About Us

Piano Across America is the story of a pianist named Dotan Negrin and his dog, Brando, as they travel across the United States with an upright piano in a truck. Fed up with working towards someone else’s dream, Dotan decided to leave home in pursuit of his own dream: to travel, make music, and meet people. From Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, this piano man travels to great length to bring people together through the power of his music. What started as a trip to develop his skills on the piano, evolved into a movement that inspired people to fulfill their own dreams. This site chronicles the journey into the places and stories of the people he meets.

Who is Dotan Negrin?

I’m just an ordinary guy with big dreams. I’m not some celebrity on TV. This is as real as it gets. No producers. No script.

I was born in New York City to parents of Greek and Israeli origins, which is where the name Dotan comes from. I was involved in Theater and performance from a very young age and always wanted to be an actor on Broadway and in Film. This motivated me to study Theater in High School and College which not only taught me skills on stage but more importantly ideals and disciplines for living a fulfilling life.

I’ve realized my dream of becoming an actor was purely out of individual desire. I started to ask myself, What is the point? So what if I get on Broadway or on the Silver screen? Who cares? My desire to become an actor was just a trivial pursuit unless it can be of some significance to society and help people. The Essence and Purpose of the Theater goes back thousands of years ago to the Greek Philosophers who didn’t want to merely entertain but to become catalysts for change in the world, to put up the mirror to society and say, this is who you are!

In the last 2 years, my passions have changed. With Piano Across America I would like to go beyond the surface and into the core of Life. Using Music, Theater, and my personal experiences, I want to become that catalyst for change in the world. I want to help people find their true meaning in life of which goes beyond their individual selves but in helping others and challenging the self. I want to meet people of the world and understand where they come from, their beliefs, their troubles. I want to use Music to bring people together and create a dialogue between neighbors… And I want you to come with me on this journey.