Tap dance artist and choreographer John Manzari shares an in-process presentation of his newest work, The Way Up, set to Pat Metheny’s acclaimed album of the same name. Drawing inspiration from Metheny’s innovative approach to jazz, Manzari explores new possibilities for tap dance, challenging perceptions of how the form moves, sounds, and is experienced.

This in-process presentation culminates Manzari’s Works & Process creative residency at Guild Hall, offering audiences an intimate glimpse into the work’s development ahead of its January 17 presentation at Works & Process’ Underground Uptown Festival at  Guggenheim New York.

ADDITIONAL DANCE OUT EAST EVENTS
Friday, January 8, 7 PM
The Church: Quaba V. Ernest / Venza Dance

Sunday, January 17, 2 PM 
The Watermill Center: Cassiel Gaube

  • John Manzari

    John Manzari is an Ovation Award and Helen Hayes Award-nominated dancer, singer, choreographer, and teacher.

    Stage: Broadway revival of Funny Girl (OBC); TUTS’ White Christmas; MUNY's Anything Goes; Encores! The Tap Dance Kid; Off Broadway’s Maurice Hines: Tappin’ Thru Life; Caleb Teicher’s Bzzz; Bessie Award-winning production Chasing Magic; 42ND Street; The Wiz is 40: A Celebration in Dance and Music; and Sophisticated Ladies.

    Television: Law & Order SVU; the PBS specials Black Broadway: A Proud History, A Limitless Future; Rooted; The Kennedy Center at 50; and Michael Feinstein at the Rainbow Room; Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; Good Morning America; The View; The Jerry Lewis Telethon; So You Think You Can Dance.

    Concerts: one man shows RECENTER and The First Set; New York, Edmonton, Seattle, Houston, and DC (National & American) symphonies; The Hot Sardines; Dorrance Dance; Jazz at Lincoln Center, Fall for Dance; Canada’s Fall for Dance North; Amelia Island Dance Festival; and Gold Coast Dance Festival. Film: Reimagined. Short films: I Get Knocked Down; Ghost; To: Everything I Love; Slip.

    johnmanzari.com

Sponsors

Performing Arts programs are supported by 2026 season sponsors Galia Meiri-Stawski and Axel Stawski, with additional lead support from Henry and Peggy Schleiff, The Melville Straus Family Endowment, Monica and Peter Tessler, and Vital Projects Fund. 

Guild Hall’s Performing Arts programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. 

Music Programming is supported in part by The Ellen and James S. Marcus Endowment for Musical Programming, and the Anne Wolf Concert Fund. 

Dance programming is supported by Principal Sponsors SHS Foundation and the Straus Family Foundation, lead sponsor Danielle Mandelbaum Anderman, with additional support provided by Bonita and Kevin Stewart. 

Additional support provided by Friends of the Theater: Natascia Ayers, Bonnie and Joel Bergstein, Gene Bernstein and Kathy Walsh, Bobbie Braun -The Neuwirth Foundation, Amy Cooney and Marty Feinman, John and Joan D’Addario, Lynn and Richard Feinson, Suzanne and John Golden, Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan, Steve and Susan Pesner and Peace, in memory of Michéle Pesner, whose entire life was devoted to all aspects of culture, Judi Roaman and Carla Chammas, The Schaffner Family Foundation, Lisa Schultz and Ezriel Kornel, Stacey and Oliver Stanton, Susi and Peter Wunsch, and Mrs. George Yates. 

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