Colburn Announces Appointment of Melinda Sullivan as Chair of Trudl Zipper Dance Institute Tap Department

(Friday, August 7, 2026, Los Angeles)  – The Colburn School is pleased to announce that Melinda Sullivan, a celebrated tap dancer, choreographer, performer, and educator, has been appointed Chair of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute (TZDI) Tap Department. In this role Sullivan joins the TZDI leadership team of Janie Taylor, Artistic Director, and Gavin Kelley, Administrative Director, as they prepare for the opening of Colburn’s Frank Gehry-designed campus expansion in fall 2027. Sullivan succeeds Denise Scheerer, who will transition from her role as Chair of the Tap Department at the end of the 2025–26 academic year to lead the Musical Theatre program in Colburn’s Community School.

Melinda Sullivan is a Los Angeles–based tap dancer, choreographer, performer, and educator whose work spans film, television, theater, and live performance. Sullivan has served on Colburn’s faculty for the past fifteen years as a tap dance instructor. As Chair of the Tap Department she will oversee tap dance, hip hop and jazz dance for TZDI and oversee Colburn’s annual Tap Fest. An award-winning choreographer, she was the first woman and first tap dancer to receive the Capezio A.C.E. Award and has been recognized by Dance Magazine‘s “25 to Watch.” Melinda is an Artistic Associate with Dorrance Dance, premiering choreography with the company at the Joyce and Jacob’s Pillow. She collaborates with Grammy-nominated pianist Larry Goldings on original interdisciplinary works and teaches internationally, championing tap dance through performance, choreography, and education while honoring its rich musical heritage. Her professional credits include Being the Ricardos, La La Land, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Glee, and Broadway’s Flying Over Sunset.

Denise Scheerer has not only led the tap program with distinction for 15 years, but has also shaped it into a dynamic, musically grounded and artistically rigorous community. As chair, she cultivated a faculty of exceptional artists, developed performances and initiatives that highlight tap as both dance and music, and mentored countless students with care, discipline, and joy.

As Chair of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute Tap Department, Sullivan will build upon the foundation Scheerer has established, expanding opportunities for artistic excellence and mentorship for dancers at all levels. Her longstanding commitment to Colburn, combined with her extensive experience across performance, choreography, and education, will help shape the next chapter of the School’s tap program.

Colburn’s campus expansion will more than double the footprint of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute. The new facility will include four oversized dance studios, one of which is a specialized tap studio, and a flexible, sophisticated studio theater for rehearsal or performance, with seating for up to 100 and built-in theatrical lighting. The tap studio will be named for Denise Scheerer, honoring her longtime leadership as chair of the Tap Department. The campus expansion also features a stunning 1,000-seat in-the-round concert hall named for Terri and Jerry Kohl, which can be configured for dance performances and includes an orchestra pit.

“Melinda Sullivan is an integral part of the Colburn family and it is a joy to welcome her into this leadership role,” said Janie Taylor, Artistic Director, TZDI. “As both an extraordinary artist and a dedicated educator, she has already made a profound impact on our students and our community. Melinda is one of the most visionary and influential tap artists of her generation. Her appointment reflects both the strength of the foundation she has helped build and our excitement for the future of the tap program under her leadership.”

“I am honored to step into this role at a place that has been my artistic home for the past fifteen years. Colburn has given me the opportunity to grow as both an educator and an artist, and it is a privilege to work with such extraordinary students and colleagues. I am especially grateful to Denise Scheerer, whose leadership, generosity, and unwavering commitment have shaped the Tap Department into a vibrant community and inspired generations of dancers. I’m also very excited for the possibilities ahead with Colburn’s campus expansion, which reflects the School’s investment in tap as a vital art form.”

Please visit https://colburnschool.edu/youth-dance-programs/dance/ to learn more and purchase tickets.

About Melinda Sullivan
Melinda Sullivan is a Los Angeles-based tap dancer, choreographer, performer, and educator with a diverse career spanning dance, television, film, and theater. She trained under the Jazz Tap Ensemble, California Dance Theater, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Jason Samuels Smith, and the late Dr. Harold Cromer, developing a deep appreciation for tap dance’s history, musicality, and artistic possibilities.

Best known for her groundbreaking appearances on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, Melinda was the first tap dancer to reach the Top 10 and later returned as the show’s first tap All-Star. Her film and television credits include La La Land, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Academy Awards, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and Disney+’s Encore, where she served as an on-camera choreographer.

As a performer, Melinda has toured with Disney’s High School Musical franchise, the 25th Anniversary Tour of Cats, and Jason Samuels Smith’s tap dance company, Anybody Can Get It (ACGI). She has also performed with the Syncopated Ladies, Postmodern Jukebox, and collaborated as a guest artist with Dorrance Dance, premiering new work at The Joyce Theater and Jacob’s Pillow.

An award-winning choreographer, Melinda was the first woman and first tap dancer to receive the Capezio A.C.E. Award. She is also the recipient of a World Dance Award for Best Choreography (Television Episodic) and was recognized by Dance Magazine as one of its prestigious “25 to Watch.” Her choreography has been presented at Birdland Jazz Club, Pasadena Dance Festival, REDCAT, the Blue Whale, and the Alvin Ailey Theater. Melinda made her Broadway choreographic debut at Lincoln Center as the associate choreographer on James Lapine’s new musical “Flying Over Sunset”.

In addition to her work as a performer and choreographer, Melinda is one half of an innovative creative partnership with Grammy-nominated musician and composer Larry Goldings. Together, they create original works that blend tap dance, jazz, electronic music, and storytelling into performances that are both inventive and joyful. Their debut album, Big Foot, released on Colorfield Records, explores the rhythmic and melodic possibilities of tap dance through an imaginative fusion of jazz and electronic soundscapes. Their newest album, Music Grows on Trees, is a collection of original children’s music inspired by Melinda’s experiences as both a professional artist and the mother of two.

Passionate about education and mentorship, Melinda teaches, performs, and choreographs internationally at tap festivals, universities, and dance institutions. She has served on faculty at the Colburn School in Los Angeles for the past 15 years, done guest teaching at institutions like Harvard and UCLA, and headlined tap dance festivals in Tokyo, Sydney, and Dubrovnik.

Committed to presenting tap dance in innovative theatrical settings while honoring its authentic roots and musical heritage, Melinda continues to create work that bridges tradition and contemporary performance. Whether on stage, on screen, in the recording studio, or in the classroom, she is dedicated to expanding the possibilities of tap dance for audiences of all ages. Her original choreography, performances, and collaborations can also be found on her YouTube channel and Instagram.
About Colburn School

A performing arts institution located in the heart of Los Angeles, the COLBURN SCHOOL trains students from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers. The academic units of the School provide a complete spectrum of music and dance education united by a single philosophy: that all who desire to study music or dance should have access to top-level instruction.

  • The diploma- and degree-granting Conservatory of Music is distinguished by a unique all-scholarship model, renowned faculty, and outstanding performance opportunities. It prepares the very highest level of collegiate musicians for professional careers.
  • The Music Academy is a highly selective training program for gifted young pre-collegiate musicians, designed to prepare students for conservatory study and performing careers at the highest levels of achievement. This residential program balances performance, musical instruction, and academics.
  • The Community School of Performing Arts welcomes students of all ages, from seven months old to adults. It offers more than 120 classes each year in orchestral instruments, piano, guitar, voice, jazz, music theory, drama, and ensembles including orchestra, choir, and chamber music.
  • The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute develops performers of all levels, from aspiring professionals in the Dance Academy to beginners starting in Youth Dance. Students of all levels receive training in ballet, tap, and modern genres as part of a comprehensive dance education.
  • Created to serve all units of the School, the Center for Innovation and Community Impact empowers the musical and dance leaders of tomorrow by nurturing students’ passion and ability to serve their communities, preparing them for sustainable careers, and embracing the development of new ideas. The Center embodies Colburn’s commitment to developing young artists with the curiosity, skills, and commitment to make a difference in their field.

Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to Colburn to benefit from the renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community.

In 2024, the Colburn School broke ground on a transformational campus expansion designed by Frank Gehry. Located across the street from the School’s existing campus at the intersection of Olive and Second Streets, the building will enable the School to expand its mission of presenting programs for the public. Gehry’s design includes a 1,000-seat in-the-round concert hall named for Terri and Jerry Kohl, five professional-sized dance studios including a 100-seat studio theater, and gardens that bring fresh air and green spaces to the downtown landscape. The expansion will more than double the facilities for the School’s Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, creating one of the most comprehensive dance education complexes in Southern California.

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