The Work
Signature Work
In The Pocket
An award-winning, interdisciplinary one-woman show by Hillary-Marie
Trailer coming soon
In The Pocket transforms the void of silence into a world brimming with music, movement, and magic.
Weaving together foot, body, and vocal percussion to turn both stage and audience into a living instrument, Hillary-Marie shares her story, beginning with the drum lessons her father gave her. And from there, she traces how she found tap dance, threading in the history and oral tradition of the art form.
Celebrated for its fusion of choreography, storytelling, live improvisation, and comedic timing, In The Pocket invites audiences into rhythm. Not just to hear it, but to feel it, breathe it, and experience it together.
Developed during her 2019 to 2022 fellowship at NJPAC.
At a glance
- Solo show for theaters, festivals and schools
- Run time: 45 minutes
- Tech: sprung wooden tap dance floor (min. 6’ x 4’), 2 floor mics, 1 wireless headset mic, 2 monitors
Supported by
- Mid Atlantic Arts
- NJPAC
- NJ State Council on the Arts
- Dance New Jersey
For fans of
- STOMP
- Savion Glover
- Bobby McFerrin
Collaborations
A sought-after collaborator, Hillary-Marie has shared the stage with music greats across jazz, a cappella, folk, flamenco, and symphonic worlds, always as one more voice in the band.
Video coming soon
Live stage & recordings
- Take 6 Grammy Award-Winning A Cappella Group
- Big Bad VooDoo Daddy Grammy-Nominated Band
- Wycliffe Gordon Award-Winning Trombonist
- Marvin Hamlisch Award-Winning Composer
- Nat Adderley, Jr. Pianist and Arranger
- New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
- Princeton Symphony Orchestra
- American Tap Dance Foundation Tony Waag
- Carolyn Dorfman Dance Up Close & Personal
- Heather Cornell Manhattan Tap Repertoire
- Roxane Butterfly New Dance Alliance
- Boston Tap Company Rhythm in the Night
- LayeRhythm Mai Lê Hô
- 1 More Than 2 Lynn Schwab, Jenn Rose
- JC Hopkins Biggish Band
- Emily Braden Vocalist
- Nancy Harmes Vocalist
- Ami Madeleine Folk Singer-Songwriter
- Jennifer Vincent Bassist
- Willerm Delisfort Pianist
- Mark G. Meadows Pianist
- Vincent Pierce Smith Percussionist
- Gabriel Hermida Flamenco Guitarist
- Mark Martin Champion Beatboxer
Educator
Hillary-Marie is widely regarded as a teacher of teachers. For nearly two decades she has taught tap dancers and dance educators across four continents, pairing the craft of the art form with its history and oral tradition.
Her teaching is built on two frameworks she developed: The 5 Fundamentals of Tap Dance and The Fundamental Fusion Approach.
At a glance
- Founder of iTapOnline.com (since 2016), educating more than 350 tap dancers and tap teachers monthly
- Creator of the iTap Teacher Certificate Program, training hundreds of educators annually
- Founder of Jersey Tap Fest (2010–2020)
- Director, FutureSTEP Tap Company (2016–2023)
- Co-Founder of Grooves Unlimited Dance Studio (2012–2023)
Signature classes
Rhythm Remix
Footwork, flow, and feel. This class remixes rhythms in real time, building fluid movement and a deeper connection to the music.
Body, Voice, Feet: One Instrument
Footwork, vocal rhythm and movement come together as one connected instrument. A playful way to experience music from head to toe.
Improve Your Improv
Playful exercises using body percussion, voice and feet build confidence, listening skills and the joy of creating in the moment.
Available for booking
- Master classes and workshops for all levels
- Teacher training and professional development for dance and music educators
- School and community residencies
- Lecture demonstrations on tap history
“Cannot say enough about Hillary-Marie’s program. Thought I was doing something for myself but realize the gift will truly be given to my students as I pass on this info.”
Nicole Messina
iTapOnline Programs
Any level. Anytime. Anywhere.
The iTapOnline Studio
Access high-quality tap tutorials, anytime, anywhere, at every level.
The iTap Teacher Certificate Program
A 10-week structured summer training to become the best tap teacher you can be.
The iTap Teacher Retreat
An intimate, in-studio weekend to reconnect with your artistry, your people, and your purpose.
Featured Artist & Faculty
- Anguilla Jazz Boat Anguilla
- Big Apple Tap Festival New York
- Body Rhythm Hamburg Germany
- BOGOTap Festival Colombia
- Brazil International Tap Festival Brazil
- Centro De Danza Honduras
- Cien Ritmos un Paso Guatemala
- Claque Tap Spain
- Costa Rica Open Dance Fest Costa Rica
- CTTap Collective Connecticut
- Dance For All Scotland
- Dance On The Lawn New Jersey
- Escola Luthier de Dansa Spain
- House of Hoofing Sweden
- International Body Music Festival Greece
- JAM Project Maryland
- Jimmy Slyde Institute Spain
- Knock on Wood Tap Studio Washington D.C.
- The Krazy Tap Taiwan
- LaJam Spain
- Lindy Focus North Carolina
- London Tap Academy UK
- Luthier Tap Festival Spain
- MadTap Spain
- Mallorca Tap Festival Spain
- NADAA Greater NY Chapter New Jersey
- New Dance Alliance NYC
- NJHS Dance Festival New Jersey
- Old Kent Road UK
- Orlando Tap Festival Florida
- Paris Tap Crew France
- Philly Tap Challenge Pennsylvania
- Resonance Tap Convention U.S. tour
- Rock City Tap Fest Ohio
- Swim Out Costa Brava Spain
- Tanzhaus Tap Ahead Festival Germany
- Westobou Festival Georgia
- When Waves Collide New Jersey
Universities
- Augusta University Georgia
- Drew University New Jersey
- Fairleigh Dickinson University New Jersey
- Hofstra University New York
- Long Island University New York
- Montclair State University New Jersey