Pamela Hetherington Born in Philadelphia, PA 10/4/1979
Education
2022-2023 Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion Program, Dir. Celeste Miller
2003-2005 University of Virginia, MA (English)
1997-2001 University of Pennsylvania, BA (English, Hons)
Fellowships
2024- Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion Fellow
Artistic Grants
2017-2025 Philadelphia Cultural Fund Operating Grant
2016-2024 City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Project Grants
2023 Dolfinger-McMahon Project Grant
2023 Connelly Foundation Operating Grant
2022 New Music USA Organizational Development Grant
2020 Youth Impact Grant, Mayor’s Office of Philadelphia
Storefront Improvement Grant, Phila Department of Commerce
2013-2018 PA Council on the Arts Project Grants
2013 Small But Mighty Arts Project Grant
Stockton Rush Bartol/Dance USA Project Grant
Awards & Commendations
2024 Philadelphia Fringe Festival Award for Best Music Performance (Winner)
2019 PA State House of Representatives Commendation of Excellence (HR 355)
Panel Discussions/Talk Backs
2024 Lead Moderator, “Women in Jazz,” with Terri Lyne Carrington and Sumi Tonooka, Jazz Philadelphia Summit, Nov 7, 2024
2023 Talk Back Moderator, “Dorrance Dance Nutcracker,” with Michelle Dorrance, Hannah Heller & Josette Wiggan, Dec 8, 2023
Artistic Director
2020-present Philadelphia Youth Tap
Recent presented performances: Olney Youth Arts Festival, Smith Playground’s Kidchella, Girard Avenue Street Festival
2008-2024 Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble, Philadelphia Community Tap Project
2023 1st Annual Brewerytown Tap Dance Festival
2014-2024 Sound Space Performing Arts // A dance space in North Philadelphia
Choreography Commissions
2024 Cannonball Festival for “Beryl Booker,” Christ Church Neighborhood House, Sept 2024
2023 Creative Philadelphia for “Terry Pollard,” Jazz Appreciation Month Celebration, April 2023
2022 Fairmount Waterworks/Philadelphia Jazz Project for “Trouble the Water” at POOL: A Social History of Segregation, August 2022
2021 Creative Philadelphia for “Tyner and Timmons (TNT),” Jazz Appreciation Month Celebration, April 2021.
Presented Work
2024 Quartet at The Barnes Foundation, First Sunday, Exhibition of Mickalene Thomas, November 2024
2024 Trio at Nostalgia Fishtown, July 2024
2024 Trio at Black Squirrel Club, May 2024
2024 Ryerss Museum
2024 Soloist at FringeArts, February 2024
2023 Excerpt from “Terry Pollard,” FringeArts, August 2023
2022 POOL Exhibit, Fairmount Waterworks, Philadelphia Jazz Project and Habitheque, Philadelphia, PA
2022 Arts on Site, New York, NY
2021 ArtYard Presents The Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble, ArtYard, Frenchtown, NJ
Jazz at Fabrika, Fabrika, Philadelphia, PA
PhillyCAM presents Tyner and Timmons (TNT), Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Destination Downbeat, Drummers (Sherrie Maricle, Dir.), Philadelphia, PA
Stam-Pede, Symphony Space, New York, NY
2018 Third Thursdays Concert, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA
2017 Sunday at the Barnes, The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, PA
Outlet Dance Project, Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ
Culture in the Courtyard, Philadelphia City Hall, Philadelphia, PA
Eight in Show, Dixon Place, New York, NY
2016 Sunday Jazz Concerts, Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, PA
30-30-30, Dixon Place, New York, NY
2015 7x7 Series, Philadelphia Jazz Project, Venice Island Performing Arts Center, Philadelphia, PA
2014 Meet Us At the Corner: Women in Tap Panel, Dance/UP in collaboration with University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2013 Jazz Bridge, Neighborhood Concert Series, Cheltenham Art Center, Cheltenham, PA
The Gallery Series, Dance/UP, Philadelphia, PA
Jazz Recordings
2019 “Drum-Taps,” Whitman at 200 Celebration Album, Philadelphia Jazz Project and City of Philadelphia
Publications
2023 “Has Philly lost touch with the true musical roots of tap dance?” Broad Street Review, November 23, 2023.
2022 “Tap Shoe Blues.” Philadelphia Real Book. Temple University Press, 1st and 2nd Edition, Philadelphia, PA
Dance Education
Dance educator since 1998, Adult tap educator since 2003, children’s program director since 2014
Specialty Subjects:
Preschool age dance curricula utilizing music, rhythm, independent thinking and spatial concepts
Young children ages 6-12: I teach all forms, focusing on technique, timing, precision, and performance skills.
Teens/adults: composition, choreography, technique; Philadelphia street hoofin; jazz music, jazz music theory, jazz music as it relates to tap dance; jazz history, tap dance history, classic tap dance repertory; improvisation
Diversable dancers
Universities
2024-present Thomas Jefferson University, Creative Core Curriculum Adjunct Instructor, Philadelphia, PA
2015-present University of Pennsylvania, Soundworks Tap Company, Philadelphia, PA
2013-2014 Villanova University, Tap Company, Villanova, PA
2013-2016 University of the Arts, Musical Theater Tap, (substitute), Philadelphia, PA
2001-2003 Penn Dance, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Private Studios/Dance Spaces/Other Programs
2013-2024 Chesco Dance Center, Pure Energy Dance Center, Philly Dance Fitness, The Iron Factory, Artists in Motion, Delaware County Performing Arts, Fireworks Dance Center, Koresh Dance, Metropolitan Ballet, On Edge Movement, Dance by Debra DiNote, Rising Star Dance, Artists in Motion, Feet First Dance, Kimberton Dance Academy, Edge Dance Company, Kimberton Dance Academy, Hillsborough Dance Center, The Dance Center, Solstice Dance Academy, Touch of Class Dance, Mill Ballet School, Dance 360, Phoenix Arts.
2017-2023 Movement Director, SpArc Cultural Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2007-2012 Tap Dance Instructor, Community Education Center, Philadelphia, PA
2003-2006 Tap Dance Program Director, McGuffey Arts Center, Charlottesville, VA
1998-2002 Chestnut Street Dance Academy, Philadelphia, PA
Recreation Programs and Camps
2024-present Dance Director, Athletic Recreation Center, Philadelphia, PA
2023-present STEAM Camp at Jacob’s Pillow, Berkshire Community College, Becket, MA
2022 Dance Leader, Germantown Friends Summer Camp
2014 Dance Leader, Abington Friends Summer Camp
2003-2006 Tap Director, Department of Recreation, Charlottesville, VA
Secondary Schools
2025 Artist in Residence, Monument High School, Great Barrington, MA
2013-2015 Dance Team Director, The Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr, PA
2013-2014 St. Andrew’s School, Middletown, DE
K-12 Schools
2024 Artist in Residence, Silvio O. Conte Community School, Pittsfield, MA
2024 Community Partnership School, Philadelphia, PA
2023-2024 James Blaine School, Philadelphia, PA
2013-2015 DEA Youth Dance Program, Memphis Street Academy, Philadelphia, PA
Companies
2003-2006 Miki Liszt Dance Company, Charlottesville, VA
Prospect Dance Group, Charlottesville, VA
1996-2012 Tap Team Two and Company, Philadelphia, PA
Performance Experience
See presented work above; from 1996-2012 I performed extensively with Tap Team Two and Company at innumerable festivals, concerts and presentations on the East Coast. Special mentions: Painted Bride Art Center 1996-2000; Dance Boom 2000; Wilma Theater Dance Philadelphia Celebration, 2002; Atlas Performing Arts Center (DC), 2008, 2009. In Charlottesville, VA with Miki Liszt Dance Company: Old Dominion University 2005, Piedmont Virginia College 2004-2005, and Live Arts Charlottesville 2003-2006.
Boards
2023-2024 Fringe Festival Advisory Board, Philadelphia, PA
2020-present Changing Times Tap Company, New York, NY
2015-2021 University of Pennsylvania Performing Arts Council
Radio Appearances
2023 “Festival celebrates tap dance in Philly” by David Matthau, November 18, 2023, WHYY-FM
2015 Interview with Meridee Duddleston, “Obsessed with Jazz Tap!” April 6, 2015, WRTI-FM
2013 Interview with Bob Perkins on the BP with the GM, October 2013, WRTI-FM
TV Appearances
2022 Good Day Philadelphia Fox 29 Interview with Jennaphr Frederick, January 2022
2020 Philly Live! Channel 6 Interview with Aunyea Lachelle, Coverage of Girard Avenue businesses during COVID, April 2020
2019 Channel 6-ABC News coverage of National Tap Dance Dance Day at 2511 West Girard Avenue, May 25, 2019
2016 Featured Guest. “Tap Dance in America.” Articulate (now syndicated): PBS, Local station WHYY.
Article Write-Ups
2024 “The Art of Mothering” by Molly Petrilla, Penn Gazette, September/October 2024
2023 “Explore Brewerytown” by Hira Qureshi, Philadelphia Inquirer, May 23, 2023
2020 “The Show Must Go On” by Monica Herndon, Philadelphia Inquirer
2019 “A festival reminds Philly of the importance of tap dance.” By Caitlin McCabe. Philadelphia Inquirer, May 25, 2019.
2017 “Tap Dance Comes to Girard Avenue” by Sean Kearney. Spirit of Penn’s Garden, March 2017.
Concert Reviews
Thinking Dance (September 2022)
The Dance Journal (April 2021)
Thinking Dance (September 2020)
Broad Street Review (September 2019)