Chicago Tap Theatre

Description

The award-winning Chicago Tap Theatre is celebrating 18 years of producing high-quality tap dance and live music that is known for being accessible, engaging and innovative. Currently touring Sweet Tap Chicago, a celebration of artists associated with their home (including Common, Curtis Mayfield, Bob Fosse and more) and Unleash The Beats, which might have dances to everything from Fiona Apple to Beethoven, the one constant is that audiences will be tapping their feet and unable to wipe the giant smile off their face. CTT is a company not just of dancers, but also musicians, led by Chicago Funk/Soul/R&B master JC Brooks. CTT is passionate about education and can offer educational programming of all kinds, from specialized classes to children (including the deaf and hard of hearing) to adults. Their shows can also incorporate education, with short discussions of tap history and the role of Black Americans in creating and shaping tap dance. CTT often works with Presenters to create shows uniquely suited to the local audience.
CTT is the recipient of multiple Best of the Year awards from the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times, and in 2016 received the "Best New Production" Award from Dance Magazine's Reader's Poll.

Work Sample

This is a selection of dances from Sweet Tap Chicago, CTT's touring celebration of music and tap dance celebrating the great city of Chicago! There is a strong variety of pieces, ranging from tributes to artists like Bob Fosse and Curtis Mayfield to sweet and classy dances to iconic Chicago songs like Sweet Home Chicago and Chicago (That Toddlin' Town). Based on the preferences of the Presenter this show can lean more towards traditional tap dance and jazz songs or more on contemporary music, including rap songs performed live by the brilliant JC Brooks.

This work is representative of the way CTT consistently fuses technically demanding, rhythmically challenging tap dance with the finest in live music into works of audience-engaging satisfaction. CTT is also known for creating dances and entire shows that have a stronger narrative and emotional element, but Sweet Tap Chicago is focused more specifically on the sheer delight that happens when tap dance and live music collide.

History

Chicago Tap Theatre is in its 18th season of presenting high quality, innovative work to audiences in Chicago, across the US and beyond. CTT has been singled out consistently by critics around the US and Europe, and in 2016 was chosen as "Best New Production" by Dance Magazine for its production of TimeSteps. For 12 years CTT has created educational programming for children who are deaf and hard of hearing, and for the past 4 years has been producing sold-out Tap Intensives for pre-professional teenagers.

Artistic Vision

The work of Chicago Tap Theatre is rooted in the notion that tap dance is at its best when it displays a knowledge of and appreciation for its history, while still daring to push the form forward. The work is sometimes challenging in its content or vision, but is nonetheless endlessly engaging and accessible to a broad range of audiences. CTT loves tailoring its programming to different audiences, whether its shows for children, the deaf population, adults or senior citizens. Tap Dance is the rare dance form with near universal appeal, and CTT takes great pride in presenting tap dance with excellence and innovation.

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

Chicago Tap Theatre leans into the ability of tap dance with live music to speak to a broad range of audiences. From older audiences who remember the heyday of tap, to young audiences thrilling to this accessible art form for the first time, CTT has extensive experience working with diverse and eclectic audiences, and can tailor specific shows to each audience. Additionally, CTT has 18 years of experience creating educational programming for populations ranging from the people who are deaf, to professional trainees at Universities and Conservatories, to community classes for rank beginners (no tap show required!).

Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement

Chicago Tap Theatre is proud to work within a Black and American art form. Within CTT's leadership, the Rehearsal Director and Music Director are both Black, and are excited for opportunities to share the history of tap dance, and how it relates to their own backgrounds and experiences. Part of what makes CTT's educational approach unique is the weaving together of tap history, including socio-political and racial dimensions of tap dance along with technique, improvisation and jazz music appreciation/theory.