Derick K. Grant

Derick K. Grant, born May 19, 1973, in Boston, Massachusetts, is an African-American tap dancer and choreographer based in New York City. He began his formal training at the age of two at The Roxbury Center for the Performing Arts. By age eight, he had studied the "hoofin" style of tap under master tap dancer Dianne Walker. Grant later continued his development in Los Angeles at Universal Dance Design Studio under the instruction of Paul Kennedy, and subsequently spent three years touring the world with the Jazz Tap Ensemble.

Grant came to prominence in 1996 as an original company member and Dance Captain of the George C. Wolfe-produced musical Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk, appearing first at The Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival before the production moved to Broadway, where he remained with the show through 1997. He later recreated Savion Glover's choreography and starred in the role of 'da beat for the first National Tour of the production.

Among his awards, Grant is a recipient of the Princess Grace Award for Upcoming Young Artists and the Helen Hayes Award in Washington, D.C., for Outstanding Featured Actor for his performance in Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk. He was also featured at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of the African Odyssey program within the Expresiones Latinas Festival, where he collaborated with Brazilian artist Nego Gato on a piece combining tap and capoeira that opened festivities for singer Daniella Mercury.

In 2001, Grant choreographed and performed a piece on the history of tap that launched the Black History Month celebration at Aaron Davis Hall. His compositions have been featured in the Queens Symphony Opera's Duke Ellington Concert at Ann Arbor's Arts Festival. His touring production A Night Out: Tap! traveled the country for three months, and his work with the Jazz Tap Ensemble at the Joyce Theater in New York City was reviewed by The New York Times, which noted that Grant let gusts of rhythm propel him with remarkable velocity. He has also developed a musical revue entitled Imagine Tap! and works internationally for various tap shows and events, including Tap To You.

In 2009, Grant appeared on the sixth season of So You Think You Can Dance, where he choreographed a tap routine performed by three tap dancers from that season's Top 20: Peter Sabasino, Bianca Revels, and Phillip Attmore. He resides in New York City with his wife, son, and daughter.