LEADERSHIP
HDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEECKEL BEECHER
Meeckel (ME-kel) Beecher (he, him, his) is a social impact, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and communications leader with more than 12 years of experience helping corporations achieve their purpose.
He is currently the Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Shutterstock.
Meeckel has a record of providing strategic communications leadership support to board members and executives across museums, sports, infrastructure, education, and telecommunications industries. He currently operates a communications consultancy firm that provides communications support for organizations focused on equity and justice work in developing countries.
Meeckel is a former dance member, dancing with companies such as Laud Dance Company in Jamaica, and has a history of supporting and participating in community dance programs.
JOHN CLAYTON DOYLE, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
John Clayton Doyle is a multi-disciplinary artist at the crossroads of dance and film. He is known for his use movement, casting that blends professional and non professional talent, experimental storytelling and overall authenticity.
John’s movement work has been presented at Parque Lage (Brazil), Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, The Brooklyn Museum, Alvin Ailey Citibank Theater, Joe’s Pub, Clemente Soto Velez, and informally shown at many nightclubs around the world.
John is an award-winning filmmaker whose debut feature “I’m An Electric Lampshade" has won dozens of awards at festivals and critical accolades including "One of the more jaw-dropping debuts you'll ever see." by San Francisco's KQED. The music-centric film was shot in the United States, Mexico and the Philippines with an international cast and crew.
ABBY GILLER, SECRETARY
Abby Giller has been a part of Harlem Dance club since 2017 and an integral part of the organization’s growth. Her roles have included Producer for Harlem Dance Club’s MOTHERSHIP Festival, where she also performed multiple dance styles, from Praise to West African. All of which she loves. She also serves as Director of Leadership, overseeing HDC Leaders, a group of passionate volunteers who are the heart of the organization.
Professionally, Abby is a public school teacher currently teaching for the Department of Education in the Bronx. She loves to bring dance into everything she does including choreographing the school musical when possible.
TANESHA HARRIGAN, VICE CHAIR
Tanesha Harrigan is a dedicated community advocate whose work is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to service. A natural connector and bridge-builder, she has devoted her life to creating environments where individuals feel supported, empowered, and equipped to reach their fullest potential.
Tanesha is widely recognized for her ability to develop meaningful programs that uplift youth, strengthen families, and enrich neighborhoods. Her vast skill set includes strategic planning, program design, community engagement, leadership development, event coordination, and partnership cultivation. With a keen understanding of the needs within under-resourced communities, she brings a thoughtful, people-centered approach to every initiative she leads.
A gifted communicator and organizer, Tanesha excels at mobilizing diverse groups of individuals toward common goals. She is known for her authenticity, her collaborative spirit, and her talent for transforming ideas into impactful action. Her work consistently reflects her belief that strong communities are built through service, equity, and shared responsibility.
Deeply passionate about empowering others, Tanesha uses her voice, vision, and influence to advocate for access, opportunity, and holistic well-being. Her leadership is rooted in empathy and integrity, and she remains committed to cultivating spaces where all people, especially young people can thrive, grow, and feel seen.
At her core, Tanesha is a servant leader whose heart for community continues to inspire transformation, connection, and hope wherever she goes.
TESSIE TOPOL, CHAIR
Tessie Topol is the Chair and Co-Founder of Harlem Dance Club. She has deep experience advising foundations, corporations and non-profits on strategy, positioning, thought leadership, and cross-sector partnership development, which she does through her independent advising practice, Topol Consulting. She brings a wealth of hands on experience and insights, drawn from leadership roles in both the private and non-profit sectors, including serving as Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Time Warner Cable where she was the driving force behind its signature philanthropic initiative, Connect a Million Minds – a $100M commitment to connect young people with STEM learning opportunities. Launched at the White House as a lead partner of President Obama’s Educate to Innovate campaign, the award-winning program was inducted into PR News’ CSR Hall of Fame. Tessie has also driven Strategic Partnerships & Public Affairs at MTV and YouTube, as well as led Development at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS).
Tessie started taking ballet and jazz multiple times a week at age 6, a requirement of her training as a competitive gymnast. She left the sport at age 14 but never stopped dancing.
ESTHER GRANT WALKER
Esther Grant has been studying dance for the past 50 years. Her initial seven years of dance training is in traditional dance school genres: ballet, tap, and modern dance. Her first exposure to “ethnic” dance was learning the Quadrille, a Caribbean-style square dance, from her mother. Ms. Grant became exposed to West African Dance and instantly loved the power of the drum and movement. This sparked a connection to African dance and folklore that has spanned over three decades. She has studied and danced with the late Papa Ladji Camara, Wilhemina Taylor, Abdel Salaam, Marie Basse, Fatou Sam, Amaniye Payne, Jewel Love, Ndaye Gueye, Youssouf Koumbassa and a host of talented teachers and choreographers in the NYC tri-state area. She has performed with NYC-based companies: Forces of Nature, Sabar Ak Ru Afriq, and Papa Ladji Camara’s African-American Dance Ensemble. Ms. Grant has danced at major venues and events i.e. B.A.M. Dance Africa, Radio City Music Hall, the Apollo Theatre, Newark Symphony Hall, Central Park Summer Stage, the Odunde Festival, Dance Mobile, and the Rhythms of the World Festival to name a few. Ms. Grant remains active in the dance community, with a focus training youth and young adults. She currently serves as the Rehearsal Director for Batoto Yetu Dance Company, Program Manager and Teaching Artist for the Opus Dance Theatre Arts-In-Education Program, and Assistant to the Dance Department Director at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center. She strongly believes in the power of community dance to bring people together, preserve intergenerational respect and honor traditions that have produced greatness in people of color.
Members Emeritus: Niki Lassiter, Shavon Marshall
HDC LEADERS
Formed in 2019, HDC Leaders is a core group of volunteers who have demonstrated strong dedication to Harlem Dance Club's mission. Each Leader's unique experience and ideas make the organization and everything we do better. The objective of this group is to cultivate leaders within the wider HDC community and give each greater visibility and responsibility.