Today we’d like to introduce you to Dre Torres

Dre, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

My beautiful mother enrolled me in tap dance at Melba’s Dance in McAllen Texas at the age of 2! I stayed there through the age of 18 and then left to graduate from Oklahoma City University. New York City was always the goal and so straight from college I moved to NYC to begin an incredible journey!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

Coming from a small town (McAllen Texas) it was difficult for others to believe I could be a tap dancer for the rest of my life when I would say it. I knew the rhythm had my soul and pursuing it has been the best decision of my life. I also know it wasn’t just a choice, it is my love and I had to follow the rhythm. There was no other path. I’m grateful to have had celebrated tap educator, writer, and historian Melba Huber as my teacher and mentor. I was so enthusiastic in the beginning, I was a little loud and Melba whipped me into shape. I was lucky to have tap shared with me in a way that I never could’ve imagined. She would also take me to the annual St. Louis Tap Festival, where I studied with legendary hoofers, such as Henry LeTang, Jimmy Slyde, and the Nicholas Brothers, who inspired the love for this incredible art form and its history that I now share each week with my students.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

After graduating from Oklahoma City University with a BS in American dance pedagogy and a minor in business entrepreneurship, I moved to New York City and soon began teaching and performing on a variety of stages and platforms, from Comedy Central and Radio City Music Hall to the Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
I’m so grateful and proud that my first Broadway gig was with the creative team of Funny Girl, alongside Ayodele Casel. As the assistant tap choreographer, I helped train stars Lea Michele and Tovah Feldshuh before they took over the roles of Fanny Brice and Mrs. Brice at the August Wilson Theater. I’ve continued with the current touring production, traveling with the show to help maintain the integrity of Casel’s choreography. I can relate to Fanny Brice and her journey which makes me feel like it was the perfect show for me to thankfully be part of.
I recently wrapped a residency with Dance Lab New York, where I began creating my own show along with teaching regularly at Broadway Dance Center. I do hope my next turn on Broadway will be staging my own work. I have so many new goals and dreams, and new shows I want to produce. I hope that the more that we can share this American art form, the more everyone can have the tools to move through life with a little bit more joy and happiness.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?

My parents are my greatest teachers, supporters and motivators. Their sacrifices will never be taken for granted and I’m one lucky daughter to have been raised by them. Their love keeps me full, grounded and motivated.

Melba Huber of course catapulted my passion and love for tap dance and showed me the way by introducing me to many of the greats. She would give me advice and also left me with all her journals, photos and historical archives that I have been slowly going through as there is so much to uncover. I’m excited to share her archives once I’ve digitized and organized all her Historical treasures that I hope the tap community will enjoy.

My friends who have stuck by me through all of life’s challenges, struggles and successes. I don’t know where I’d be without them.

And lastly, my beloved Mona Bear. Her impact and our special bond saved my life.

Pricing:

• Broadway Dance Center Open Classes (NYC)
• Competition Choreography (Inquire)
• Seeking Funding for New Tap Productions
• Seeking Funding For Archival Process
• Contact: [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.DreTorres.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dretorres14?igsh=MWxoZW4wYWdqbG4wZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrea.torres.56808?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: @dretorres14

Image Credits

Kayleen Bertrand (Broadway Dance Center)

Dre Torres (Personal Photos)