Spoleto Festival - Music From The Sole's I Didn't Come to Stay

Spoleto Festival - Music From The Sole's 

Venue
Emmett Robinson Theatre
54 St Philip St, Charleston, SC 29424

Tap, percussive dance, samba, house, and original live music come together in 

, an evening-length work from New York City-based Music From The Sole. Brazilian tap dancer and choreographer Leonardo Sandoval and bassist/composer Gregory Richardson lead eight dancers and a five-piece band in a performance that explores tap’s lineage and connections to other Afro-Diasporic forms. Conceived as a Carnival fever dream, 

 embraces shared roots across the diaspora to reflect on what shapes their cultural and artistic identity, and celebrates the joy, depth, and virtuosity of Black dance and music.



was created with the support of a summer 2020 Works & Process bubble residency at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park. This culminated in preview performances that were among the first outdoor performances permitted by New York State. 

 was featured in a Works & Process at Lincoln Center video performance and received a Works & Process LaunchPAD “Process as Destination” residency at Catskill Mountain Foundation (2022), with additional residency support by The Yard, Jacob’s Pillow, and Chelsea Factory. 

 is a National Dance Project Production Grantee.



Works & Process on Tour

The Pocantico Center - Djapo by Marie Basse-Wiles and Omari Wiles (Dance Performance and Lesson)

 by Marie Basse-Wiles and Omari Wiles (Dance Performance and Lesson)

Venue
The Pocantico Center
200 Lake Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, US

Omari Wiles—a force in New York’s ballroom and dance scenes—joins his mother, Marie Basse-Wiles, a revered figure in African diasporic dance, for 

, a vibrant new work commissioned by Works & Process. The piece brings together their companies Les Ballet Afrik and Maimouna Keita School of African Dance.

Rooted in the rhythms of Senegal and Mali, this electrifying performance blends traditional West African dance with contemporary African club culture, Afrobeats, and live percussion, shaped through the duo’s intergenerational collaboration. Company dancers come together for an in-process performance of 

, exploring the evolution of movement, music, and community, celebrating the deep ties between past and present while amplifying the visibility of African cultural traditions in today’s global dance landscape.

Culminating the event is a community dance lesson inviting all audience members to the dance floor!



 development is supported by Works & Process LaunchPAD residencies at Bethany Arts Community, Watermill Center, The Pocantico Center, and Prior Performing Arts Center at the College of the Holy Cross. Music commission was made possible by the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation. Additional support was provided by the New York State Council on the Arts.

A reception will follow the performance. Presented in partnership with the RBF Culpeper Arts & Culture program and Works & Process as part of the Culpeper Summer Performance Series.


Jacob's Pillow - Djapo by Marie Basse-Wiles and Omari Wiles

Venue
outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage
358 George Carter Road, Becket MA, 01223

Omari Wiles—a force in New York’s ballroom and dance scenes—joins his mother, Marie Basse-Wiles, a revered figure in African diasporic dance, for 

, a vibrant new work commissioned by Works & Process, bringing together their companies Les Ballet Afrik and Maimouna Keita School of African Dance.

Rooted in the rhythms of Senegal and Mali, this electrifying performance blends traditional West African dance with contemporary African club culture, Afrobeats, and live percussion, shaped through the duo’s intergenerational collaboration. Company dancers come together for an in-process performance of 

, exploring the evolution of movement, music, and community, celebrating the deep ties between past and present while amplifying the visibility of African cultural traditions in today’s global dance landscape.



’s development is supported by Works & Process LaunchPAD residencies at Bethany Arts Community, Watermill Center, Pocantico Center, and Prior Performing Arts Center at the College of the Holy Cross. Music commission made possible by the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation. Additional support provided by the New York State Council on the Arts.

Big Freedia / Courtney "Balenciaga" Washington's MasterZ at Work / DJ Butchish

Big Freedia / Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington’s MasterZ at Work / DJ Butchish

July 10 @ 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Herbert Von King Park
670 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
All Ages
Free

Big Freedia is the queen of New Orleans bounce, a high-energy strain of hip-hop. Her sets are performed at maximum intensity, flanked by her infamous crew of twerking dancers that demand—and command—attention. She helped popularize the formerly underground genre, taking the sound around the world, and collaborated with the likes of RuPaul, Beyoncé, Sia, and Lil Wayne, and appeared on various television programs including Treme (HBO), P-Valley (Starz), and the 2022 reboot of Queer as Folk (Peacock). This summer she brings her Gospel Revival show to Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, where she’ll share the stage with the legendary ballroom mother Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington and the MasterZ at Work Dance Family. This collective of fierce and resilient young performers from varied backgrounds fuses together street dance, jazz, ballroom, vogue, and hip-hop, fostering community in under-resourced areas of Brooklyn. It’s a hometown show for Washington, who spent her formative years performing in Von King Park, and went on to found the Kiki House of Juicy Couture, lead the vogue House of Balenciaga, and win the Avis Penda’vis Angel Award at the 2022 Latex Ball. Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington and the MasterZ at Work Dance Family is presented in association with Works & Process, a NYC non-profit organization that champions performing artists and their creative journey from studio to stage.



Commissioned by Works & Process, MasterZ at Work Dance Family’s new work has been developed in a Works & Process LaunchPAD residency at Modern Accord Depot (2024) and Bethany Arts Community (2025).

Works & Process at SummerStage

Caramoor - Music From The Sole's I Didn't Come to Stay

Venue
Venetian Theater
149 Girdle Ridge Rd, Katonah, NY 10536

Tap, percussive dance, samba, house, and original live music come together in 

Wave Hill Sunset Wednesdays: LayeRhythm

Location:
Wave Hill
Great Lawn; Rain Site: Armor Hall
4900 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY 

Our 2025 Sunset Wednesdays season closes with a highly interactive and improvisational performance by LayeRhythm, a dynamic platform that blends freestyle street and club dance with live music. Founded by Mai Lê Hô in 2015, its events feature top-tier artists collaborating on the spot, guided by audience input. These performances celebrate the richness of street and club dance and music cultures, highlighting genres like hip hop, house, funk, and jazz, while also embracing the energy and spontaneity of live creation. The aim is not only to entertain but also to foster community, preserve cultural history, and inspire emotional connections through dance and music.

Advance tickets encouraged, but not required, online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.

In the event of inclement weather, this event will move inside to Wave Hill House. Pre-registered tickets to the “Rain or Shine” option receive priority seating, and same-day registration is not guaranteed. Pre-registration to the “Shine only” option does not guarantee seating to the event if moved indoors.

Guild Hall - Music From The Sole's House Is Open, Going Dark

Location
Guild Hall
158 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937

Blurring the line between concert, dance, and music performance, Music From The Sole is a tap dance and live music company that celebrates tap’s roots in the African diaspora. Co-founders composer and bassist Gregory Richardson and Brazilian tap dancer and choreographer Leonardo Sandoval, draw from Afro-Brazilian, jazz, soul, house, rock, and Afro-Cuban styles.

The performance marks the culmination of Music From the Sole’s multi-year Guild Hall William P. Rayner Artist-in-Residence and premiere of their new work, 

Come early and join the on-stage house party with 

. Expect spontaneous dance, improvised riffs, and lots of popcorn!

Choreography: Leonardo Sandoval in collaboration with the company members
Original Music: Gregory Richardson, Leonardo Sandoval, Matt Parker, Dylan Bhulai Rowland, Michael Jellick, Jennifer Vincent, Orlando Hernandez, Magela Herrera
Dramaturgy: Orlando Hernández
Lighting Design: Kathy Kaufmann
Creative Consultant: Roberta Uno
Performers: Brittany DeStefano, Orlando Hernández, Matt Parker, Gregory Richardson, Dylan Rowland, Leonardo Sandoval, Lucas Santana, Gisele Silva, Ana Tomioshi, Jennifer Vincent



 is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation & Development Fund Project co-commissioned by Works & Process, the Joyce Theater Foundation, The Yard, Guild Hall, Dance Place, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and NPN.

Music From The Sole’s new work has been developed in a Works & Process LaunchPAD residency at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park (2024), Guild Hall William P. Rayner Artist-in-Residence Program (2023 and 2025), and a Pillow Lab residency at Jacob’s Pillow (2024), as well as additional residency support from The Yard, Chelsea Factory, and Dance Place. Additional support was provided by the Harkness Dance Foundation, a 2023 Alan M. Kriegsman Creative Residency at Dance Place.

Photo: Elyse Mertz

Works & Process Events