(Visit imaginetap.com for Derick's most up-to-date bio)

A native of Boston, Derick K. Grant has been tapping for 28 years. Under the direction of two time Tony Award winning director George C. Wolfe, he was an original company member and Dance Captain for BRING IN ‘DA NOISE, BRING IN ‘DA FUNK at both The Public Theater and on Broadway. Mr. Grant recreated Savion Glover’s choreography and starred in the role of ‘da beat for the first National Tour of BRING IN ‘DA NOISE, BRING IN ‘DA FUNK.

Mr. Grant began his training at the age of two at The Roxbury Center for the Performing Arts, and by the time he was eight years old, he had learned the “ hoofin’ ” style of tap from the master tap dancer Diane Walker. Mr. Grant furthered his training in Los Angeles at Universal Dance Design Studio under the tutelage of the late Paul Kennedy. Mr. Grant spent three years with the Jazz Tap Ensemble touring the world. He is the recipient of the Princess Grace Award for Upcoming Young Artist as well as The Helen Hayes Award (Washington D.C.) for Outstanding Featured Actor for his role in BRING IN ‘DA NOISE, BRING IN ‘DA FUNK . Mr. Grant also received two Los Angeles Ovation Awards for the recreation of NOISE/FUNK’s original choreography and for best Ensemble performance.

Mr. Grant was featured at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ AFRICAN ODYSSEY program, part of the EXPRESIONES LATINAS Festival. He collaborated on a piece that incorporated tap and capoeira with renowned Brazilian artist Nego Gato, which opened the festivities for singer Daniella Mercury. He also choreographed and performed in a piece on the history of tap that launched the BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2001 celebration at Aaron Davis Hall. Recent compositions were featured in The Queens Symphony Opera’s DUKE ELLINGTON CONCERT and in Ann Arbor’s ARTS FESTIVAL.

Mr. Grant’s own creation/storytelling of the history of tap, A NIGHT OUT: TAP! toured the country for three months in 2002.

Of his choreography and performance with JAZZ TAP ENSEMBLE at the Joyce Theater in NYC, The New York Times said, “Mr. Grant let gusts of rhythm propel him with remarkable velocity!” More specifically, SOLO X earned him the LESTER HORTON DANCE AWARD nomination in the male performance category from the Dance Resource Center of Los Angeles.

In the summer of 2003, Mr. Grant had the honor of representing the US in the master tap class festival in Portugal followed by a personal invitation from John N. Palmer, Ambassador of the US In Lisboa. Mr. Grant was also privileged to perform at the Embassy.

Immediately after his return he joined Mr. Tony Waag’s TAP CITY NYC weeklong festival of classes and superb performances along with the late Gregory Hines and other hoofers from all around the country.

Mr. Grant also joined Mr. Brett Raphael in THE CONNECTICUT BALLET COMPANY’s celebration of MEN IN DANCE in Yonkers, NY, Vermont and Boston.

Most recently, Mr. Grant along with violinist Sa-Idah performed in a tribute commemorating The Colonial African Heritage’s African Burial Ground Reinterment produced by the Schomburg Center.

He also reunited with THE JAZZ TAP ENSEMBLE in a tribute to Gregory Hines at The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles.

In an effort to celebrate, nurture and cultivate the future of the language and art form of tap, Mr. Grant liberally teaches. He is a faculty member of STEPS ON BROADWAY in NYC. He also teaches private lessons (beginners & professionals) and master classes around the country. Mr. Grant is proudly the host of THE HOOFERS HOUSE in THE STUDIO MUSEUM OF HARLEM, which takes place quarterly.

Mr. Derick K. Grant lives in NYC and is the proud father of two…perhaps future tappers.