THE FACULTY

2022 faculty

STAY TUNED FOR 2023 FACULTY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON @palmettotapintensive

Aaron Burr, our Palmetto Tap Intensive Founder and Director, is aa formerly NYC-based artist originally from South Carolina which is why he is passionate about having this intensive in his hometown of North Myrtle Beach.

Aaron is on faculty with Showstopper Dance Conventions, and the Bold Dance Project, Epic Dance Conventions, and Endless Talent Dance Conventions and Competitions. He is the founder of the Palmetto Tap Intensive that takes place annually in Myrtle Beach, SC and tap choreographer for Celtic Fyre at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. His credits include A Celebration of Cole Porter featuring Harry Connick, Jr (Broadway), Tap Dogs (International Tour), Dr. Dolittle featuring Tommy Tune (National Tour), and Rhythmic Circus: Feet Don’t Fail Me Now (National Tour).

Aaron has also been seen tap dancing on NBC’s World of Dance, NBC’s America’s Got Talent, and ABC’s Good Morning America. Additional theatre and dance credits include Goodspeed Opera House, Marriott Theatre (Lincolnshire, IL), The Rev Theatre, Holland America Cruise Lines, and Hapag Lloyd Cruise Lines.
To keep up with Aaron, follow @tapburr on instagram!

Jason E. Bernard is a native of The Bronx, New York. At the age of 17 Jason made his Broadway debut in The Tony Award Winning Musical "Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk". Jason next appeared in the Broadway, National and International touring productions of "Riverdance". He was a featured performer in the Showtime original movie "Bojangles" Starring Gregory Hines and he also appeared as J. Bunny in The Spike Lee Film "Bamboozled". Jason appeared in "Cotton Club Parade" at City Center Encores! ( "After Midnight" On Broadway ). Jason was featured on “Live with Kelly and Ryan” and he taught Kelly Ripa how to tap dance. Currently, Jason is on the faculty of the dance convention LA Dance Magic. Jason feels truly Blessed to be able to share his gift of Rhythm with the world.

Luke Hickey (Tap Dancer/Choreographer) - is a NYC based tap dancer, choreographer, and actor hailing from Chapel Hill, NC. Named by Dance Magazine among their "25 To Watch" in 2020, Hickey began studying with his lifelong mentor, JUBA Award recipient Gene Medler, at the age of eight. Under the tutelage of Mr. Medler, Hickey completed 10 consecutive seasons studying and touring with the internationally acclaimed North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE). Hickey is an alumna of the School at Jacob’s Pillow and Pace University NYC (BA Film & Screen Studies, BA Communications Studies, cum laude). He is immensely proud to be a company member of 2015 MacArthur Fellow, Michelle Dorrance’s acclaimed company, Dorrance Dance. In the Fall of 2018, Hickey made his choreographic and directorial debut with his work “A Little Old, A Little New” at the world famous Birdland Jazz Club in NYC. The show has since been performed in venues across the country, including to Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Battery Dance Festival and most recently, at the Chelsea Factory in partnership with the Joyce Theater. Hickey's choreography is also seen in Patrick Wang’s feature film "A Bread Factory," which was listed on The New Yorker's "The Best Movies of 2018." Stage credits include Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room, The Kennedy Center, the Guggenheim Museum, Oslo Jazz Festival, the Joyce Theater, MGM National Harbor, and New York City Center. (@luke_hickey_)

Christina Carminucci, born and raised in New Jersey, is an NYC based tap dancer. In her youth, she trained as a multidisciplinary dancer at a local studio, seeking out further tap dance training at BDC, STEPS, and ATDF (Tap City Youth Ensemble). While earning her BBA in Arts and Entertainment Management at Pace University, Christina was fortunate enough to study extensively under the mentorship of Derick K Grant. Recognized as one of Dance Magazine’s 2022 “25 to Watch”, she can always be found performing, choreographing, producing or teaching.
The Jacob’s Pillow Tap Program alumna has appeared in works by many of today’s greats, including Dormeshia and Michelle Dorrance (Dorrance Dance). Over the years she has had the opportunity to perform at acclaimed venues including The Joyce Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Chicago Jazz Showcase, and Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). “Nucci” also worked internationally as an ensemble member of Christopher Erk’s Tap Factor on board the #1 rated cruise ship in the world, the MS Europa 2 of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Inspired to develop her own voice, Christina co-produced her first jazz and tap dance collaboration, “On That Note”, at Feinstein's/54 Below, Teatro Sea, and Don’t Tell Mama cabaret club in NYC. Shortly following, the Mare Nostrum Elements 2019 Emerging Choreographer debuted her first self-produced show “When the Smoke Clears” at the Triad Theater also in NYC (2019). Most recently, Christina launched “The Solidarity Series”, an ongoing live performance experience dedicated to both furthering the development and increasing the visibility of improvisational tap dance as it relates to jazz music. Passionate about sharing her love and knowledge of the art form, she teaches regularly at Steps on Broadway in NYC and at various workshops around the country and world.

Elizabeth Burke (@elizabethrburke) is a “sinuous and sizzling (IndyWeek)," "elegant and expressive (BroadwayWorld)," and “deft and impassioned (The New York Times)” tap dancer originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, who now works out of Brooklyn, New York, primarily as the Co-Dance Captain of 2015 MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance's acclaimed, award winning company, Dorrance Dance. Burke has been working full time with Dorrance Dance since 2010, and prior to that, spent 11 years under the tutelage of her mentor, Gene Medler, in the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE). She holds a BA in Political Science and a BA in Communication Arts from Marymount Manhattan College (magna cum laude) and is an alumna of The School at Jacob’s Pillow. Aside from her current work with Dorrance Dance, Elizabeth can be found teaching and choreographing across the United States, and engaging in various artistic collaborations with fellow tap dancer and artist Luke Hickey. Most recently, she performed in Hickey's work A Little Old, A Little New, at the Chelsea Factory in New York City.

Josh Nixon began dancing at the Centreville Dance Academy in Virginia. As a well-rounded student of dance, Josh trained in ballet, lyrical, jazz. Mr. Nixon’s professional choice was the art of Tap Dance, encouraged by his trainers Pam McCormick and Heidi Stafford. Josh joined MYTE (Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble), a semi-professional company, based in Virginia under the direction of Katie Padgett and Jason Holley where he was exposed to performing opportunities throughout Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC. Performing live, Corporate events and television commercial choreographic works, by Broadway veteran Joseph Webb and Crishon Jerome.
Mr. Nixon has become a well-respected Tap Dance Instructor, with the privilege of participating in residencies, workshops and festivals in over 30 states in America and 20 countries throughout the world. His professional career has evolved to also afford him the opportunity to serve as the Assistant Artistic Director to Joseph Webb’s youth company, House of Tap. His continually evolving career has brought him to be seen in Dance Teacher and Dance Magazine features, production and performance opportunities alongside his mentors Chloe and Maud Arnold, Derick Grant, and Ted Louis Levy. Josh has performed with Chloe Arnold's Apartment 33, Ryan Johnson's SOLE Defined and Heidi Stafford's Sundays on Tap, and has recently assisted Tap faculty at Break the Floor events. Recent Credits include the Root 100 Awards, Lincoln Center, The Smithsonian Institution, MS Europa 2 cruise ship, and choreography for the national Miss America Pageant.
When not traveling, Josh is pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University and running his own video production company. Josh passes on his love, respect and knowledge for tap dance as a guest instructor at a handful of Universities and studios throughout the VA/DC Metro Area as well as heading his new pre-professional tap company, SYTE & Sound.

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