MARK MENDONCA made his professional debut as a tap dancer with JTE in 1989 on a special benefit concert with Gregory Hines. Later, Gregory featured Mark’s trio “Steps Ahead” on his television tribute to the Nicholas Brothers at the Kennedy Center. Mark toured with JTE throughout the US, France, and Spain, with special appearances at the Biennale in Lyon and on French national television. He rejoined the Ensemble for summer ‘95 season in Aspen and New York. He was the first tap dancer to be awarded the Princess Grace Emerging Artist Fellowship in 1989, and appears in original 1995 cast of “Interplay” (disc 3), and has improvising moments with Gregory Hines at the Jazz Bakery (disc 5).