Tap Dance | Program Director
July 28 – August 17
Dormeshia’s journey in tap dance is nothing short of remarkable, marked by her exceptional talent, tireless dedication, and groundbreaking contributions to the art form. Born with rhythm in her veins, Dormeshia’s passion for tap dance started at a young age, propelling her into a lifelong pursuit of excellence.
Throughout her career, Dormeshia has earned the moniker “the queen of tap,” a title bestowed upon her by The New York Times, a testament to her unmatched skill and artistry. She has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Doris Duke Artist Award, the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award, the Dance Magazine Award, and the Bessie Award. Notably, her electrifying performance in Broadway’s After Midnight earned her an Astaire Award for Best Female Performer.
Beyond her accomplishments on the stage, Dormeshia has also made significant strides as a choreographer and an educator. Her tap choreography for the production of Jelly’s Last Jam at New York City Center received rave reviews. Her first full length work, And Still You Must Swing, captivated audiences and critics alike, earning praise as the “Best of Dance for 2016” and again in 2019, by The New York Times. Dormeshia was also awarded a Bessie Award for Outstanding Creator/Choreographer for her most recent work, Rhythm is Life. Her dedication to preserving and advancing the art of tap dance is further evidenced by her role as the creator and producer of the Ladies in the Shoe Tap Conference, an annual event celebrated during Women’s History Month. Additionally, as a Program Director of the Jacob’s Pillow Tap Dance Program, Dormeshia has played a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of tap dancers, sharing her wisdom and expertise with aspiring artists.
Dormeshia continues to push the boundaries of tap dance while honoring its rich tradition and legacy. Her influence is felt not only in the world of dance but also in popular culture, having served as the tap dance instructor to none other than the legendary Michael Jackson for over a decade. Her inclusion as one of five dancers representing tap dance in the Forever Collection of U.S. Postage Stamps immortalizes her legacy for generations to come.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Dormeshia is eager to share her passion for tap dance and inspire students with her knowledge and enthusiasm for the art form. As she continues to grace stages around the world, Dormeshia remains a beacon of inspiration, pushing the boundaries of tap dance and leaving an indelible mark on the world of dance.
Click here to view all artist faculty.
Tap Dance | Artist Faculty
August 3 – August 10
Sam Weber is an award-winning artist whose reputation as a performer, teacher, and choreographer in the world of tap dance is recognized around the globe. A protégé of tap dancer Stan Kahn, Sam was a principal dancer and choreographer with the Jazz Tap Ensemble from 1986-2009 and received acclaim around the world while touring with the company. Since the first Colorado Tap Festival in 1986, Sam has appeared at international tap festivals and has performed alongside legendary tap masters including Charles “Honi” Coles, Jimmy Slyde, Steve Condos, Buster Brown, Gregory Hines, and the Nicholas Brothers. Today, Sam is one of the very few tap dancers in the world to perform Morton Gould’s Tap Dance Concerto. He was the first tap dancer to receive a Bessie Award, presented in recognition of Outstanding Artistic Achievement, alongside receiving additional tap dance awards such as a Legacy Award from the Orange County Tap Festival and the Third Coast Rhythm Project, the Juba Award from the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and the Hoofers Award from the American Tap Dance Foundation. Sam has taught at UCLA, California State University (Fullerton and L.A.), and San Francisco State University. He teaches regular classes at City Dance School in San Francisco, California and at Stagebridge in Oakland, California.
Click here to view all artist faculty.
Choreography Fellowship Program | Program Director
August 18 – August 28
Choreographer, Writer, and Composer Robert Moses has created over 100 works of varying styles and genres for his highly praised dance company. Since 2008, he has also composed many of the sound and narrative scores for his works. Moses has choreographed for dance, opera, and theater companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, San Francisco Opera, Olympic Arts Festival, Ailey II, Philadanco!, Lorraine Hansberry Theater, Cincinnati Ballet, Eco Arts, Transitions Dance Company of the Laban Center in London, African Cultural Exchange (UK), Bare Bones (UK), Oakland Ballet, New Conservatory Theater, Los Angeles Prime Moves Festival (L.A.C.E.), Moving People Dance, and Robert Henry Johnson Dance Company, among others. He has taught on college campuses throughout the country including UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Cal State Long Beach, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Goucher College, University of Texas, Stockton University, University of Nevada, and the University of South Florida.
Moses’ work explores topics ranging from oral traditions in African American culture, contemporary urban culture, and the complexities of identity, to the simple joys and expressive power of pure movement. Moses has worked collaboratively with numerous artists and organizations and among them are Terence Marling, Latanya D. Tigner, Julia Adam, Margaret Jenkins, Alonzo King, Sara Shelton Mann, Joanna Haigood, Carl Hancock Rux, SoVoSo, Marcus Shelby, Keith Terry, Frank Boehm, Will Power, Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble, Bill Morrison, Ann Galjour, David Worm, Kid Beyond, and Youth Speaks.
A highly sought after teacher, Moses has taught nationally and internationally, including at the International Festival of Contemporary Dance (Ensenada, Mexico), International Dance Festival “Crossing Bodies” (Tijuana, Mexico), OPEN LOOK St. Petersburg International Dance Festival, and Serendipity Arts Festival (Kolkata, India). Moses has been a returning guest artist at the Northwest Dance Project and a mentor with Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange (CHIME). He conducted movement and performance workshops internationally for artists of African descent with State of Emergency Limited in the United Kingdom.
In 2005, Moses was named Stanford University Choreographer-in-Residence and the Artistic Director of the Committee on Black Performing Arts at Stanford University, where he remained until 2016. He was a Professor of Practice at Santa Clara University from 2018-2019, the Melody and Mark Teppola Presidential Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Dance and Theater Studies at Mills College in Oakland, CA, from 2019-2022, and is currently a Distinguished Artist in Residence and Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco.
Moses has received generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Ford Foundation, and Hewlett Foundation, which has enabled him to pursue his artistic vision and make a lasting impact on the field of dance.
With a strong commitment to social justice and artistic excellence, Robert Moses continues to make significant contributions to the field of dance and beyond.
Click here to view all artist faculty.
Contemporary Ballet | Program Director
June 15 – June 29
The Colombian-Belgian Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (she/her) is a prolific, sought-after, and award-winning choreographer who has created more than 100 ballets for 81 dance companies around the world. A versatile choreographer, Annabelle’s wide-ranging body of work includes short conceptual pieces, full-length narratives, and dance films. In the upcoming 2025-2026 season, she will become Artist-In-Residence at Ballet Dortmund in Germany, a position she will share with choreographer Edward Clug.
Throughout the global pandemic in 2020-2021, Annabelle pioneered remote choreography, premiering a total of 22 dance films. In 2023, Annabelle’s notoriety led to her being invited as a judge on the television show The Greatest Dancer of Vlaanderen, which aired on Belgian National TV for nine episodes in February–March 2023.
Annabelle is one of the world’s busiest choreographers (Dance Magazine 2016), as well as one of the very few female choreographers who excels in narrative ballet. She has successfully created 15 narrative ballets to date including FRIDA, Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon, Doña Peron, Callas: La Divina, and A Streetcar Named Desire. In April 2025, Annabelle will premiere a brand new full-length version of Carmen for Miami City Ballet. Annabelle is proud to be returning to The School at Jacob’s Pillow this season, where she has been the Program Director of the Contemporary Ballet Program since 2019. Visit annabellelopezochoa.com for more information.
Click here to view all artist faculty.
Contemporary | Program Director
June 30 – July 20
Milton Myers is a teacher of the Lester Horton Technique and the Program Director of The School at Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Program. Mr. Myers performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, directed the Joyce Trisler Danscompany, and has been honored by the International Association of Blacks in Dance for his extraordinary teaching and mentorship to dancers. He is a professional instructor for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Philadanco! and has set work on prominent companies worldwide. Since 2008, he has been the first Horton instructor at The Juilliard School and has previously been on faculty at the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, North Carolina School of the Arts, Brown University, Howard University, N.Y.U. Tisch School of the Arts, C.C.N.Y., Marymount Manhattan College, University of Arts, Steps on Broadway, and has taught extensively throughout Europe, Israel, South America, and Canada. Mr. Myers received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Missouri. 2025 marks Mr. Myers’ 38th year coaching and mentoring dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow.
Click here to view all artist faculty.