MICHELA MARINO LERMAN, winner of the 2019 Hoofer Award, is a globally sought after tap dance artist, performer, choreographer, educator and all-around creative spirit. The Huffington Post has called her a “hurricane of rhythm” and the NY Times has called her both a “prodigy” and has described her dancing as “flashes of brilliance” and Quincy Jones has called her an “absolute tap dancing star who knows her roots.” She very proudly, was mentored by some of the masters of tap dance including Gregory Hines, Buster Brown, Leroy Myers, Peg Leg Bates, Marion Coles and Mable Lee. Lerman has performed, choreographed, produced, and directed many projects throughout her career. Michela can currently be seen as one of the 5 featured tap dancers on the new USPS postage stamp series honoring Tap dance. Michela leads her own large group Love Movement and smaller ensembles Tauremini and Big Love. She is also a member of the band Mwenso and the Shakes, whom she tours with regularly. Some performance highlights include the Whitney Museum of American Art,  Newport Jazz festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, opening night of The Shed at the Hudson Yards, The Other Palace on London’s West End, Little Island,  USC “Vision and Voices” festival and co-producing the documentary American Tap. She has had the honor of working with such masters as Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Anna Deavere Smith, Jon Bastiste, Quincy Jones, Steve McQueen and many more. www.michelataps.com @michelataps