Windy City Rhythms Salutes 1st Ladies of Tap 5/15

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), the world's first year-round presenter of American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts, debuts at the esteemed DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place in Chicago, May 15 at 5 p.m. for Windy City Rhythms, its annual performance celebrating National Tap Dance Day.

About JUBA! honorees and performers
This year, CHRP will present the First Lady of American Tap--Dianne "Lady Di" Walker (pictured above)--and honor the first ladies of Chicago tap with the JUBA! Award:
Julie Cartier--director, choreographer and teacher, artistic director of Especially Tap Chicago, founder and director of the Cartier Collective
Idella Reed Davis--founder and director of Rhythm Iss..., studied and now teaches at Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre, internationally renowned teacher and performer
Shelley Hoselton--director of Talent Forum dance studio in Libertyville, one of the creators of Footprints Tap Ensemble and Forum Jazz Dance Theatre
Peggy Sutton--owner and director of Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts, founded in 1957 by her father, tap master Tommy Sutton

"These women have kept the tap fires burning in Chicago, committed themselves to the art of tap dance and made seminal contributions as educators, mentors, dancers, choreographers, directors, visionaries and pioneers," commented CHRP Founder and Director Lane Alexander, who recently was appointed as the sole representative of the dance community to Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel's transition team for Arts and Culture.

Walker will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies and performers will include CHRP's resident performance and education ensemble BAM!, the Cartier Collective, Chicago Tap Theatre, Jus' Listen, youth tap ensembles and other guests in this community-based celebration of American tap in all its diversity.

Lecture demonstrations with BAM!
The DuSable Museum will present CHRP's acclaimed lecture demonstration "We All Got Rhythm" May 24 and 25. CHRP's resident ensemble BAM! will perform "Four Shades oF Brown" recreating works by Buster Brown, Harriet Brown and Eddie Brown with an homage to James Brown. Other community artists performing as a part of these programs include Jimmy Payne, Jr., Jus' Listen and Doris Humphries with Fabulous 50 Plus!

Ticket information
Windy City Rhythms takes place Sunday, May 15 at 5 p.m. at the DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago. General admission tickets are $25, $20 for students and seniors, $15 for children 12 and younger, and are available by calling 773-281-1825 or visiting chicagotap.org. Schools interested in booking seats at the lecture demonstrations on May 24 and 25 should contact Antoinette Simmons at the DuSable Museum of African American History, 773-947-0600 ext. 225. All programming is subject to change.

About Chicago Human Rhythm Project
CHRP's 2011 season is supported by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Target, The Boeing Company, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The MacArthur Foundation for Arts & Culture at Prince, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, The Saints, The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, The Jeanette & Jerome Cohen Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, The Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg Family Foundation, L&L Hardwood Flooring, The Service Club of Chicago, Arts Work Fund, Leo's Dancewear, The Seneca Hotel and Suites and generous individual donors.

Founded in 1990, Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP) builds community by presenting American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts in world-class and innovative performance, education and community outreach programs. The organization's vision is to establish the first global center for American tap and percussive arts (The American Rhythm Center), which will create a complete ecosystem of education, performance, creation and community in a state-of-the-art facility uniting generations of diverse artists and the general public.

On March 17, CHRP announced that it had raised more than $500,000 to support the establishment of the Collaborative Space for Sustainable Development (Working Title), which will serve as a shared, affordable and eventually self-sufficient education, rehearsal and administrative facility for several Chicago arts organizations.

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