JOSEPH WIGGAN began his dance training with Paul and Arlene Kennedy at Universal Dance Designs, and has performed in numerous international tap and swing dance festivals. He performed in LA with Greg Russell’s Tap Sounds Underground and trained with Jason Samuel Smith’s A.C.G.I. Joseph was a member of the Caravan Project and debuted with JTE in Lyon, France 2004. He received the Princes Grace Emerging Artist Award in 2005. (disc 2)

AYODELE CASEL NY Joyce & LA Ford Theatre 2005 –her new solo, “Delilah” featured in Brazilian influenced piece “Aqui O” with vocalist Kate McGarry, choreography by Lynn Dally.

SANDY VAZQUEZ was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and is now a student at UCLA. She has been tap dancing since the age of six, and studied for ten years with Steve and Carol Zee at Everybody Dance! the community based center in downtown LA. Her training also includes ballet, jazz, modern, and hip hop. Sandy was a member of Steve Zee’s LA Ironworks, where she also trained with Denise Sheerer, and has worked with Sarah Reich’s new LA based company, Tap Con Sabor. Sandy’s first professional touring experience was with JTE in Africa 2012.

B’JON CARTER is a Tap Dance Percussionist from Long Beach, California. He began dance training at Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, where he was introduced to tap by Jason Samuels Smith and Chloe Arnold, who provided him with a solid foundation. B’Jōn performed with the “Kennedy Tap Company,” founded by Paul and Arlene Kennedy, and was blessed to learn from the legendary Ardie Bryant. B’Jon has taught and performed around the world. He has participated in tap festivals, workshops and intensives throughout the US, Canada, and South Africa. B’Jon is a senior at UCLA studying Arts Education in World Arts and Cultures/Dance, and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. B’Jon is featured in his own composition, “Summertime” (excerpt) on disc 2 which he performed in the 2012 Africa tour.

KENJI IGUS recently graduated from UCLA World Arts and Cultures/Dance and is a featured performer at Universal City Walk and teaching at the Edge in Hollywood. He has been tap dancing since the age of six and has shared the stage with such tap notables as Gregory Hines, Steve Zee, and Jimmy Slyde. Kenji has appeared in a variety of media including ESPN, Capezio and MTV and is a featured guest artist on Jason Derulo’s video, “Walk to Fame.” He is the subject of the short film, “SAND,” documenting a father/son relationship and the passing on of the lost art of sand dancing. Kenji’s original solo choreography was featured in UCLA’s World Aids Day and on YouTube. He toured with JTE in Africa 2012 where he performed his own original solos and classic JTE repertory.

MAYA GUICE holds a BA from Scripps College, where she majored in dance performance/choreography and performing arts administration. Maya began dancing at age six with Tita Boulger at the Peninsula School for the Performing Arts. She was an invited member of the JTE Caravan Project for gifted teens at age 11. She has performed with Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies and Steve Zee’s LA Iron Works. She was highlighted in the May 2009 issue of DANCE magazine as an artist “On The Rise,” and made her professional debut with JTE at the Joyce Theatre, NYC. As both performer and teacher, Maya was featured in JTE’s 2012 DanceMotionUSA tour of Africa.

JOSETTE WIGGAN began dancing at age 12, studying with Pau & Arlene Kennedy at Universal Dance Designs in L.A. She was a member of Caravan Project performing extensively in L.A. She was the first tap dancer to win the coveted 2001 Spotlight Award at L.A.’s Music Center. She toured in the national cast of 42^nd Street and then graduated from UCLA’s World Arts and Cultures/Dance. She debuted with the Ensemble in NY, 2004 (disc 2) and toured to France that same year. She was in the original cast of American TAP Masterpieces, contributing a stunning solo tribute to Eleanor Powell. Josette now has a long career in Cirque du Soleil and currently tours in the Michael Jackson tribute.

CHANNING COOK HOLMES studied with Alfred Desio at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, performed with Kids Tap LA in the Barcelona Festival, and received a Brody Grant to study with the renowned Fayard Nicholas. Channing joined JTE in 1997 and was awarded the 2002 Princess Grace Award for artistic excellence. He toured with JTE for one year before joining the European cast of Riverdance which led to a full year on Broadway in Riverdance. Film credits include “Bojangles” with Gregory Hines for Showtime and Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York.” Channing returned to LA and the concert stage with Jazz Tap Ensemble in the summer of 2002, performing on tour, in LA and at NY’s Joyce Theater. (Disc 2)

LAINIE MANNING made her JTE debut in 1993 at the Joyce Theater, NY. A featured dancer in commercials, television, and film, Lainie appeared in Pennies from Heaven with Steve Martin, danced jazz with Jaime Rogers and Joe Bennett, and worked with tap masters, Jimmy DeFore, Louis DaPron, Donald O’Connor, and Sammy Davis, Jr. Lainie is featured in Interplay original cast (disc 3) and American TAP Masterpieces (disc 4).

DORMESHIA SUMBRY EDWARDS was featured for two years on Broadway in “Black and Blue” before she returned home to LA, attended LA Performing Arts High School, joining Derick Grant in JTE”s Caravan Project for gifted teen tappers. She made her JTE debut in 1993 at the Joyce Theater, NY, and appears here in her own reconstruction of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, as well as the Coles & Atkins Softshoe, (disc 4) and in the original cast of “Interplay” (disc 3). Dormeshia received the Princess Grace Emerging Artist Award in 1995 when she toured with the Ensemble to Hong Kong, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Alaska, and across America.

Later she joined the NY cast of Noise/Funk making her the first female performer in the Broadway show. She toured Europe in Wild Women Blues and America and Japan with Savion Glover in Noise/Funk. Her film credits include Gregory Hines’ TAP! And Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled” in which she performed and served as Asst Choreographer. Dormeshia returned to JTE for 2004 Joyce and Maison de la Danse performances in New York City and Lyon, France.