Danny Nielsen, one of the Guest Instructors for the 2016 Caulfield School of Dance Summer Intensives
Danny Nielsen will be teaching Tap as one of the Guest Instructors for the 2016 Caulfield School of Dance Summer Intensives.
Danny Nielsen is originally from Calgary, Alberta. He began his rhythm tap career as a founding member of MADD Rhythms Canada under the direction of Lisa La Touche. In his hometown, Danny worked with the highly regarded contemporary dance company Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. DJD’s productions of “Tinge and Tone” and “25” featured Danny’s choreographies.
In 2010, Danny became the ‘Artist in Residence’ at the Vancouver Tap Dance Society, where he directed the Boys’ program, the Girls’ program, and Youth Ensemble Tap Co. for two years.
During his time in Vancouver, Danny was a part of many productions including “A Chronological Life Story of a Few Tap Dancers” with Matt Shields and Travis Knights; “Stark Pulse” with Jessie Sawyers; and he was the original tap dancer in the creation of “Taps and Twang” with the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble.
In 2012, Danny was the recipient of the Santa Aloi Award from the Scotiabank Dance Centre. He later used the grant to create and direct his first full length production “Love.Be.Best.Free.”
Danny has emerged onto the international tap scene though teaching and performing in Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, and Seattle and Chicago, as well as all over Canada. He has taught for distinguished dance festivals and conventions such as the Zurich Tap Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Triple Threat, DC Tap Fest, and Brasil Tap Jazz to name a few. Television credits include the worldwide broadcast of the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies and the opening number for the 2008 Jerry Lewis Telethon choreographed by Chloe Arnold in Las Vegas, NV.
Danny imparts the importance of musicality in all his teaching and looks forward to returning to Vancouver from New York City to work with the students of Caulfield School of Dance during the Summer Intensives.