Andrew Nemr is one of the most diverse tap dance artists today. An international performer, choreographer, educator and speaker, Andrew has played with Grammy Award winning musicians across multiple genres, founded and directed the tap dance company Cats Paying Dues, and co-founded the Tap Legacy™ Foundation, Inc., along with his mentor Gregory Hines.
The artists Andrew has shared the stage with is a venerable list of whose who, including Jazz greats Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Hank Jones, James Carter, and John Faddis, Harry Connick Jr., the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, and the legendary Les Paul. Similarly, his collaborators are an eclectic group of extreme talent including Nat Adderley, Jr., hammered dulcimer virtuoso Max ZT and House of Waters, cellist Dave Eggar, percussionist Susie Ibarra, and visual artist Mako Fujimura. Andrew was a member of the roots band Holler Jake, and recorded on their debut record, The Wakening (2018). Nemr is also recorded on the Grammy nominated recording Itsbynne Reel by Dave Eggar, the DVD Documentary and companion album Tuesdays at Mona’s by Mona’s Hot Four, and narrates the DanceTime Publications DVD, Tap Dance History: From Vaudeville to Film.
Andrew began the Tap Dance Freedom platform for tap dance education in 2013 hosting online and in-person events, pop-up workshops and intensives, and 1:1 coaching for tap dancers around the world. Andrew was the key consultant in the expansion of the tap dance program at McBurney YMCA (NYC), and took on the role of Executive and Artistic Director of the Vancouver Tap Dance Society during 2018-2020 seasons.
An avid speaker, Nemr combines the story of his personal journey and the craft of tap dance to speak about identity, community, faith, and love. He has presented on Fellow’s Stage at TED, at numerous TEDx’s (TEDxCERN, TEDxPuraVida, TEDxChemungRiver, TEDxSetonHall), Wheaton College, International Arts Movement’s INHABIT Conference, the Gospel and Work Conference, Laity Lodge, the Future of Storytelling and the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
In his efforts to continue to champion the art form of tap dance, Andrew co-founded the Tap Legacy™ Foundation, Inc., along with Gregory Hines. The Foundation has produced numerous events, including tap dance festivals, and the New York City Celebration of the National Tap Dance Day, while developing tools that will support the oral tradition of tap dance through times of cultural and social change. These tools include a digital social archive, a traveling exhibit, and a series of online resources.
Andrew holds a BFA in Computer Art from the School of Visuals Arts, is certified in the Active-Isolated Flexibility System by the Wharton Performance Group, and is a card-carrying honorary member of the original Copasetics, Inc.