Tapestry Dance Company will bring the 25th Annual Soul 2 Sole Festival to the Long Center June 17–21, filling the week with rhythm, artistry and a final bow for this beloved celebration.
After the unexpected cancellation of the 2025 festival due to rescinded NEA funding, this year marks both a long-awaited return and a poignant finale. The 2026 edition will be the final Soul 2 Sole Festival, closing out a groundbreaking quarter-century legacy that has shaped, elevated and championed the art of tap around the globe.
“For 25 years, Soul 2 Sole has been a gathering place for master artists, emerging dancers and tap lovers from around the world,” said Acia Gray, Tapestry Dance founder and artistic director. “Though it’s bittersweet to say farewell, this final festival is a celebration of everything and everyone who has contributed to this incredible journey. The rhythm lives on in every dancer who has shared the Soul 2 Sole experience.”
This internationally recognized festival brings together artists, students and audiences for an immersive week of rhythm, artistry and community. Participants will experience the signature mix of technique classes, improvisational sessions and conversations that have defined Soul 2 Sole for decades. Guiding this exploration of tap dance as a living, evolving art form are some of today’s most celebrated artists: Dianne Walker, Acia Gray, Brinae Ali, Nicholas Young, Luke Hickey, Elizabeth Burke, Jeremy Arnold and tap historian Margaret Morrison.
Beyond festival week, Soul 2 Sole will extend its reach with additional classes and workshops planned this summer, giving dancers of all levels the opportunity to continue their training with world-class faculty. More information will be available at Tapestry.org “The rhythm of Soul 2 Sole has never been contained to a single week,” Gray said. “We will have additional classes and workshops planned this summer, so the learning doesn’t stop when the festival does. This is your chance to go deep with artists who have shaped tap for gen- erations.”
Live music remains at the heart of the Soul 2 Sole experience, with festival performances accompanied by the Soul 2 Sole Jazz Trio: Masumi Jones on drums, Angelo Lembesis on piano and Dylan Jones on bass.
As one of only two still-existing and among the oldest tap festivals in the world, Soul 2 Sole has endured while many others across the United States have succumbed to financial challenges, shifting funding landscapes and changes in arts ecosystems. Its legacy reflects a rich lineage of tap innovators, advocates and educators who have passed through its studios and stages.
While the Soul 2 Sole Festival takes its final bow, Tapestry Dance Company’s commitment to tap dance continues year-round. The company will maintain its successful tap dance classes and its popular monthly Tap Jam sessions, which remain a vital gathering place for dancers, musicians and audiences. These ongoing programs ensure that the spirit, rhythm and community cultivated through Soul 2 Sole will continue to thrive in Austin and beyond.
At the core of the 2026 festival are two dynamic concerts at the Long Center, open to the general public.
Participants’ Showcase on Friday, June at 8 p.m. An energetic evening featuring auditioned works by festival participants, blended with performances by this year’s distinguished guest artists and the Soul 2 Sole Jazz Trio.
Friends in Time – Faculty Performance on Saturday, June 20 at 8 p.m. A powerful, reflective finale featuring solos, improvisation and musical interplay from the 2026 faculty and musicians, honoring the artistic friendships and creative exchanges that have defined Soul 2 Sole for a generation.
“Each night will be a celebration of the spirit that has driven Soul 2 Sole for 25 years,” Gray said. “It’s an opportunity for audiences to experience the depth, joy and artistry of tap one more time on the Long Center stage.”
Soul 2 Sole is supported in part by an Austin Live Music Fund Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment.
As a Long Center Resident Company, Tapestry is a professional, non-profit organization founded in 1989 by Acia Gray and Deirdre Strand for the purpose of developing a foundation in multi-form dance and music performance and education. For over 35 years, the critically acclaimed events and programs of Tapestry Dance have included more than 68 full length world premiere concerts.
Awarded best ensemble, best dancer, best choreographer and other honors by The Austin Critic’s Table Awards, Tapestry is also listed on the TCA Touring Roster.
