THE 2019 CAST
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Anthony russo
foreman
At 15 years old, Anthony Russo went to an 18+ Equity audition for Anything Goes at The MUNY in St Louis, MO and booked the gig. That experience set the tone for the years to follow. He once crashed an agent-only audition for Cirque Du Soleil with a smiley face drawn on paper as a headshot and booked the gig. It was this sheer will to perform that also landed him his first touring contract in 2001.
Russo left high school just before the start of his senior year and joined the 6th national tour of Tap Dogs. In addition to his performance credits, Anthony produces tap dance education programs throughout North America under his touring company, @TapTheMap, and an annual event in St Louis, MO, @ShowMeTapFest.
In 2013, Russo was awarded Outstanding Young Missourian by The Missouri Junior Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to dance education nationwide. ‘Tap The Map’ received acknowledgment from The Missouri House Of Representatives for facilitating over $75,000 in scholarships to students around the US and Canada.
17 years later, he is proud to be a part of the cast of Tap Dogs and to perform in the show that solidified his decision to tap dance professionally in the first place.
Nathaniel Hancock
2IC
Nathaniel Hancock is thrilled to re-join the 2018 touring cast of Tap Dogs. He has performed with them in Europe, Asia, Bahrain, UAE, Australia, and South Africa over the past 7 years.
He has trained with and been inspired by some of the world’s best including Jason Samuels Smith, Savion Glover, Dein Perry, and many more. He is a founding member of Street Feet Entertainment and The Australian Tap Company and is an integral part of The Tap Tour.
Nathaniel appeared in the animated film Happy Feet 2 as a featured tap dancer. He has also performed with Beat the Streets, Street Feet Entertainment and The Next Step alongside some of Australia’s best commercial dancers and tap dancers alike.
His most recent performances with the Tap Dogs in Australia were: The Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Eve party at the Sydney Opera House, The NRL Dally M Awards, the Virgin Blue 10th Anniversary Celebration, and the unique opportunity to travel out to APY lands in central Australia to teach and perform at indigenous communities across the region.
Nathaniel has been teaching and adjudicating tap dance both nationally and internationally for the past 11 years and shows that he has a great passion for sharing his love and knowledge of tap dance. He has been a member of faculty at the past two Australian Tap Festival’s and The Sydney Tap Festival in 2017 and has just finished teaching the advanced residency at the Sydney Tap Festival in April this year.
His love of rhythm and unique, intricate time signatures really place him at the forefront of modern tap dance in Australia. These skills along with trick steps, fast feet and musicality driven choreography shows that Nathaniel and his tap dance peers are well and truly keeping tap alive in Australia.
RICHIE MILLER
ENFORCER
Richie Miller was born in Titusville, FL USA and moved to St. Charles, MO at the age of 6. On a bribe, Richie began his training at Performing Arts Centre with Debbie & Tracy Davenport & Anthony Russo where he became a tap sensation! Upon graduation, he immediately was hired by Tap Dogs and has toured with them since 2009, dancing the roles of The Kid, Funky, and Enforcer. Tap Dogs tours took Richie all over the USA, Mexico, London’s West End, Italy, France, Bahrain, Asia, Dubai, Germany, Macau, and to Australia many times!
He now resides and works in Australia. Since Richie has been in Australia, he has appeared on Naomi Campbell’s “The Face,” was featured in Commonwealth Bank’s Tap & Pay TVC along with many other TVCs for Australian companies.
Richie is the creator of The Tap Tour, founder of Dreaded Cheetah, and is still with Tap Dogs, working as a master teacher, guest choreographer, and videographer; sharing his passion for rhythm to students of all ages.
CHAISE ROSSIeLLO
FUNKY
Chaise Rossiello started dancing and singing at the age of 5 in his hometown of Geelong, Australia. By age 10, he graced the stage performing in a variety of local productions. Chaise has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge through performing Australia-wide and internationally.
He has performed both alongside and under some well-known artists including Jamelia, Barry Humphries, Delta Goodrem, The Black Eyed Peas, and Jessica Mauboy just to name a few.
Chaise joined the internationally-acclaimed Tap Dogs in 2007 and has toured consistently for over ten years throughout the UK, the Mediterranean, Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Chaise’s love of performing extends past the stage, and into production, direction, and choreography. He produces original shows and acts that always pushing the envelope and he takes pride in innovating rather than replicating!
During his time home, he loves to get involved in local theatre, performing in many local shows, playing Don Lockwood (Singing in the Rain), Billy Lawlor (42nd Street), Mike Costa (A Chorus Line), and being a part of the ensemble of many other musicals.
Chaise’s experiences have driven him to become a dance teacher, passing on his ability of dance and the arts, teaching master classes nationally but more recently starting his own Performing Arts School (Dance Move Create) in Lara, Geelong.
Chaise wants to encourage all aspiring performers to Dance Hard, Sing Loud, and Dream Big!
Justin myles
rat
Justin Myles Is a native of Maryland/DC and has been dancing & drumming since the age of three , he spent his childhood surrounded by music, dance and most importantly rhythm, Graduating from Point Park University with a double major in Ballet & Jazz.
Justin has also been a company member of the Pittsburgh Playhouse Dance Company, performed for Paramount, Busch Gardens, and Disney Cruise Lines as a main stage singer, dancer, and dance captain with additional touring experience in North & South America with the off Broadway show STOMP and Germany, China, and Poland with TAP DOGS.
He is proud to be a Co-founder/Director of The JaM Project and The JaM Youth Project in Washington, DC. Both companies have won numerous Film and Choreography awards across the USA, including the Capezio ACE Awards. The JaM Project recently performed their brand new show “Good Times, Bad Times” at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and which had its debut at Dancerpalooza.
His choreography and performances have been praised by Dance Spirit Magazine, and The Washington Post. Most recently Justin just wrapped up Season 2 on NBCs World of Dance performing with the JaM Project.
Justin can’t wait to bring his energy and excitement to the stage on this world tour.
reid perry
kid
Reid Perry began his dance training at ‘Tap Pups’ under his father Dein Perry as a young child. His early years were filled with performance opportunities including the Sydney Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Eve Party at the Sydney Opera House, The Footy Show, Luna Park re-opening, and the World Masters Games Opening Ceremony.
Reid was delighted to make his Tap Dogs debut in 2016 and since then he has continued to perform with them at corporate events across Australia. Reid is currently studying an Advanced Diploma In Performing Arts at ED5 International in Sydney where he has been fortunate enough to play roles including Zach from A Chorus Line as well as perform alongside Australian celebrities such as Marcia Hines.
Reid is thrilled to be joining the Tap Dogs for his first world tour.
sam marks
rover
Sam Marks trained at the Conroy Dance Centre in Brisbane. His career began as a child when he was cast in Singin’ In the Rain, Les Misèrables and The Wizard of Oz. Other musical theatre credits include CATS, Wicked, South Pacific, King Kong Live on Stage, Dirty Dancing, Singin’ in the Rain, Hello Dolly! and Brigadoon.
Sam is also a member of The Tap Pack, touring and performing on cruise ships since 2015. He has also worked extensively in the commercial dance industry in Australia.
Television appearances include the morning TV program Sunrise, The ARIA’s, Three seasons of The Australian X Factor and various TV commercials. Sam joined Tap Dogs in 2010, which has taken him to London, France, Italy, Bahrain, Dubai, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney, he is thrilled to be rejoining for this world tour.
Sam is looking forward to performing once again in this iconic show on this world tour.
Nathan beech
spot
Nathan Beech is originally from Northern Virginia. He started tap dancing at the age of five. He cultivated his passion for dance, training at multiple studios including Studio Blue Dance Center and Degrasse Dance Studio.
At 15 he booked his first dance tour with Brothers of the Knight, directed by Debbie Allen. He has toured internationally with Tap Dogs in 2015.
As a member of the professional company The Jam Project 2016-17, he has toured across the country at the Capezio ACE Awards, Brake the Floor Production’s 25 Live, and Good Times, Bad times at The Kennedy Center. The group was also selected to perform in World of Dance 2018. Nathan performed a lead role with Celtic Fyre at Busch Gardens 2017 and 2018.
Previous accolades include selection by The National Young Art Foundation as a 2015 Young Arts Finalist awarding him the Silver Award in Dance/Tap and also recognized him for his Exceptional Artistic Achievement in 2014.
He also teaches and choreographs in multiple studios.
Nathan is looking forward to being a part of the 2018 Tap Dogs world tour.
noriko terada
musician
Born in Kashima Japan, Noriko Terada originally started her musical life with the piano at the age of 3. Later at the age of 11, she began playing the percussion which she quickly fell in love with.
Noriko is internationally known for her percussion recordings with the world-popular video game series, Final Fantasy XV, Final Fantasy XIII-3 Lightning Returns by Square Enix, as well as the official trailer of Ace Attorney 6 by Capcom.
After moving to Boston and graduating from Berklee College of Music, Noriko joined the Video Game Orchestra (VGO) with whom she performed at concerts, festivals and conventions. She was also featured on CAPCOM’s official live entertainment tour Capcom Live!.
As a multi-percussionist, Noriko has shown a great deal of versatility in musical styles including Theater Musical, Latin, World music, Afro-Brazilian music, Pop/R&B and Classical. She has performed at many festivals and conventions include Carnegie Hall, Blue Note Jazz Club, TED talks and the Montreal Jazz festival. She has performed with a host of Grammy Award-winning artists, composers and producers including Anjelique Kidjo, Don Was, Alan Silvestri, John Weston, Kenwood Dennard, Anúna, Sean Murray, Yasunori Mitsuda and Michiru Ooshima.
More recently, Noriko was a judge for the 2018 international drum competition “Hit Like A Girl”.
cAITLIN KALAFUSo
MUSICIAN
Caitlin has been playing drums since the age of eight and began playing professionally at the young age of twelve. In 2010 she toured the country in Kicking Daisies, a band that won Disney’s “Next Big Thing,” appeared on national TV shows, made the Billboard Charts and was featured in a national TV commercial. Following Kicking Daisies, Caitlin continued to play in various bands while attending college for Graphic Design, and toured Vans Warped Tour with the Brooklyn based band, Mother Feather. Caitlin’s most recent gig is playing drums for the iconic 80’s pop artist, Cyndi Lauper, who recently wrapped up a US summer tour with Rod Stewart.