Aug 31st, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bril Barrett
c/o M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Inc.
Phone: (773) 604-1899
Fax: (773) 604-1898
Email: bril@maddrhythms.com
www.maddrhythms.com
The 3rd ANNUAL CHICAGO TAP SUMMIT
"Keeping The Tradition Alive!"
M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Inc., The Chicago Park District, The South Shore
Cultural Center and The Harold Washington Cultural Center bring forth
the 3rd Annual Chicago Tap Summit October 12-14. Over 10 of the
worlds most renowned Tap Dancers will come together from New York, St.
Louis, Chicago and Canada to teach, perform and celebrate the art of
tap dance. This year's Summit will posthumously honor Chicago's own
Sammy Dyer. Dyer, instructor of tap and stage shows for Muriel Abbott
and the famous Abbotteers, also produced cafe shows at the old Sunset
Cafe, Club Morocco, and Club DeLisa, where he spent eighteen years. In
1933 Mr. Dyer established The Sammy Dyer School of Dancing and in 1950
created the Dyerettes, an African American female dance troupe known
to be the only chorus act of its kind. They toured internationally
with some of the greatest entertainers of the twentieth century
including Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., and Sarah Vaughn. Special
guests include Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, star of the newly released
independent film "The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang", Robert "The
Professor" Reed founder, producer and director of The St. Louis Tap
Festival, Chicago's subway legend and tap mentor Mr. Taps, Reggio "The
Hoofer" McLaughlin and M.A.D.D Rhythms' own founder and artistic
director Bril Barrett. Jumaane Taylor, Lee Howard, Starinah Dixon and
Ja'Bowen Dixon round out the well-diversified faculty. Chicago's
explosive B-Boy crew, Stick & Move, All-female dance group, Flawless
and hip hop super group, Hip Hop ConnXion, represents the positive Hip
Hop movement. Collectively the faculty credits include Broadway's
Bring in the Noise Bring in the Funk, Black & Blue, national and
international tours of Riverdance, the movies "TAP", "Bamboozled" and
"The Cotton Club", "Star Search", concert openings for the late great
Sammy Davis Jr., and producers of the St. Louis Tap Festival and the
Chicago Tap Summit.
The 3rd Annual Chicago Tap Summit will include an array of master
classes for all levels of tap dancers, along with history sessions
(complete with rare footage of some of the all time greats of tap), a
participants' showcase & a panel discussion. The festival will wrap
up with an electrifying concert "TAPathetically Speaking" featuring
all faculties, guests and the M.A.D.D. Rhythms crew. Chicago's
Detour JazFunk will provide live music. All classes take place at the
South Shore Cultural Center (7059 South Shore Drive). The performance
takes place at The Harold Washington Cultural Center (4701 S. Martin
Luther King Drive).
M.A.D.D. Rhythms is a dynamic collective of young people from diverse
socioeconomic backgrounds, with one thing in common. A love and
respect for the art of tap dance or "the dance" as we like to call it.
Bril Barrett (Imagine Tap, Porgy and Bess, The Tap Dance Kid,
Riverdance, Oprah and the Jenny Jones show) founded the company in
2001 and serves as business manager and artistic director as well as
being one of the company's principal choreographers/dancers. Jumaane
Taylor (Imagine Tap, Dance Spirit Magazine's top 20 hoofers under 20
(may 2005 issue), Grand prize winner of The Chicago Tap Off and the
Bring In Da Noize Bring In Da Funk Contest, Chicago Tap All Stars,
Rhythm I.S.S. and Friends) began as a protégé of first Bril, but has
grown into an artist all his own. Jumaane is the Assistant Director
and principal choreographer/dancer in M.A.D.D. Rhythms. Approaching
our sixth full year in existence, with seven critically acclaimed
concert performances, several workshops behind us and 2 successful
festivals under our belt, We hope you'll join us.
PSA Unleash your rhythm and experience and learn tap dancing from
world renowned hoofers at M.A.D.D. Rhythms 3rd Annual Chicago Tap
Summit; October 12th through 14th at the South Shore Cultural Center
(7059 South Shore Dr. Chicago, IL 60649) and The Harold Washington
Cultural Center (4701 S. Martin Luther King Drive). Enjoy a weekend
filled with workshops and evening events including a culminating
concert entitled "TAPathetically Speaking", Sunday Oct.14th at 3pm.
Tickets are $20 and classes range from $30 for individual classes to
$370 for an unlimited package. For more information call (773)
604-1899 or visit them online at www.maddrhythms.com
Bril Barrett
bril@brilbarrett.com
www.brilbarrett.com
