Featured Artists
Danny Nielsen ·
Danny Nielsen has emerged as one of the leaders of tap dance in Canada. Originally from Calgary, he began to further his knowledge of tap studying at various festivals throughout Canada and the U.S. around the age of 14. Danny has taught and performed at many national and international tap festivals including Zurich Tap Fest, Tap Ahead in Germany, North Carolina Rhythm Tap Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Taptastic Festival in Germany, and Portland Tap Fest. Danny was an integral part of Vancouver based dance company Radical System Art's (Shay Kuebler) production Telemetry. The show was a hit and toured for over 3 years at notable venues such as the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Place Des Arts in Montreal, the White Bird Dance Series in Portland, the Suzanne Dellal Centre in Tel Aviv, and Schritmacher Festival in Germany. In 2012, Danny was the recipient of the Santa Aloi Award from the Scotiabank Dance Centre. He used the grant to create and direct his first full-length production Love Be Best Free, which toured BC for a month in February of 2017. Danny just completed a sold out run of his newest creation 'In Conversation' at the Dance Centre in Vancouver in collaboration with Bulgarian pianist/percussionist Kristian Alexandrov, directed by Houston's Matt Shields. The show was recently presented in Calgary in January 2025 by DJD/One Yellow Rabbit Theatre.
In Conversation
One of Canada’s tap dance stars, Danny Nielsen combines dazzling technique, natural musicality, and a drive to constantly innovate with a heartfelt desire to honour the rich traditions of the form. In Conversation is a collaboration with renowned Bulgarian pianist/percussionist Kristian Alexandrov which delves into the symbiotic relationship between tap dance and jazz piano. Touching on new takes of old standards, original music, the two will co-create a performance drawing on everything from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, hip hop and rock. With lighting/video design from Jack Chipman (Vancouver Opera, Electric Company Theatre, Plastic Orchid Factory) and creative consulting and direction by Houston’s Matthew Shields (Post Modern Jukebox, Tapestry Dance Company) this show is a celebration of tap and musical artistry that will satisfy your senses both visually and audibly.