Music From The Sole

It’s a true pleasure to be making our Caramoor debut. Music From The Sole is a tap dance and live music company founded on the belief that rhythm is a collective experience—one that connects us across cultures, histories, and identities. Our work celebrates the lineage of Black dance and music, particularly the African diasporic roots of tap and jazz, and we’re honored to share it with you today.

Our performances are built on collaboration and community. What you’ll see and hear is a live conversation between our feet and instruments, our ensemble and audience. Tap dance isn’t just movement—it’s music. And music, to us, is a space of joy, resistance, and celebration.

So please, let your body respond. Clap, cheer, dance in your seat. We welcome your voice and your presence in the rhythm we’re creating together. Thank you for joining us!

– Leonardo Sandoval & Gregory Richardson
Co-Artistic Directors, Music From The Sole

Music From The Sole is a tap dance and live music company that celebrates tap’s Afro-diasporic roots, particularly its connections to Afro-Brazilian dance and music, and its lineage to forms like house dance and passinho (Brazilian funk). Led by Brazilian choreographer Leonardo Sandoval and by composer Gregory Richardson, their work embraces tap’s unique nature as a blend of sound and movement, incorporating wide-ranging influences like samba, passinho, Afro-Cuban, jazz, and house.

As part of its mission to bring tap dance, America’s original vernacular dance form, to new audiences, the company appears at both music and dance venues. Recent credits include appearances at Lincoln Center, Kaatsbaan, Jacob’s Pillow, The Yard, Caramoor Jazz Festival, Battery Dance Festival, and Tap in Rio. They were recently commissioned new pieces by Works And Process at the Guggenheim, and have received support from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New England Foundation for the Arts, and the Jerome Foundation.

Driven by a firm belief in the transformational power of both dance and music, the company has also partnered with organizations like the National Dance Institute and Lincoln Center Education, highlighting a deep commitment to community engagement, inclusivity, and social impact. Beyond theatres and concert halls, they have brought performances, and discussions to schools, hospitals, prisons, parks, and community centers.

Gregory Richardson | Artistic Director, Musical Director, Band Member

Gregory Richardson is a composer and multi-instrumentalist focusing on upright and electric bass, and guitar. He is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Music From The Sole, and the musical director of Dorrance Dance. As a composer for dance, he’s created work for Lincoln Center Education, Jacob’s Pillow, The Yard, Guild Hall, Works & Process, BAM, SummerStage, The Joyce, and New York City Center, most recently in collaboration with actor Bill Irwin. Recent credits include performing with Toshi Reagon in her opera Parable of the Sower, touring with indie band Darwin Deez, and playing with Grammy-winning artists Keyon Harrold and Marcus Gilmore.

Leonardo Sandoval | Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dancer 

Brazilian tap dancer and choreographer Leonardo Sandoval is renowned for blending America’s great tap tradition with Brazil’s rich rhythmic and musical heritage. He founded Music From The Sole with composer Gregory Richardson in 2015, and he has been a core member of Dorrance Dance since 2014. As a solo dancer and choreographer, he has appeared at the National Folk Festival, Caramoor Jazz Festival, and was recently commissioned a new work as part of composer Philip Glass’ 85th birthday celebrations. A true dancer-musician, he was one of Dance Magazine’s “25 To Watch”, and received a 2022 Vilcek Foundation Prize for Creative Promise, as well as a 2022 NYSCA/ NYFA Artist Fellowship in Choreography, and a 2024 Princess Grace Award in Choreography.

Dede Ayite | Costume Designer

Dede Ayite is a two-time Tony Award-winning costume designer working in theater, opera and film. She recently designed X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X at The Metropolitan Opera. Select Broadway: Jaja’s African Hairbraiding, Topdog /Underdog and Slave Play. Select Off-Broadway: Hell’s Kitchen, Merry Wives (The Public Theater), Days of Wine and Roses (Atlantic). Regional: Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Arena Stage and more. Television: Netflix, Comedy Central. Awards: TDF/Kitty Leech Young Master Award, Obie, Drama Desk, Henry Hewes, Lucille Lortel, Helen Hayes, Theatre Bay Area, an Audelco and Jeff Awards.

Kathy Kaufmann | Lighting Designer

Kathy Kaufmann is a New York City native, resident designer at Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church and a two-time Bessie recipient.  She designs regularly for Dorrance Dance, Joanna Kotze, The Bang Group, Mariana Valencia, Music From The Sole, Rebecca Stenn, Ephrat Asherie Dance, Mina Nishamura, Jonathan Kinzel and Vicky Shick.

Christopher Marc | Sound Designer & Engineer

Christopher Marc is a NY-based Designer from Minneapolis, MN specializing in percussive dance. Christopher has designed works with Michelle Dorrance/Dorrance Dance, Music From the Sole, Turn it Out With Tiler Peck, NYCTE, Luke Hickey Dance, Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom, Flamenco Vivo, Trinity Irish Dance, Luke Hickey Dance, Midsummer A Shakesperience, as well as several regional & off-broadway productions with the Kennedy Center, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, IJB Productions, Aquila Theatre, and Mills Entertainment. Christopher is also a Production Manager, designs/builds custom floors for percussive dance, and is owner/operator of @cmarcaudio

Tiffany Rea-Fisher | Dramaturg

Tiffany Rea-Fisher is a National Dance Project Award winner, 2022 Toulmin Fellow, John Brown Spirit award recipient, and was awarded a citation from the City of New York for her cultural contributions. In addition to being Artistic and Executive Director of EMERGE125, Tiffany has been commissioned by Dance Theater of Harlem, Dallas Black Dance Theater, The National Gallery of Art in D.C., and her works have been presented at the Joyce, the Apollo, Joe’s Pub, Aaron Davis Hall, and New York Live Arts. She also curates the Bryant Park Dance Summer Series, providing free art access to thousands.

Camila Cortina Bello | Band Member

Camila Cortina is an acclaimed Cuban-born pianist, composer, and educator whose work masterfully reimagines the rich sounds and rhythms of her heritage through the lenses of jazz, classical, and world music. Known for her distinctive style, Camila has performed alongside legendary artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Miguel Zenón, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Dianne Reeves. In 2023, she was awarded New Music USA’s prestigious “Next Jazz Legacy” fellowship, and since then, she is making a name as a performer in the New York jazz escene, captivating audiences with her dynamic artistry and cross-genre exploration.

Magela Herrera | Band Member

Magela Herrera is a Cuban-born flautist, composer, and recording artist celebrated for blending Afro-Cuban traditions with a wide-ranging musical palette. Classically trained, she moves seamlessly between Latin jazz, flamenco, and traditional Cuban music, crafting a sound that is both rich and contemporary. Over the years, she has collaborated with renowned artists such as Chucho Valdés (Cuba) , Munir Hossn (Brazil) and others. She currently continues to perform as a member of Daymé Arocena’s project. Her versatility and expressive voice on the flute have earned her acclaim on international stages, establishing her as a powerful and innovative presence in today’s global music scene.

Josh Davis | Band Member

Josh Davis is a multifaceted drummer, arranger and composer. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Josh is based out of NYC where he performs and records regularly with several groups in varied genres, such as Jazz, R&B, Rock and Brazilian Chorinho. He has toured throughout the U.S., Japan, South America and Europe, playing venues such as Carnegie Hall, City Center NYC, The Blue Note, The Kennedy Center, Sziget Music Festival, and Detroit Orchestra Hall. He currently leads his own NYC-based jazz trio and co-leads The New York Gremmies, an original instrumental surf rock trio. Josh joined Music From The Sole as one of the original band members in 2016. 

Sterling Harries | Dancer

Sterling Harris, a Chicago native, holds a B.A. in Neuroscience from Northwestern University but has a strong passion for tap dance. In addition to working with Music From The Sole, he performs with Chicago Tap Theatre, MADD Rhythms, and Dorrance Dance. Sterling is also an alumnus of The School at Jacob’s Pillow and a recipient of the Lorna Strassler Award.

Orlando Hernández | Dancer

Orlando Hernández is a tap dancer and writer based in NYC. He has danced with Music From the Sole since 2021, performing at venues including Jacob’s Pillow, the Joyce Theater, Fall For Dance at City Center, Harlem Stage, and the Guggenheim. He has presented his own choreography at New York Live Arts, On the Boards, Joe’s Pub, Brown University, the Judson Church, and La Casa Ruth Hernández Torres. He was a 2022-23 Fresh Tracks Artist at New York Live Arts and a 2023 Artist-in-Residence at the Center for Performance Research. You can find him at www.orlyhernandez.com or on IG @pineappleju_icefrog.

Roxanne King | Dancer

Roxanne “Roxy” King grew up tap dancing in the DC-Metro (DMV) area. Roxy has had the privilege to study with teachers such as Baakari Wilder, Jason Janas, Chloe Arnold, and Charles Renato. From the age of nine Roxy joined as one of the first and longest running members of the Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble (MYTE). Under MYTE Roxy had the privilege to travel the country via tap festivals to study as well as perform amongst her peers. For most of her college years Roxy had taught at various tap festivals in the USA and across Brazil. Upon graduating from the University of Maryland for Theatre and Performance Studies, Roxy has been on tour with companies such as Music From The Sole, and Michela Lerman’s Love Movement. Roxy is absolutely thrilled to be starting her next chapter in life by moving to her dream city of Chicago to join the Chicago Tap Theatre!

Gerson Lanza | Dancer

Originally from La Ceiba, Honduras, Gerson discovered tap dance after relocating to New York City in 2001 and quickly developed a passion for the art form. He enrolled at Wadleigh Performing Arts HS and Harlem School of the Arts, where he honed his movement practice. After a fruitful career living in New York City, he has taught and performed across the United States and internationally. His choreographic work at Artist at the Center was highlighted in the New York Times in 2024. Gerson is a lecturer in the Theater and Dance Department at San Francisco State University.

Lucas Santana | Dancer

Lucas Santana, originally from Pernambuco in Northeast Brazil, is a professional tap dancer who has toured across Brazil and the US, performing on major stages and TV shows in Brazil. Since 2017, Lucas has collaborated with Music From The Sole, appearing at renowned venues such as The Joyce Theater, Jacob’s Pillow, Kaatsbaan, Guild Hall, Vail Dance Festival, and the Guggenheim in New York and Bilbao. He is the co-director of the Rio-based group Afetos Sonoros and holds a Philosophy degree from UNIRIO and a Master’s in Theatre from UDESC.

Gisele Silva | Dancer

Gisele Silva is a distinguished performing artist, choreographer, and educator from Brazil, renowned for her versatility in tap dance, jazz, modern dance, and Afro-Brazilian movement. As Dance Captain of the internationally acclaimed Syncopated Ladies, she has graced major stages worldwide. Silva’s extensive commercial credits include Spirited (Apple TV+), The White House, CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast, NBA Halftime Shows, BET Awards, and Rock in Rio. Featured in Dance Magazine and Forbes Brasil, she starred as Clara in Dorrance Dance’s The Nutcracker Suite (2023-2024). Silva has performed at prestigious venues, including The Kennedy Center, The Joyce Theater, and New York City Center.

Ana Tomioshi | Dance Captain, Dancer

Ana is a charismatic performing artist, choreographer, and educator from Brazil currently based in Washington, DC. An alumna of The School at Jacob’s Pillow’s prestigious tap program, Ana has performed on stages worldwide, including The Kennedy Center, The Joyce Theater, New York City Center, São Paulo Municipal Theater, The Yard, Harlem Stage, and the Rock in Rio Music Festival. In addition to her performance career, Ana is a passionate instructor and serves on the faculty panel at the Metropolitan School of the Arts in Alexandria, VA. 

Jennifer Vincent | Band Member

Jennifer Vincent, bassist and cellist, has been an active musical force in NYC and all over the world for the past three decades. She has toured the world over with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and plays with the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra led by Arturo O’Farrill. She has played and recorded with such jazz vocal legends as Cab Calloway, Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter, and Jon Hendricks, and such pop & soul legends as Fantasia, KD Lang, Vanessa Williams, Toni Braxton, and Patti LaBelle. She teaches and gives clinics at Jazz at Lincoln Center and Celia Cruz High School of the Arts, and is active on Broadway. Jennifer is a recent recipient of the American Chamber Association grant for new music through Cocomama, an all-female latin band that she co-leads. Currently she is working as cellist, bassist, and composer-in-residence with Brazilian tap dance troupe Music of the Sole.