Meet Andrew Nemr

We recently connected with Andrew Nemr and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?

I really believe that I can only give what I’ve received. Whatever generosity I have, I first experienced with my parents. They were both extremely generous – giving beyond their capacity to me and others. I’m very thankful for the model I received growing up, and still have had to journey to work out what generosity would look like for me. Now, I experience generosity in the same way I primarily experience love – through my experience of God, as specifically revealed by the life of Jesus Christ. It is from this core experience that I’ve come to see the things I’ve been given (including finances, energy, time, and attention) as things to be held loosely and shared as widely as possible, but I’m still learning.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

As a tap dance artist I see the craft of tap dance fundamentally as a vehicle for individual and community formation. Whether through expression, storytelling, or interaction, tap dance has a beautiful way of engaging play, discovery, and transformation. I’ve lived this, and through the creation of original work in theater, music, visual arts, and even interactive installations, I aim to share this experience. Over the years my work has converged around imagining unique worlds, crossing cultures, and unifying audiences. All of these attributes may be found in my most recent piece: Dark Night. This 12-hour solo improvised tap dance is designed to bring the idea of the dark night of the soul to life – something common to many, but unique in its individual experience – inviting visitors to encounter, reflect on, and honor the choice to endure. There is a lot that can be said about Dark Night, but as with most things in the performing arts, it’s better experienced. Dark Night is a free event and premieres August 8, 2025 (in-person and live-streamed).

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, I had three things that helped continue to fuel my creative journey. One was joy. The idea that I could be good at something; the joy of play and discovery especially through improvisation; and the sense that regardless of whatever else was happening I felt okay when I tap danced – these I experienced and all fueled my pursuit. Another was love. I was trained primarily through apprenticeship, and the amount of care and consideration I received from my teachers shaped my care and consideration for the craft, colleagues, students, and audiences. When I encountered a teacher that was hurtful – which I did – I had enough reference to take the experience for what it was: a painful encounter of what apprenticeship would turn into if love wasn’t in the midst. Lastly, I had constraints. I was younger and physically less developed than most of my contemporaries. I felt like a cultural outsider in most of the groups I interacted with. I was also primarily around dancers who were much better than me –more experienced, knowledgeable, and accomplished. These constraints and challenges gave me something to work with and work towards. Without them there I would not have learned creativity the way I did.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

There are a number of books that have influenced me deeply along my journey. The one that is most present for me know is the Dark Night of the Soul, by St. John of the Cross, which I have recently returned to. John of the Cross was a monk who was writing in the 1500s, and coined the term “Dark Night of the Soul.” The book describes a particular perspective on the experiences we have when the things we use to orient ourselves to the world are stripped away – often without warning or preparation – and we experience disorientation, disillusionment, and grief. John of the Cross proposes that these experiences are part of a natural and necessary journey of formation (of becoming a particular kind of person) and may be invitations. He describes the journey for the person who chooses to endure the real pain and suffering of such things as a pathway toward union with Love. When I first read this vision, it completely shifted how I thought of the challenging experiences of “darkness” or “blindness.” As I’ve returned to the book, the shift continues (that’s a mark of a good book for me). The vision captured my imagination to such a degree that I’ve dedicated a significant portion of my work towards publicly exploring it through my creative work.

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Image Credits

Bear Gutierrez
Lila Hoffman
Basilio González

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