Nicholas Van Young


Nicholas Van Young is an artist, choreographer, dancer, musician and 2014 Bessie Award recipient. He began his professional career in Austin, TX at the age of 16 with Tapestry Dance Company under the direction of Acia Gray and Deirdre Strand, and as principal dancer and resident choreographer he was awarded “Best Male Dancer” 2001, and “Best Choreography” 2003 by the Austin Critics Council.

In 2003 he joined the NYC cast of STOMP and spent 2003-2013 with the production moving on to play the lead role and act as rehearsal director for the American Tour.

Most recently he acted as the Associate Artistic Director of Dorrance Dance, he has been a choreographer and collaborator with Artistic Director Michelle Dorrance for nearly a decade. His choreographic and conceptual collaborations with DD have premiered at the Guggenheim, The Joyce, Jacob’s Pillow, and internationally in London (Sadlers Wells), Spain (Fira Tarrega) and Hong Kong.

As a musician he has performed and toured with Cyro Baptista’s Brazilian Percussion Ensemble “Beat the Donkey”, as drummer for Darwin Deez and Dorrance Dance and has created two electronic music scores for the documentaries “Tap or Die” and “Aces and Knaves” produced by Jackie Pare.

Nicholas Young is the Director and Founder of SoundMovement Dance Co. and Institute for the Rhythmic Arts, a multi-disciplinary training program for percussive education in tap dance and movement.