dance in 2023. Sterling is also a two-time alumnus of the School at Jacob’s Pillow and recipient of the 2021 Lorna Strassler Award.
Luke Hickey
Luke Hickey, “never unmusical” (New York Times), is a tap dancer, choreographer, actor and teacher based in New York City. Named by Dance Magazine "25 To Watch" in 2020, Hickey studied with legendary tap educator and founder of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, Gene Medler. As a choreographer, he has presented work at venues including Birdland Jazz Club, Little Island, and Jacob’s Pillow. Hickey has performed consistently with Dorrance Dance since 2019. With Dorrance Dance Productions, he and longtime collaborator Elizabeth Burke are currently touring their work, A Swing Suite, now into 2026 across the United States. As an educator, Hickey is dedicated to passing on the history and wisdom that Gene, Brenda Bufalino, Dianne Walker and many others so generously shared with him. Stage: New York City Center; LA’s The Ford; Detroit Jazz Festival; Guggenheim Museum; Kennedy Center. Screen: The Bride! Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal; “A Bread Factory” Directed by Patrick Wang.
JOHN MANZARI
John Manzari is a dancer, singer, actor & choreographer. Stage: Funny Girl (OBC); White Christmas (TUTS); Anything Goes (MUNY); The Tap Dance Kid (Encores!); Bzzz. Television: Law & Order SVU; Black Broadway: A Proud History, A Limitless Future; Rooted; The Kennedy Center at 50. Concerts: solo shows Recenter & The First Set; guest appearances with NY Pops, NSO, Seattle, Houston, Vancouver, and other symphonies; The Hot Sardines; Fall for Dance; Fall for Dance North; Amelia Island Dance Festival. Film: Reimagined. Short Films: I Get Knocked Down; Ghost; To: Everything I Love; Slip. Documentaries: Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back; Leonard Soloway’s Broadway.