Tapman Presents MADD Rhythms 'Supreme Love,' Now thru 9/20

Tapman Productions, a newly formed Chicago-based tap company, and Artistic Director Tristan Bruns are proud to announce the final show in their 2015 season M.A.D.D. Rhythms' Supreme Love, now through September 20, choreographed by Jumaane Taylor with music direction by Rajiv Halim, at the Athenaeum Theatre, Studio 2, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Previews are $10 and are tonight, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3 p.m. Press night is Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. There is no performance Sunday, Sept. 6 and an added Thursday performance, Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Regular ticket prices are $25 and the performance schedule is Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets to Supreme Love are on sale now and can be purchased at www.athenaeumtheatre.org or by calling 773.935.6875. For more information on Tapman Productions visit TapmanProductions.com.

The final performance of Tapman Productions' 2015 season showcases the work of M.A.D.D. Rhythms, a tap dance collective whose 'sole' purpose is to spread the love and joy of tap worldwide. Supreme Love, choreographed by Jumaane Taylor, "One of the Top 20 Hoofers under 20" by Dance Sprit Magazine and named "One of the Top Five Dancers in Chicago" by Chicago Tribune, expresses true life through the art of tap dance, recreating the chants of John Coltrane's manifestations on the album "A Love Supreme" and truth from the sounds of Hip Hop music. Saxophonist Rajiv Halim is the music director for these performances as well as performing in the quartet live on stage. The performers and musicians exchange expressive musical opinions ultimately discovering truth within themselves and their art via dance and music.

Performers in Supreme Love include Bril Barrett, Ian Berg, Bruns, Andrew Carr, Megan Davis, Starinah Dixon, Alexandrya Fryson, Donnetta Jackson and Taylor. Musicians include Halim, saxophone; Amr Marcin Fahmy, keys; Junius Paul, bass and Isaiah Spencer, drums.

ABOUT M.A.D.D. RHYTHMS

M.A.D.D. Rhythms is a phenomenal tap dance collective whose sole purpose is to spread the love and joy of tap worldwide. What started as Bril Barrett's formula for giving back is now a full-fledged 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 18 to 33 years, and their backgrounds are as 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. They use this dance/music form to make a difference in the underserved 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 change at a positive life.

ABOUT JUMAANE TAYLOR, choreographer

Jumaane Taylor, a Chicago native has been tap dancing since the age of seven years. He began his training at the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre where he currently teaches. He has performed and studied with Idella Reed Davis, Martin Dumas III, Jimmy Payne Jr., Sarah Savelli and George Patterson III. Taylor made his professional debut with M.A.D.D. Rhythms and now serves its assistant director.

Performing and teaching both locally and internationally, Taylor traveled to Europe to perform Rasta Thomas' Tap Stars that premiered in Germany and was a part of Imagine Tap!, directed and choreographed by Derick Grant, and premiered at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. He was also a principal dancer for Tap in2 Peace, directed and choreographed by Sarah Savelli and Ayodele Casel.

In Chicago, the bearded hoofer is a tap instrumentalist in the band Sidewalk Chalk and Ernest Dawkins' Trio and, nationally and internationally, records tap on various albums and performs at music and dance events.

ABOUT RAJIV HALIM, music director

Rajiv Halim is a saxophonist and composer from Chicago. Born to immigrant parents from Belize on September 15, 1990, he was groomed to be a musician. He began playing saxophone at the age of eight and comes from a long line of musicians, including his great-grandfather, the bandleader Rudolph Andrews. Halim continued to play the saxophone throughout high school, where he discovered Charlie Parker and fell in love with improvised and creative music. He has since dedicated himself to the craft and has now matured to become one of Chicago's best young saxophonists. Today, Halim performs regularly in the Chicagoland area with locally well-known bands, including the Ron Haynes' Game Changers, The Xavier Breaker Coalition, Robert Irving III's Generations and his own quintet, The Rajiv Halim Quintet, founded in April 2010. The Quintet often features trumpeter Shaun Johnson, guitarist Scott Hesse, bassist Junius Paul and drummer Michael Piglet. Halim's debut album, "Foundation," is to be released this September.

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