Led by Brazilian choreographer Leonardo Sandoval, and American composer Gregory Richardson, Music From The Sole is a NYC-based tap dance company and live music ensemble that merges Afro-Brazilian rhythms and music with the great American tap tradition. The 10-member company embraces tap’s unique nature as a blend of sound and movement to blur the boundaries of dance and music, opening up new possibilities for both. Their hype, engaging performances incorporate samba and other Afro-Brazilian styles, Afro-Cuban, hip hop, jazz, and house music, highlighting connections between Afro-diasporic urban dance in Brazil and the US.
The company has appeared at both dance and music venues, bringing tap dance, America’s original vernacular dance form, to new audiences. Recent credits include appearances at Lincoln Center, Jacob’s Pillow, The Yard, Caramoor Jazz Festival, Battery Dance Festival, and Tap in Rio, gaining acclaim for their “rousing” choreography (New York Times) and “rigorous and exciting” work (Financial Times). The company has recently received support from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and the New England Foundation for the Arts, as finalists of the 2019 National Dance Project.
Driven by a firm belief in the transformational power of both dance and music, Music From The Sole are passionate about education and outreach, focusing on percussive dance that is accessible to all audience members. In partnership with organizations like the National Dance Institute and Lincoln Center Education, where they are currently in residence, they have reached thousands through music and dance workshops.