WHO’S WHO
ANTHONY RUSSO (Foreman) At 15 years
old, Anthony went to an 18+ Equity audition
for Anything Goes at The MUNY in St Louis,
MO and booked the gig. That experience set the
tone for the years to follow. He once crashed an
agent-only audition for Cirque Du Soleil with a
smiley face drawn on paper as a headshot and
booked the gig. It was this sheer will to perform
that also landed him his first touring contract in
2001. Russo left high school just before the start
of his senior year and joined the 6th national
tour of Tap Dogs. He produces tap dance
education programs under his touring company,
@TapTheMap, and an annual event in St Louis,
MO, @ShowMeTapFest. In 2013, Russo was
awarded Outstanding Young Missourian by The
Missouri Junior Chamber of Commerce for his
contributions to dance education nationwide.
‘Tap The Map’ received acknowledgment
from The Missouri House of Representatives
for facilitating over $75,000 in scholarships to
students around the US and Canada. 17 years
later, he is proud to be a part of Tap Dogs and to
perform in the show that solidified his decision
to tap dance professionally.
NATHANIEL HANCOCK (2IC) is thrilled
to re-join Tap Dogs. He performed with them
in Europe, Asia, Bahrain, UAE, Australia, and
South Africa over the past 7 years. He has
trained with some of the world’s best including
Jason Samuels Smith, Savion Glover, Dein
Perry and more. He is a founding member of
Street Feet Entertainment and The Australian
Tap Company and is an integral part of The Tap
Tour. His performance credits include Happy
Feet 2 as a featured tap dancer, Beat the Streets,
Street Feet Entertainment and The Next Step.
Nathaniel has been teaching and adjudicating
tap dance internationally for the past 11 years
and has a great passion for sharing his love and
knowledge of tap dance. He was a member of
faculty at the past two Australian Tap Festival’s
and The Sydney Tap Festival in 2017 and just
finished teaching the advanced residency at the
Sydney Tap Festival in April 2018. His love of
rhythm and unique, intricate time signatures
place him at the forefront of modern tap dance
in Australia. These skills, along with trick steps,
fast feet and musicality driven choreography,
show that Nathaniel and his tap dance peers are
well and truly keeping tap alive.
RICHIE MILLER (Enforcer) was born in
Titusville, FL and moved to St. Charles, MO
at the age of 6. On a bribe, Richie began his
training at Performing Arts Centre with Debbie
& Tracy Davenport and Anthony Russo where
he became a tap sensation! Upon graduation,
he immediately was hired by Tap Dogs and has
toured with them since 2009, dancing the roles
of The Kid, Funky, and Enforcer. Tap Dogs tours
took Richie all over the USA, Mexico, London’s
West End, Italy, France, Bahrain, Asia, Dubai,
Germany, Macau, and to Australia many times.
He now resides and works in Australia. Since
Richie has been in Australia, he has appeared
on Naomi Campbell’s “The Face,” was featured
in Commonwealth Bank’s Tap & Pay TVC
along with many other TVCs for Australian
companies. Richie is the creator of The Tap
Tour, founder of Dreaded Cheetah, and is still
with Tap Dogs, working as a master teacher,
guest choreographer, and videographer; sharing
his passion for rhythm to students of all ages.
CHAISE ROSSIELLO (Funky) started dancing
and singing at age 5 in his hometown of Geelong,
Australia. By age 10, he was performing in a
variety of local productions. Chaise gained a
wealth of experience and knowledge through
performing Australia-wide and internationally. He
performed alongside and under some well-known
artists including Jamelia, Barry Humphries, Delta
Goodrem, The Black Eyed Peas, and Jessica
Mauboy. Chaise joined Tap Dogs in 2007 and has
toured consistently for over ten years throughout
the UK, the Mediterranean, Europe, North
America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. His
love of performing extends past the stage and
into production, direction, and choreography.
He produces original shows and acts that always
push the envelope and takes pride in innovating
rather than replicating! During his time home,
he loves to get involved in local theatre,
performing in many local shows, playing Don
Lockwood (Singing in the Rain), Billy Lawlor
(42nd Street), Mike Costa (A Chorus Line), and
many other musicals. Chaise’s experiences have
driven him to become a dance teacher, and more
recently starting his own Performing Arts School
(Dance Move Create) in Lara, Geelong. Chaise
wants to encourage all aspiring performers to
Dance Hard, Sing Loud, and Dream Big!
JUSTIN MYLES (Rat) a native of Maryland/
DC, has been dancing & drumming since
age 3. He spent his childhood surrounded by
music, dance and most importantly rhythm. He
graduated from Point Park University with a
double major in Ballet & Jazz. Justin has been
a company member of the Pittsburgh Playhouse
Dance Company, performed for Paramount,
Busch Gardens, and Disney Cruise Lines as a
main stage singer, dancer, and dance captain and
toured in North & South America with Stomp,
and Germany, China, and Poland with Tap Dogs.
He is co-founder/director of The JaM Project
CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER: 2018-2019 SEASON PROGRAM: SPRING | 117