Music From The Sole 
I Didn’t Come to Stay 

Plimpton Shattuck Black Box

Music From The Sole is a tap dance and live music company that celebrates tap’s connections to Afro-Brazilian music and dance, and other influences across the African Diaspora. Jointly founded by Brazilian tap dancer and choreographer Leonardo Sandoval and American composer and bassist Gregory Richardson, the company strives to bring tap dance—America’s original vernacular dance—and its lineage to the broadest possible audience.   

I Didn’t Come to Stay, a work for eight dancers and a five-piece band earned a spot on the New York Times’ Best Dance Performances of 2022 list. It explores tap’s connections to house, samba, Brazilian funk, and jazz. The artists embrace these forms’ shared roots across the diaspora and reflect on racial and cultural identity while celebrating the joy, strength, depth, and virtuosity of Black dance and music.

Music from the Sole will make their Boston debut with this performance.

Due to popular demand, we have added a 4th performance on Thursday, January 11th 2024 at 8PM!

I Didn’t Come to Stay was originally commissioned by Works & Process at the Guggenheim.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12: You’re invited!

Join us at the Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre for a post-performance reception and artist conversation on Friday evening. Open to all Friday-evening ticket holders.

“An unforced crowd-pleaser, original and true to itself. …this sense of togetherness and collective joy extended throughout the work. ”

The New York Times

“A marvelous feast of rhythm, both visual and aural”

DanceTabs

NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre Venue Information

The 2023/24 Dance Series is generously supported by
Leslie & Howard ApplebyStephanie L. Brown Foundation, and Royal Little Family Foundation, with additional support provided by Cynthia & John S. Reed Foundation.

The Saturday matinee performance of Music From The Sole is generously supported by
Marilyn Miller.

The presentation of “I Didn’t Come to Stay” was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation.

Additional support provided by the Amy Lam Fund for Creative Performance.

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