Syncopated Ladies

Conversations with Dance Industry Professionals, Syncopated Ladies and more

The McDonough Room
All ages

March 13th 2025, 5:30 pm

1-hour panel discussion

Presented by The Hanover Theatre’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee:

The Dance Industry, Overcoming Barriers, Celebrating Successes.

In conjunction with Syncopated Ladies The Hanover Theatre’s DEIB Committee will be hosting a pre-show panel discussion. We will be joined by Chloé Arnold and cast members from the show in addition to New England industry professionals, Taavon Gamble and Ilyse Robbins, accomplished director/choreographers with meaningful ties to The Hanover Theatre.

This will be free and open to the public and is planned from 5:30-6:30pm with light refreshments provided.

This event is in the McDonough Room at The Hanover Theatre Conservatory & Event Center.

Meet the Panelists

Taavon Gamble

Taavon Gamble (Director/Choreographer)  is currently making his Off-Broadway directorial debut as director/choreographer of the new musical comedy, Upside Down, at AMT Theater running March 5-April 5, 2025. Taavon was last seen at The Hanover Theatre playing Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol Reimagined presented by The Hanover Theatre Repertory screened in December 2020 at the Jean McDonough Arts Center. Taavon is an Elliot Norton nominated choreographer known for his work with Rhode Island’s Trinity Repertory Company where he is a company member, artistic associate, and teaching artist. Choreography: Pericles (Off Broadway), Classic Stage/Fiasco Theater; La Cage Aux Folles, A Christmas Carol (2019, 2021, 2024), Trinity Rep; The Prom (Elliot Norton nomination for Best Choreography), A Strange Loop, Speakeasy Stage; Legally Blonde, Moonbox Productions; Alice By Heart, Something Rotten!, Boston Conservatory; Emma, Actors’ Shakespeare Project; A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Gamm Theatre; The Color Purple (NY regional premiere), Hair, WPPAC; Airness, University of California Santa Barbara; Kiss of the Spider Woman, Brown University; West Side StoryChicago, Bigfork Summer Theatre. Point Park University graduate. www.taavongamble.com @taavongamble 

Ilyse Robbins

Ilyse Robbins (Director/Choreographer) is known at The Hanover Theatre as the award-winning choreographer of A Christmas Carol. She grew up in Worcester, MA and began tap dancing at the age of four. Ilyse was most recently seen on stage in The Drowsy Chaperone (Lyric Stage Boston), White Rabbit Red Rabbit (Umbrella Stage), and as the Narrator of the BYSO’s sold-out production of Peter and the Wolf. Directing credits include: Move on the Cha Cha’s (United Solo Festival NYC), Noises Off (Lyric Stage Boston), 46 Plays for America’s First Ladies (Hub Theatre), Mr. Popper’s Penguins (Wheelock Family Theatre), Lizzie the Musical (Umbrella Stage), Tell Me on a Sunday (Peterborough Players), All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (GBSC – Elliot Norton Award winner for Outstanding Musical),  Thoroughly Modern Millie (GBSC – Elliot Norton Award winner for Outstanding Director of a Musical), Marry Me a Little (New Rep). Choreography credits include: Rocky Horror (Central Square), Assassins (Lyric Stage), Ain’t Misbehavin(Front Porch, Central Square, GBSC – Elliot Norton Award winner for Outstanding Musical); Swan Lake in Blue: A Jazz Ballet (GBSC – Elliot Norton Award winner for Outstanding Choreography), The Scottsboro Boys (SpeakEasy Stage - Elliot Norton Award winner for Outstanding Musical/IRNE award for Best Choreography). Ilyse is the recipient of multiple Elliot Norton and IRNE Awards for direction, choreography, and production. BS in Communication/Theater – Northwestern; Theater certification – BADA; Ed.M. – Harvard.Upcoming: A Man of No Importance (SpeakEasy – choreography), The Spitfire Grill (Umbrella – direction), Hello, Dolly! (Lyric Stage – choreography).  Website: www.ilyserobbins.com 

Chloé Arnold

Chloé Arnold (Director/Choreographer) is an Emmy-nominated choreographer and tap dancer, discovered at a young age in Washington, DC by Debbie Allen. Chloé’s choreography has been featured on numerous hit TV shows including over 70 episodes of “The Late Late Show with James Corden” featuring A-list actors from Will Smith and Hugh Jackman to pop superstars Ariana Grande and BTS. Other choreography credits include: “Bel Air”, “So You Think You Can Dance”, “Good Morning America”, “The Ellen Show”, “The Talk”, “A Black Lady Sketch Show”, “Hello, Jack!”, “History of the World Part II” and John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s “A Legendary Christmas”. Chloe most recently   choreographed Jerry Seinfeld’s “Unfrosted” for Netflix and the Apple TV+ musical film Spirited starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds and Octavia Spencer. 

Chloé is widely known as the founder of the female tap dance band, Syncopated Ladies, whose fierce footwork and feminine style have attracted audiences of all ages around the world. Chloé was one of 2024 Ebony Power 100 honorees, was named one of LeBron James’ “The Strongest,” a campaign featured in Essence to celebrate his 16th Nike Sneaker release, was on The Root 100 List and she was featured in Shonda Rhimes and Microsoft’s “Language of Leadership” panel discussion. She recently partnered with Symetra for the Plan Well, Play Well campaign teaching retired basketball superstar, Sue Bird, how to tap dance. 

Chloé is also an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who holds a degree in film from Columbia University. She and her sister Maud produced the award-winning documentary Tap World, are the co-directors of the critically acclaimed DC Tap Festival and co-produced the Hollywood Tap Festival with Debbie Allen and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. They have been recognized by Columbia University as Rising Stars, by the US House of Representatives as arts preservers and ambassadors and won the 33rd Annual Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Performing Arts. Through the Chloé and Maud Foundation, they give back to the community by creating equal opportunity access to dance programming and education for underserved communities with after school programs in South Central LA and Favelas in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. 

Maud Arnold

Maud Arnold (Co-Executive Producer, Writer, Dancer) Recognized as one of “Tap’s Leading Ladies” by Dance Spirit Magazine, Maud is a sought out teacher, judge and performer worldwide. Some of her credits include: Apple TV+ musical film Spirited starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer, CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live, Mariah Carey’s “Merry Christmas to All” at Madison Square Garden, “Good Morning America”, “The Late Late Show With James Corden”, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, “The Kelly Clarkson Show”, “The Ellen Show”, “So You Think You Can Dance”, “Black Lady Sketch Show”, “Boardwalk Empire”, “Switched at Birth”, and “Secret Talents of the Stars with Mya”. Maud has appeared in national commercials and print ads for Toyota, GAP, and CANTU and has worked with Beyoncé on several commercials and music videos. As a choreographer, some of Maud’s credits include “Y2K” (A24), “Freaky Tales” (Macro), “Theater Camp” (Searchlight Pictures, premiered at 2023 Sundance Film Festival) “The Late Late Show with James Corden”, “Good Morning America”,“American Horror Story”, “The Get Down”, a VISA campaign, as well as commercials for Target, Macy’s and Aldo and was the Associate Choreographer on Breaking Brooklyn. As a director, Maud’s credits include Condola “Dola” Rashad’s Space Daughter Series and Sophia Noel’s “Tonari”. Maud is also a female entrepreneur that holds a degree from Columbia University in Film. She was a producer of the award-winning documentary “Tap World” and with her sister Chloé she founded the Chloé and Maud Foundation, a 501c3 that produces the DC Tap Festival and Hollywood Tap Fest as well as Chloé and Maud Productions, pioneering new experiences for dancers and artists worldwide. 

  

Gisele Silva

Gisele Silva (Dance Captain/Dancer) is a distinguished performing artist, choreographer, and educator from Brazil, renowned for her versatility in tap dance, jazz, modern dance and Afro-Brazilian movement. As Dance Captain of the internationally acclaimed Syncopated Ladies, she has graced major stages worldwide. Silva’s extensive credits include “Spirited” (Apple TV+), The White House, CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast, NBA Halftime Shows, BET Awards and Rock in Rio. Featured in Dance Magazine and Forbes Brasil, she starred as Clara in Dorrance Dance’s The Nutcracker Suite (2023-2024). Gisele has performed at prestigious venues, including The Kennedy Center, The Joyce Theater, The Miller Theater, The Guggenheim and New York City Center. As a teaching artist, she has taught for numerous tap festivals and conventions all over the world. She also teaches for Chloé and Maud Foundation after school programs in her home base city of Los Angeles, CA. With her extensive performance experience, leadership roles and commitment to arts education, Gisele Silva continues to be an influential voice in the global dance community. 

Cecily

Cecily (Songstress) Vocalist and songwriter Cecily is known for her agile soprano and honest lyrics. The Washington, DC native has a rich, soothing sound rooted in mid-century Soul and Jazz. Often drawing comparisons to Minnie Riperton and Amel Larrieux, her music is imbued with a unique sensuality that informs not only her vocal approach but also her self-reflecting lyrics. Cecily has been heralded for her poetic writing style. Grounded in an easy vulnerability, her lyrics speak of deep lessons around self-acceptance, freedom, community and love. Her current album Awakening Pt. II, released July 26th, was directly inspired by Black Feminist writer bell hook’s text All About Love. The eight-track album explores unconditional love and its transformative power. Going beyond the romantic, Cecily delves into what hooks calls a “love ethic,” with songs navigating familial love, self-love, divine love and love of the Earth. 

Ki’Leigh Williams

Ki’Leigh Williams (Dancer) a midwestern native from Indiana began her professional dance career at the age of 10 performing and touring with the off- Broadway show, Tap Kids. After touring for 8 years, she graduated from Marion High school and began her studies at Point Park University. Ki’Leigh played for the Point Park Women’s soccer team, majored in Forensic Science with a minor in Chemistry and Biology all while teaching Tap & Hip-Hop for their community classes and International Summer Dance Intensive. The big move came in 2014, when she left for the west coast. Upon moving to Los Angeles, Kileigh began teaching tap & hip-hop industry styles at Movement Lifestyle, Millennium Dance Complex & Motus the Company. She is also the founder and creative director of the all-female dance collective, The Gentle Ladies. Ki’Leigh recently performed as a feature cast member in Ayodele Casel’s Diary of a Tap Dancer at the American Repertory Theatre. She’s featured as a dancer on projects with Usher, Adam Levine, Big Boi, Jesse McCartney and Aluna George. Ki’Leigh also worked with Cirque Di Soleil and has been seen on Disney+: “Encore”, “Spirited” on Apple + and in the short length Remy Martin film, “Team Up For Excellence”. She’s super excited to be along for her third Syncopated Ladies tour! 

Delaney Prescott

Delaney Prescott (Dancer) An OC native dancer and instructor, Delaney has toured through the USA with Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies and can be seen in some of their recent viral videos covering “On My Mama” and “Float”. Performance credits include Michelle Dorrance & Friends as a featured special guest, the Emmy Awards Governors Ball, Pasadena Dance Festival, Laguna Dance Festival along with countless other dance festivals and competitions throughout the country. 

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