Featured Performers — Under The Big Tent Festival

Long Island Latin Movement

Long Island Latin Movement is a welcoming Latin dance studio based in Bay Shore, NY, specializing in New York Style Salsa On2 and Bachata. They are dedicated to building a strong local dance community by providing high-quality classes, social events, workshops, and dance experiences for dancers of all levels. Their doors are open to people of all ages, cultures, races, and backgrounds, creating an inclusive environment where everyone can feel welcome. Through dance, they strive to help people discover a new passion, build confidence, form lasting friendships, and experience the joy and connection that Latin dance brings to the community.

Patty Zak is the founder and owner of Long Island Latin Movement. Originally from Poland, she began dancing at the age of 10, training in jazz, modern, and hip-hop before ultimately discovering her passion for Latin dance. Today, she specializes in New York Style Salsa On2 and Bachata and is dedicated to sharing her love of dance with others. Through her teaching, Patty strives to create an inclusive and welcoming community where people of all ages, cultures, races, and backgrounds can build confidence, develop their skills, and experience the joy of social dancing.

Chip Williford, Suffolk County Poet Laureate

Suffolk County Poet Laureate Chip Williford is the Director and Co-Host of Poetry Street (A Room Without a Roof, Where Every Voice Is Heard) in Riverhead, NY. He promotes poetry through workshops and presentations and gives a new voice to projects he wants to create, tapping into his expansive creative background in television and production, to expand the landscape of the spoken word. Chip describes his work, “I write from my heart. I write about my childhood. I write about people I don’t even know. I think that poetry is a way to communicate when you can’t really say the words or tell the whole truth of what is happening. When you can’t talk about abuse or can’t talk about mistreatment, poetry helps to get those feelings out.”

Chip will perform alongside Lora Rene Tucker and Mary Seymour for a poetry reading of “Idea of America”, Written by Chip Williford, Directed by Mary Seymour, Original Music by Kenny Seymour.

Idea of America is a central piece of creative advocacy, and is evolving from four stand alone poems into a full-scale multimedia open-source project, and multimedia poetry play, which centers on the gap between America’s ideas of liberty and equality and the lived reality, true for many marginalized communities. It is a tapestry blending live poetry, visual projections and musical scores highlighting the rhythmic evolution from personal trauma to national hope.

Apple and Tree

Vocals by Apple and Tree, Tammy Dorsa and Kaylin Zeidler

Tamralynn Dorsa is excited to be a part of this year’s Big Tent event! She has been performing in theaters all over Long Island for the past 30 years. Her favorite roles include: Belinda/Flavia in NOISES OFF!, Emma in JEKYLL & HYDE, Dorothy Brock in 42nd STREET, Guenevere in CAMELOT, Cinderella in INTO THE WOODS, Fantine in LES MISERABLES and Maria in THE SOUND OF MUSIC. She is also the IB Theatre teacher at Bay Shore High School, and the proud mother of two very talented theatre kids, one of whom will be performing alongside her Under the Big Tent.

Kaylin Zeidler is no stranger to the stage, as she is both an actor and a musician. Her favorite theatrical roles include: Ursula in THE LITTLE MERMAID, Anya in ANASTASIA, Rizzo in Grease, Rusty in FOOTLOOSE, and Matron “Mama” Morton in CHICAGO. She also plays 4 musical instruments, and is attending the Manhattan School of Music this Summer for music performance.

Mise Eire Irish Dancers

Cead Mile Failte! A Hundred Thousand Welcomes! We are the Mise Eire Irish Dancers from Babylon, New York, under the direction of Patti Love, TCRG!

"Mise Eire" is Gaelic for "I am Ireland" and is the title of a famous Irish poem by Padraic Pearse. We believe that each dancer - beginner or advanced, young or old - embodies the rich culture of Ireland with every step he or she takes on the dance floor.

At Mise Eire, we believe in a healthy, fun approach to Irish dance. During classes, our dancers learn dance skills, techniques, and steps, which are woven together with the concepts of self-awareness, positive self-esteem, and the value and importance of team work. In an increasingly multicultural world it is essential for our children to develop an understanding of cultural art forms. It is our hope that by teaching them to love Irish dance, we are helping to foster a greater appreciation for other cultures as well.

Project MOVE

Project MOVE is an inclusive cultural arts organization designed to expand access to high-quality arts education for youth impacted by trauma, poverty, and systemic barriers.

Oya Bangura, M.A. is the Co-Founder and Director of Education and Outreach for Project MOVE where her leadership includes curriculum development, grant-funded initiatives, parent and educator training, and the creation of inclusive performance opportunities that prioritize dignity, accessibility, and authentic student expression. Oya’s work lives at the intersection of movement, culture, and purpose, grounded in the belief that the arts are not enrichment, but essential tools for healing, connection, and social change.

Thomas McKenna has been playing drums (primarily Djembe) and drum set for most of his life. He was a student of the late Master Djembefola Mamady Keita, attended his Ethno-Music college with an emphasis in Malinke cultural dance/music. In addition, Thomas has performed, studied, traveled workshopped with numerous Djembefola's and Master Dancers from Guinea.

JLR Dance Unlimited

JLR Dance Unlimited was established in 2017. We specialize in Ballroom and Latin Dance for Kids, Teens and Adults, teaching in Bay Shore & Surrounding Areas Dance 'With A Twist'. We offer programs, group classes, adult walk-in classes & more! Our classes extend out to also include ballet, hip-hop & tap. With a focus on the community in mind, our motto is to "Dance Without Limits". We are continually expanding to offer unlimited dance, fun, & growth!

Mary Seymour’s Musique

Tatiana Cook is a background dancer for Musique who has been training in many different genres of dance since the age of two. She began choreographing her own pieces during her undergraduate career in 2013, and is currently teaching dance classes at 3D Dance Studios LLC. Most recently she earned her MBA from Stony Brook University which allows her to add a different element to her dance classes, and helps her understand the dance industry from different perspectives . Tatiana hopes to develop her own dance program in the future and encourage today’s youth to not only be the best dancer they can be , but also to become a person of integrity, confidence and self-worth !