M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Chicago’s premier tap collective, is proud to announce the return of the Chicago Tap Summit, September 29 - October 1 at the Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. King Dr. (47th Street entrance) and additional events and appearances. For more information on any of M.A.D.D. Rhythms offerings go to MADDRhythms.com.
The 2023 Chicago Tap Summit welcomes participants from Chicago and around the world for three days of dance, discussion and classes celebrating the tap dance community. This weekend, which coincides with “M.A.D.D. Rhythms Day” in Chicago, October 1, focuses on Tap and Chicago’s rich dance history beyond Tap including classes by M.A.D.D. Rhythms Company Members Donnetta “LilBit” Jackson (Chicago Footwork), Dave Maxx (Chicago Stepping Class) and Imania Detry (African Dance). The Summit concludes with a performance on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. Information and registration are available at MADDRhythms.com.
Other upcoming M.A.D.D. Rhythms activities include:
FALL CLASSES
M.A.D.D Rhythms Tap Academy
Fall Session: September 13 - December 16
Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. King Dr. (47th Street entrance)
The M.A.D.D. Rhythms Tap Academy returns in September with “Grown & Sexy” for adults. Registration is available now for adults and professionals. Classes are offered in person and are taught by Bril Barrett, Starinah “Star” Dixon and members of M.A.D.D. Rhythms.
M.A.D.D. RHYTHMS PODCAST NETWORK
MADDRhythms.com and all major listening platforms
M.A.D.D Rhythms continues the second season of it's M.A.D.D. Rhythms Podcast Network which includes the podcasts, “Gasps From A Dying Art Form,” hosted by Tristan Bruns and “The Either/And Podcast w/ Bril Barrett,” hosted by Executive Director Bril Barrett.
“Gasps From A Dying Art Form” is a niche podcast for tap dancers and the dance’s relationship to history and philosophy. “Gasps” episodes range from historical research, philosophical musings, book reviews and interviews.
“The Either/And Podcast w/ Bril Barrett” is Bril Barrett doing what he does best, talking about Tap dance and how it's connected to more than you know. What happens in the Tap world is a microcosm of what's happening in the real world.
2023 FUNDRAISER
Support M.A.D.D. Rhythms
M.A.D.D. Rhythms continues its journey as Chicago’s premier Tap organization. The Company is poised to continue on its upward trajectory, which continues with a fundraising campaign with the goals of improving its studio, bolstering the community tap dance programs, paying the dancers an equitable wage and supporting its Tap Academy classes with this fundraiser.
PERFORMANCES AND APPEARANCES:
CHICAGO BLACK DANCE LEGACY PROJECT: METAMORPHOSIS
Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m., gates open at 5 p.m.
Ravinia, 201 Ravinia Road, Highland Park
Tickets: Ravinia.org
In “Metamorphosis,” nine powerhouse companies come together in an evening celebrating change and innovation. Featuring varied dance forms—from Afro-fusion to Jazz, Tap to Chicago’s own Footwork and more—the show intertwines technology and movement seeped in Black tradition to tell a story of evolution and rebirth.
The companies performing in addition to M.A.D.D. Rhythms include The Chicago Multicultural Dance Company,Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, The Era Footwork Collective, Forward Momentum Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers & Center, Move Me Soul, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, NAJWA Dance Corps and Praize Productions—all members of the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, which celebrates and elevates the impact of Black dance in Chicago.
CENTER FOR CULTURE OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, Sept. 9 at 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Harold Washington Cultural Center Open House
M.A.D.D Rhythms and other arts partners at the Harold Washington participate in a FREE open house, M.A.D.D. Rhythms offers classes and tours of its podcast studio, Broadway in Bronzeville hosts auditions and script writing classes, Chooz Music will be giving tours of its recording studios with additional classes in Ballet, African Dance and footwork will be available at the Center for Culture Open House.
In addition, M.A.D.D. Rhythms is offering discount classes to those who attend.
A M.A.D.D. Rhythms Experience
Saturday, Sept. 9 at 4 - 8 p.m.
Harold Washington Cultural Center Open House
M.A.D.D. Rhythms hosts influencers, members of the press and party planners at an exclusive event highlighting M.A.D.D. Rhythms.
CHICAGO TAP SUMMIT 2023
Friday, Sept. 29 - Sunday, Oct. 1
Times vary by event
Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Tickets: Various costs and FREE events
Registration is available now. (put this link in)
The premier Illinois tap dancing event of the year presented by M.A.D.D. Rhythms is the Chicago Tap Summit which coincides with M.A.D.D. Rhythms Day in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 1. The Tap Summit includes three days of dance, discussion and classes while celebrating the tap dance community and premiering a new M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ performance piece.
CHICAGO TAP ALLSTARS WINTER WONDERFEST
TBA
M.A.D.D. Rhythms partners with Chicago Tap Theatre as the Chicago Tap Allstars celebrates the season with a special holiday-themed performance in commemoration of Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah.
HAROLD WASHINGTON CULTURAL CENTER WINTER WONDERFEST
Saturday, Dec. 16 1 p.m.
Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Harold Washington Cultural Center Arts Partners celebrate the holidays with an event open to the public demonstrating the activities and services the partners and the Center may offer for the next year and beyond.
COMPANY UPDATES
Ivy Anderson Now Teaching at Stage Door Dance Academy
15801 Oak Park Ave, Oak Forest
Company Member Ivy Anderson has joined the faculty at Stage Door Dance Academy in Oak Forest.
Donnetta “Lil Bit” Jackson at Qween Sh!t Vol. 1
Saturday, Sep. 9
Indie Media, 3148 N, Central Ave.
Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/qween-sht-vol1-tickets-692130520017
Company member Donnetta “Lil Bit” Jackson will be a judge for Qween Sh!t Vol. 1, an event where recognition is given while highlighting the women in the street dance scene.
Izaiah Harris on the Funny Girl National Tour
Various dates and locations beginning September 9
Company Member Izaiah Harris joins the national tour of Broadway’s Funny Girl as “Eddie Ryan.”
Bril Barrett on Faculty at OKC Tap Fest
September 23 and 24
M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ Bril Barrett will be on faculty at the OKC Tap Fest this fall.
All programs, events and performers are subject to change.
Sterling Harris with Chicago Tap Theatre
Sterling Harris is a company member at M.A.D.D. Rhythms and an artistic associate and company member at Chicago Tap Theatre.
Chicago Live! 2023
Saturday, Sept. 23 at 12 p.m.
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ Donnetta ‘Lil Bit’ Jackson joins Sterling Harris and Chicago Tap Theatre at Chicago Live! 2023 celebrating Chicago’s vibrant arts and cultural community with more than 80 artists and organizations performing in back-to-back performances throughout the weekend.
Chicago Tap Theatre National Tour
October 9 - 15, November 7
Various locations
Harris will join Chicago Tap Theatre as they tour Hayes, Kansas, Overland Park, Kansas and Joplin, Missouri in October and perform in Terre Haute, Indiana in November.
Ivy Anderson Performs at Chicago Live! 2023
Saturday, Sept. 23
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ Ivy Anderson joins the company 333 at Chicago Live! 2023 celebrating Chicago’s vibrant arts and cultural community with more than 80 artists and organizations performing in back-to-back performances throughout the weekend.
Sterling Harris with Dorrance Dance
Sterling Harris joins Dorrance Dance for a series of performances and its “Nutcracker Suite” this fall.
Dorrance Dance at 92Y
Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.
New works by Dorrance Dance company members, Elizabeth Burke, Luke Hickey and Claudia Rahardjanoto will be premiered as part of this celebratory evening, followed by the critically-acclaimed SOUNDspace — a landmark work that brought the company to prominence — on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.
Dorrance Dance “Nutcracker Suite”
November 30 - December 17
Various locations
“One of the most imaginative tap choreographers working today” (The New Yorker), Michelle Dorrance and her tap dream team arrive just in time for the holidays with a world premiere by Michelle Dorrance set to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's sublime interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. The company will perform at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Carolina Performing Arts, Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, South Carolina.
Starinah “Star” Dixon Performs at Fitzgerald’s with William Wims
Friday, Oct. 5, doors at 7 p.m., performance at 8 p.m.
Assistant Director, choreographer and Original Principal Dancer Starinah “Star” Dizon performs with Morry Sochat & The Special 20s as a special guest with William Wims and Jayme Braverman.
Ivy Anderson Joins Revel Dance Convention National Tour
Ivy Anderson performs with Revel Dance Convention’s Right Now Tour on two occasions: October 20 - 22 in St. Louis, Missouri and December 1 - 3 in Chicago
ABOUT M.A.D.D. RHYTHMS
M.A.D.D. (Making A Difference Dancing) Rhythms, now in its 22nd year, is a phenomenal tap dance collective whose “SOLE” purpose is to spread the love and joy of tap worldwide. What started as Bril Barrett and Martin Dumas III’s formula for giving back, is now, in its 21st year, a full-fledged 501 (c) 3 performing arts company, quickly gaining a reputation for representing the true essence of tap: RHYTHM! The company is composed of young, versatile tap dancers from all over Chicago. Their ages range from 17 to 45 years old, and their backgrounds are equally diverse. The one thing they all have in common is a love for “the dance.”
M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ mission is to preserve, promote and contribute to this art form called tap. They teach its history, represent its culture and advocate for its future. M.A.D.D. Rhythms use this beautiful dance/music form to make a difference in the under-served communities of this world by connecting and caring for the youth of this world. Believing that having access and options gives a child a greater chance at a positive life, M.A.D.D. Rhythms spread the joy, love, discipline and expression of tap to as many children as they humanly can!
M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ performance opportunities, in short, have included: Dance Africa Chicago, Dance Chicago, The Stars of “Dance Chicago” in Istanbul, Turkey, M.A.D.D. Rhythms Canada’s “Release Yourself” and “Great Feets of Rhythm,” Downbeats Canada’s “Embrace the Rhythm,” Miami’s Art-Deco Festival, An Expo for Today’s Black Woman, Kwanzaa Festival, The African Festival of the Arts, St. Louis Tap Festival, Boys and Girls Clubs National Conference, the Chicago Historical Society’s Summer Performance Series, and DuSable Museum’s educational theater series. They have also produced ten full-length productions, created the annual Chicago Tap Summit and educated more than 200 students via The M.A.D.D. Rhythms Tap Academy.
In an effort to continuously give back to their communities, they have also worked with many public and private schools and volunteered performances for various community affiliated organizations including A.C.E.S. (Athletes Committed to Educating Students), Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, Nikola Tesla Alternative High School for Girls, TCA Health and Nutrition Fair, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and Rainbow House.
M.A.D.D. Rhythms acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and FRWD (FORWARD), a program of The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) with support from Ford Foundation.
Chicago Tap Allstars at Dance For Life. Photo by Michelle Reid
Chicago Tap Allstars at Dance For Life. Photo by Michelle Reid
Chicago Tap Allstars at Dance For Life. Photo by Michelle Reid
Chicago Tap Allstars at Dance For Life. Photo by Michelle Reid