Madison Hilligoss is a New York City–based performing artist, choreographer, and educatorwhose work bridges rhythm, storytelling, and community. With a background in music, theatre, and dance—and a deep love for the jazz tradition—Madison’s work celebrates musicality, individuality, and the expressive power of rhythm.

Madison began their professional career performing in the reimagined 42nd Street, choreographed by Jared Grimes, who has since become a mentor and frequent collaborator. They now work alongside Grimes as an associate and assistant choreographer on a range of projects for stage and film.

A Summa Cum Laude graduate of NYU Steinhardt (B.S. in Teaching), in 2022 Madison graduated with initial NYS teaching certification and served as a Junior Editor for Mercer Street, in addition to performing with Pulse Dance Project and their college a cappella group. They were a dancer and student choreographer for the Jacob’s Pillow Tap Program (’21) and made their Off-Broadway debut in The Tap Dance Kid at New York City Center during their senior year.

As a performer, Madison has appeared as a tap soloist on TV: CBS 60 Minutes alongside Greta Gerwig, as a soloist with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and as a soloist at the inaugural Northern Michigan Dance Festival. They have been trusted by Ayodele Casel, Torya Beard, Melanie George, and Josh Prince to dance for and rehearsal direct multiple Choreographic Labs through Dance Lab New York, and are often sought after for their collaborative sensibility in creative processes (Select pre-production dance credits include work on Funny Girl (Broadway, Ayodele Casel), The Performance (Film, Jared Grimes), and numerous collaborations with Dario Natarelli). Their most notable associate/assistant choreography credits include Lights Out: Nat King Cole (New York Theatre Workshop, Lucille Lortel Winner for Best Choreography), Anything Goes (The Muny), and White Christmas (Bucks County Playhouse).

As a choreographer, Madison’s work merges musical theatre and percussive dance, blending rhythm and narrative with nuance and theatricality. Their early choreographic explorations include the short films The Glory of Love, The Form, and I Can’t Help It. As an artist in residence with the American Tap Dance Foundation, Madison developed their first narrative short film By Cut or Caress. In 2025, they made their Off-Broadway choreographic debut with Machinal at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Stage II at New York City Center.

Madison is a passionate educator and lifelong learner, with specialized training in teaching students with disabilities and English language learners. Their teaching work includes NYC Public Schools, A Free Bird (providing arts education to children affected by cancer), numerous recreational and competition dance studios across the tri-state area, Tap Dance Central, and Broadway Dance Center, where they served on tap faculty for 4 years.

Through all facets of their work, Madison celebrates tap dance as both a living, evolving contemporary art form and a vital American tradition. More on their work here.

Madison is currently based in Brooklyn, NY.

In 2026 so far, they’ve been seen performing as Snoopy in a Vince Guaraldi Symphonic Concert World Premiere with the Seattle Symphony, performing in multi-disciplinary works with The Why Collective, rehearsal directing the Rooted Jazz Lab for DLNY, and performing across Northern Michigan with Traverse City Dance Project x Charlie Millard Band.

Madison is currently making a music video (as Creative/Movement Director, Producer). Read more about it here!

Next Up:

• December 2026: On tour with Gershwin Entertainment’s Charlie Brown Christmas Symphonic Tour (Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, LA, St. Louis) as Snoopy!

• Fall/Winter 2026-27: Associate Choreographer to Jared Grimes on an upcoming Feature Film!

• Spring 2027: Choreographing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Tufts University!

To stay up to date, follow @madisonhilligoss on instagram and subscribe to Madison’s Newsletter!