Love Movement
is an innovative tap dance and live music group led by tap dancer Michela Marino Lerman and Russell Hall. The group blends concert dance with a vibrant soundscape, drawing influences from jazz and contemporary genres. Love Movement’s choreography is shaped by the rhythm and improvisational nature of live music, allowing tap to interact dynamically with the score. Emphasizing storytelling and emotional connection, their performances resonate deeply with audiences, showcasing the versatility and relevance of tap in today’s artistic landscape. Performances include the Joyce Theater, Kennedy Center, Whitney Museum, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Newport Jazz Festival, Summerscape at Bard, The Yard, National Sawdust and Green Box. Community engagement is also central to Love Movement’s mission, emphasizing the importance of education and accessibility in the arts.The company offers workshops, classes, educational performances, and lecture-demonstrations that focus on tap, music, jazz, and its rich history. These programs have been presented at USC Vision & Voices Festival, HarlemStage, Grinnell College, Yale, and various schools in NYC and across the country. Additional collaborations include Fairfield University, Jazz House Kids, National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Toronto International Tap Festival, About The Swing, and the Manhattan School of Music. Through these initiatives, LoveMovement aims to inspire and educate diverse audiences, fostering a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of tap dance and its interconnectedness with music and history.
Love Movement has received support from the Joyce Theater Foundation, APAP Arts Forward, Doris Duke Foundation, NY Community Trust, Louis Armstrong Foundation, Newport Festivals Foundation, American Tap Dance Foundation, Tap Dance Central, Arts Midwest, Irene Mecchi Donor Advised Fund, and the InMaat Foundation.
