::WHO.WHAT.WHERE::

Hello!

My name is Melinda Sullivan and I am a Los Angeles-based tap dancer and choreographer.

Last year I submitted my choreography to the Capezio ACE Awards and was both the first woman and the first tap dancer to win. As the first place winner, I received a cash prize to create and perform an original work and premiere it at a performance venue in New York City! With this award, I have decided to take my choreography to the next level and create a full length show entitled “Gone."

"Gone" is a 50-minute theatrical dance experience that is driven by story and sound, focusing on the dynamics of three generations of women: a grandmother, her daughter, and her grandchild.

With the help of my collaborators, I have conceived, choreographed, and will soon perform in the premiere of "Gone" at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York on August 5th & 6th.

I have commissioned composer/pianist, Nikos Syropoulos, to write a completely original score to accompany the movement. Through our collaboration, he has created a modern and cinematic fusion of chamber music and jazz that has brought great depth to the work.

I am also privileged and excited to have renowned director and choreographer, J.T. Horenstein, directing. J.T has brought so much life to what started as a very small creative vision, and has helped co-write the story and really energized my choreography. 

::HOW YOU CAN HELP::

While we did receive partial funding through the ACE Award, it is simply not enough to produce a show of this size. With your support this project will be able reach its true potential!

We have auditioned and found a wonderful cast of 11 dancers and actors who have worked in theater, television, and the concert stages.

The CAST of GONE:

Melinda Sullivan / Veronica Mendonca / Lindsay Fulton / Derek Roland / Dennis Bendersky / Tiffany Daniels / Amber Dupuy / Nikki Medrano / Tiffany Rae Mallari / Bianca Revels / Stephanie Wolfe

Nikos Syropoulos will be leading his ensemble, Rozalia, a group of six incredibly talented musicians, to professionally record the soundtrack in the coming months at Knobworld Studios in Los Angeles.

THE MUSICIANS OF GONE:

Nikos Syropoulos / Aaron Serfaty / Hillary Smith / Jonathon Richards / Ambroise Aubrun / Alison Spieth

Your support will help us pay for production costs including:

-Flights for the cast to NYC

-The professional recording/mixing of the music & production of CDs

-Costumes and dance shoes

-Rehearsal space for a 2-week, 8-hour day rehearsal process with the entire cast & creative team

-Sound designer for NYC production

-Lighting designer for NYC production

-A custom tap floor that we are shipping to NY for the premiere

-Fair compensation for all dancers and musicians involved

::REWARDS/RULES::

As you can see to the right, we have come up with some great rewards for those of you who wish to fund the project! Any amount helps, from the smallest contribution to the largest, and all donations are tax-deductible. The Melinda Sullivan Dance Project is is a project of the Pasadena Arts Council’s Emerge Fiscal Sponsorship Program. This program incubates individual projects and emerging organizations, offering them the ability to seek funding through fiscal sponsorship, and supporting participants during a crucial stage. It provides an opportunity to develop a project and determine its trajectory with the guidance and oversight of an established nonprofit.

Also, and THIS IS IMPORTANT, in accordance with Kickstarter's rules, if we don't reach our goal of $15,000 by the end of the 30 days, we don't receive any of the funds!  So please help us spread the word to make this possible.

::THE MISSION::

The mission of the Melinda Sullivan Dance Project is to create an expressive body of work with a strong emphasis on sound. It is committed to presenting many styles of tap dance to a broad audience in a theatrical setting while maintaining authenticity to tap dance’s roots and musicality.  The project will also present opportunities for dancers and musicians to collaborate and perform together.

::WANT TO SEE OUR WORK?::

We hope you do! Videos of my performance & choreography are at www.melindasullivan.com. Nikos Syropoulos' last album, the successfully funded (via Kickstarter) project, Rozalia, is available on iTunes and www.nikospiano.com.

::THANK YOU::

We so want you to be involved in this exciting project and can’t wait to share the finished product with you!

Tap dancing has always been my passion and as an artist I am so excited to share my way of story telling through dance and sound.

Sincerely-

Melinda Sullivan

Melinda Sullivan Dance Project is a project of the Pasadena Arts Council's EMERGE Fiscal Sponsorship Program.