FLINT, Mich. — Alfred “Bruce” Bradley, founder and CEO of Tapology, has been named one of 25 Taproot Fellows for 2025, a national honor recognizing artists who preserve and uplift cultural traditions through community-based work.
Bradley, who has spent more than four decades teaching and promoting tap dance through Tapology, said his initial reaction was “gratitude.”
“I didn’t start this work for national recognition,” he said. “I saw the impact I was making on the kids, and that was greater than anything in my life. I was so late starting, I was catching them right at the beginning of their lives, and I saw that the outcome of that was tremendous.”
Though he never sought the spotlight, Bradley sees the fellowship as encouragement, support and validation for his years of community work—and the work still ahead.
Though he never sought the spotlight, Bradley said the fellowship serves as encouragement, support, and validation for both his years of community work and the work ahead.
The fellowship, awarded by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts and funded by the Mellon Foundation, includes $50,000 in unrestricted support and $10,000 for a community-based project. Now in its second year, the Taproot Fellowship provides recipients with access to national networks, tailored resources, and an annual convention in Washington, D.C.
Nominees are evaluated by a panel of experts based on artistic excellence, defined within the cultural context of their communities, and a demonstrated commitment to the care and well-being of those communities.
“Bradley really exudes both of those things in a huge way,” said Amy Kitchener, executive director and co-founder of the Alliance for California traditional arts. “His work shows so much artistic excellence, and his purpose is so clearly around building identity, building connections, and building meaning in his community.”
A Flint native and graduate of Southwestern Academy, Bradley didn’t begin dancing until age 30. Now 74, he continues to teach and mentor dancers of all ages from Flint and beyond.
Wherever his work took him, whether to Toronto or New York, Bradley said he always made it a priority to return home, ensuring his children experienced the same sense of stability and community he had growing up.
“I would always come back home. And when I would come, I would bring things to share the things that I had learned,” he said.
Between performances and projects, he remained self-employed in Flint, using painting skills he developed early on. Coming home between gigs allowed him to support his family, connect with local students, and share the knowledge he picked up on the road.
Bradley founded Tapology in 2001 with a vision to preserve tap dance as a Black traditional art form rooted in rhythm, resistance, and storytelling. Through performances, artist residencies, and youth programming, Tapology has become a fixture in Flint’s arts and education landscape. Its annual tap festival draws artists from across the country, and its youth ensemble trains the next generation of dancers in both technique and cultural history.
The $10,000 project grant will help fund several ongoing Tapology initiatives, including summer programming, staff wages, technology, and other operational needs. The larger $50,000 grant is intended to support Bradley’s personal sustainability as an artist and educator.
“We can continue to grow this to expand beyond Flint to other urban areas and teach people, together, in a divided nation,” Bradley said. “To teach our history, tell our story, so there’s no misunderstanding and create something that continues to impact society in a positive way.”
“I’m not going to always be here, but I feel that I planted something that needs to continue to be funded and nourished. We planted the seeds. We have to cultivate that.”
Bradley said he hopes the national recognition inspires other artists to invest in their communities and preserve cultural traditions—even in the face of systemic barriers.
Through the Taproot Fellowship, he plans to continue passing on cultural knowledge, building leadership, and establishing a structure that can carry forward his mission for years to come.