Musical Theatre & Tap Intensive
July 18-21
Instructor Bios
Ann Marie Dragich
Ann Marie Dragich After studying food science at UC Davis from 2000-2008, Ann relocated to New York City for dance, and worked there until 2020. She is currently back in Davis earning her MFA in dramatic art. In NYC Ann is a member of tap dance company Cole Collective and step company “Momentum.” Ann was featured in Rick Owens Spring 2014 Women’s show at Paris Fashion Week. Ann has presented her own work in various shows around New York city including the Emerging Choreographer’s Series curated by Mare Nostrom Elements, Flamenco Certamen USA and Tony Waag’s “Somthing’s Afoot,” at venues such as Symphony Space, the Bruno Walter’s Auditorium at Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library and La Guardia Performing Arts Center.
Class Emphasis:
Explore the tap dance lineage of Leon Collins! In this class we will learn Leon’s Routine 2, as passed on by Barbara Duffy to the American Tap Dance Foundation. In addition to triplet and double time phrasing, Routine 2 includes swing phrases with sophisticated syncopations. The dance works transitions between these distinct musical feels, presents unique and challenging weight changes, and demands distinct physical shape in space. This choreography is an appropriate training dance for the advanced dancer.
Edward Jackson
My name is Eddy Jackson and I have been working for Disney’s The Lion King as Resident Dance supervisor for over 18 years. I have had the good fortune to have done the show in over six different countries, three of which were tours. Within the Lion King, I was responsible for the day to day running of the show, planning of rehearsals and assisting in the direction of the show.
I am originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, where I graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a B.A. in Dance. I am also a certified Massage Therapist and Budding Photographer. Above all, I enjoy working with new talent and the entire creative process.
Aiden Ward
Aidan Ward is a tap dancer based in New York City and Sacramento, CA. She started tap dancing at the age of seven, and has since been a student of world-renowned tap dancers and teachers such as Dormeshia, Jason Samuels Smith, Jason Janas, and most recently, Christina Carminucci and Derick K. Grant, with whom she currently trains weekly in New York City.
Ms. Ward is a member of Mr. Grant’s Improvisation Lab and Choreography Lab, for the latter of which she is both a dancer and a choreographer; she has also attended tap festivals such as L.A. Tap Fest, The Intensive, and RIFF Dallas, where she has taken part in the residencies of Dormeshia, Derick K. Grant, and Dianne “Lady Di” Walker. In addition to tap dancing, Ms.
Ward is currently studying literature at The New School in New York City.
Kay Height
Kay is happy to finally return to the Hawkins Music Theatre Program since she was part of its inception three years ago!
Having majored in Musical Theatre Performance at the American Musical and Dramatics Academy, Kay returned from working in Los Angeles to Sacramento to become the Principal Accompanist and Assistant Artistic Director of the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus for 10 years. She has been a teacher for more than a decade and has devoted much of her time and talent to the education of students in the arts - and has newly-accepted the role of Resident Music Director at Sacramento Theatre Company.
A teaching artist at STC’s Young Professionals Conservatory, Kay also performs as often as she can on local and regional stages - most recently seen as Cousin Hebe (HMS Pinafore), Wendla (Spring Awakening: The Concert), Amalia (She Loves Me), and Mayzie (Seussical).