September 10, 2009 For Immediate Release Contact: Bril Barrett c/o M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Inc. Phone: (773) 604-1899 Fax: (773) 604-1898 Email: [email protected] www.maddrhythms.com THE CHICAGO TAP SUMMIT 5th ANNIVERSARY Celebration “Honoring Chicago’s TAP Legacy” M.A.D.D. Rhythms presents The Chicago Tap Summit; 5th Anniversary Celebration, October 30- November 1, 2009. Many of the worlds most renowned Tap Legends will come together from Canada, New York, St. Louis, Las Vegas, New Jersey and Chicago to teach, perform and celebrate the art of tap dance. This year’s Summit will be dedicated to the late, great Ernest “Brownie” Brown. Ernest “Brownie” Brown was born April 25, 1916 and left for the big show in Heaven on Aug. 21, 2009. At the early age of 11, Ernest “Brownie” Brown ventured off to follow his dream of becoming a dancer and an entertainer. This dream would turn into a career that spanned 80 years. In 1930, Brownie and his childhood friend, Charles “Cookie” Cook formed the dance team Cook & Brown. They headlined in vaudeville theatres throughout the U.S. and in Europe. In 1934, they played The Cotton Club which led to London’s Palladium, The Latin Casino in Paris and The Broadway musical “Kiss Me Kate”. Brownie was also one of the founding members of the original “Copasetics”; an elite tap company formed in 1949 in memory of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. One of his proudest moments was being inducted into the Tap Dance Hall Of Fame. This year’s esteemed honorees include: Dr. Jeni LeGon was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 14, 1916. She was the first black woman to sign an extended contract from MGM. In her first screen role, LeGon danced with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (the only black woman to do so on screen) in Hooray for Love, which also featured Fats Waller. Her twenty-four film credits include: Broadway Melody of 1936, This Was Paris, (1937), Start Cheering, Fools for Scandal (1938), I Can't Give You Anything But Love (1940), Birth of the Blues, Sundown, Arabian Nights (1941), While Thousands Cheered, Stormy Weather (1943), Hi De Ho (1945), Easter Parade (1948), I Shot Jesse James (1949) and Somebody Loves Me (1952). In 2002, Oklahoma City University conferred upon her a doctorate of performing arts in American Dance. Dr. Prince Spencer was born on October 3, 1917 in Jenkinsville, South Carolina. In 1941, Spencer joined the dance troupe, The Four Step Brothers, replacing longtime member Sylvester Johnson. The Four Step Brothers was a group that originated in the mid-1920s performing in Hollywood films, and by 1946, was performing with Frank Sinatra. That same year, the group embarked on a six month performance at the Parisian Le Lido, then toured Italy and Spain. In 1947, The Four Step Brothers appeared uncredited in the film That's My Gal. The group returned to the silver screen in 1953, appearing alongside Bob Hope in a film entitled Here Come the Girls. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the group became favorites of Ed Sullivan and performed on Jack Benny's television show. They also toured Europe, performing for the Queen of England. In 2002, Oklahoma City University conferred upon him a doctorate of performing arts in American Dance. Dr. Harold Cromer was born in New York City, and began his 50 year career as a tap dancer on roller skates at the Hudson Guild in Hell’s Kitchen. He made his Broadway debut with Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, and Betty Grable in Du Barry Was A Lady. Mr. Cromer later performed around the world as a member of the well-known song and dance comedy team, Stump and Stumpy, with James Cross. They appeared in leading theaters and night clubs with Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Count Basie. Stump and Stumpy toured with Nat Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, the Ink Spots, Stan Kenton, and Sophie Tucker, among others. In the late 1950’s, Harold became the Master of Ceremonies to Rock and Roll’s The Biggest Show of Stars. In 2008, Bloomfield College conferred upon him a doctorate of performing arts in American Dance. Very special guests include Prof. Robert L. Reed, founder, producer and director of The St. Louis and Oklahoma City Tap Festivals, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, America’s representative on “Superstars of Dance” and star of the newly released independent film “The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang”, Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin, longtime partner of the late, great Ernest “Brownie” Brown and Chicago Native and M.A.D.D Rhythms’ own founder and artistic director Bril Barrett. Jumaane Taylor, Nora Clark, Starinah Dixon, Ja’Bowen Dixon, Donnetta Jackson and teen tap sensation Latrell Garnett round out the well-diversified faculty. 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” and concert openings for the late great Sammy Davis Jr. The Chicago Tap Summit; 5th Anniversary Celebration 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 and our popular “LIVE THE HISTORY” lecture/demonstration which takes you through TAP history by the legends who lived it. The festival will wrap up with an electrifying concert “TAKE 5” featuring all faculty, guests and the M.A.D.D. Rhythms family. This year’s concert will feature Be The Groove (Rhythmic Performance Ensemble often compared to Stomp!), The FootworKingz (Finalists on America’s Got Talent, Touring with Madonna), The Primeridian (Underground Hip Hop, Jazz, Soul and Funk eclectic group) and The Hip Hop ConnXion (one of the leading hip hop dance troupes in Chicago). Chicago’s Ben “Jammin” Johnson will serve as musical director , providing live Jazz-Hip Hop-R&B-Classical-Rock-Gospel music. All classes and the performance take place at The Harold Washington Cultural Center (4701 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL. 60615). M.A.D.D. Rhythms is a dynamic collective of young entertainers 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 (Tap the Map, 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 eighth full year in existence, with nine critically acclaimed concert performances, several workshops behind us and 4 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, The Chicago Tap Summit; 5th Anniversary Celebration; Oct. 30 –Nov. 1 at the Harold Washington Cultural Center (4701 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL. 60615). Enjoy a weekend filled with workshops and evening events including a culminating concert entitled “TAKE 5”, Sunday, Nov. 1st at 7pm. 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 .