M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ Updates
Dear M.A.D.D. Rhythms Family,
While at M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Our mission is to preserve, promote and contribute to this art form called tap. —our number one priority is the health and safety of our students, faculty & families
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented situation, and we deeply value your cooperation in providing for the well being of everyone in our community of tapdance and culture.
In light of new guidance issued by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, M.A.D.D. Rhythms has decided to temporarily close its offices and studios beginning Monday, March 16th, 2020.
As we continue to monitor the situation, we will provide updates about when we plan to reopen. In the meantime, M.A.D.D. Rhythms staff will work remotely and will be available by e-mail. If you need to reach us by phone, please call 773-604-1899 and leave a message.
We will be exploring ways we can continue to support our students and community during these uncertain times.
May you and yours Stay Healthy. Stay Safe. Be Well!
Sincerely,
Bril Barrett
Director
#RespectTheDance #RespectTheDancer #WashYourHands
M.A.D.D. Rhythms Needs Your Help To Continue Making A Difference In Our Community
When you or a family member wants to learn about tap, where do you turn?
If you’re like most in our community, you turn to M.A.D.D. Rhythms
Why?
Because you know you will receive an absolute top notch tapdance education.
And you also know that you’ll be treated like a real person, by dedicated, compassionate tap professionals in a warm, caring environment.
Your contributions have helped make M.A.D.D. Rhythms one the leading tapdance organizations in the Country. We are so grateful to you for supporting our mission to preserve, promote and contribute to this artform called tap .
Thanks to you, our organization has touched the lives of thousands of youth – whether they needed a positive alternative to the streets, an outlet to express themselves or sought to improve their quality of life.
M.A.D.D. Rhythms is your community tapdance collective. We exist to serve you and your loved ones – to spread joy, love, discipline and creative expression.
In this uncertain economic time, we count on your support – now more than ever.
Your gift is extremely important to M.A.D.D. Rhythms because it provides resources that make an immediate impact – that will help us through these interesting – and tough – times.
Your gift of $100, $500, $1,000 or $5,000 can make all the difference…… to our instructors, our students, our programs, our communities, our support staff – to every one here who works to serve you.
Please consider making as generous a gift as you can.
As Chicago’s under-served communities continue to experience an increase in youth related violent crimes, your tap collective is committed to staying at the forefront – for you, for your loved ones, for every person in the community. Please help to make this possible with your contribution.
Your donation will make a world of difference. I promise you.
Thank you so much for your help.
Sincerely,
Look to the right! See the yellow DONATE button. Click it and make your year-end contribution today!
Urgent: Chicago Tap Summit 2019 – New Dates!
The Chicago Tap Summit 2019 is on its way. The faculty for this years summit includes members of the world famous M.A.D.D. Rhythms tap dance crew and a few special guests.
Join M.A.D.D. Rhythms for The Chicago Tap Summit 2019 October 4th – 6th.
MADD Love, MADD Respect & MADD Thanks
It is with a great debt of gratitude, strong sense of accomplishment and extreme humility that I extend this heartfelt “Thank You” to each and every one who made “The Chicago Tap Summit 2018” and “FEELING GOOD: A MADD Tribute To Nina Simone” a resounding success! For 3 days straight, we immersed ourselves in the history, culture and rhythms of tapdance and came away with a renewed commitment to the legacy of the “HOOFERS” and the legacy of “JAZZ”
THANK YOU Jimalita Tillman and the Harold Washington Cultural Center for giving us a culturally rich and historically Significant HOME. THANK YOU Ted & Susan Oppenheimer and The Oppenheimer Family Foundation for generously supporting our mission to uphold the traditions of Tap and Jazz Thank You Tillman-Hunter Enterprises, Dancing Fair, Chicago South Loop Hotel, Northwest Chiropractix, GR33NINK, Chloe & Maud, O’Mara Sprung Floors and MartyBoard for your years of unwavering support. Thank You Conscious Plates for being new supporters and bringing healthy eating into the festival. THANK YOU WDB Marketing & Sol Designs for creating all of our imagery and Branding.
OPPENHEIMER FAMILY FOUNDATION
THANK YOU Sarah Savelli for your willingness and your constant and continuous contributions to the artform. Thank You Martin “Tre” Dumas III for having my back and sharing your wealth of tap knowledge unselfishly. Thank You Victoria Jones, Ja’Bowen Dixon and Latrell Garnett for staying connected to the family and always being just a phone call away. Thank You Jumaane Taylor for coming through in a clutch! Thank you Star Dixon, Donnetta Jackson, Tristan Bruns for being my support system from inception to now! Thank You Alexandrya Fryson and Andrew Carr for coming out the gate swinging! The future of tap sounds good! Thank You Time Brickey, Carmen Paquette & KJ Sheldon for attending countless meetings and doing so much extra work. Thank you Devin Mosely, Ivy Anderson, Izaiah Harris, Brennen Parker, Keyana Latimer, Molly Sute and Rachel Benzing for supporting our mission in various ways! Last, but not least, Thank You Megan Davis for, once again, taking on more than any one person should take on…..present company included……without you, this would not have happened! I am in your debt!
Thank You Peggy Sutton and Muriel Foster for taking the time to share your stories and the legacies of Tommy Sutton, Sammy Dyer & Jimmy Payne Sr. We owe a great deal of appreciation and gratitude for the sacrifices made by our ancestors, so that we can tapdance! #NeverForget #RespectTheDance #History
THANK YOU Audrey Barrett aka Mama Rhythms for having me, raising me and supporting me in everything I do! Thank You to all the Apprentices and your families for being totally invested in M.A.D.D. Rhythms. Thank you Bemaji Tillman, Robert Hayes and Phoenix Singleton for making sure that we could be seen and heard on that stage! Thank you Ben “Jammin” Jonson for going above and beyond on this project. You believing in my vision made it so much more! Thank You Dee Alexander, Maggie Brown, Joan Collaso and Tecora Rogers for lending your voices and your energy. You all brought Nina Simone to life in a way, that even, I couldn’t imagine. Thank You Buddy Fambro, Chuck Webb and Theodis Rogers for bringing JAZZ to everyone’s ears, hearts, souls and soles! Thank You Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre & Hip Hop ConnXion for showing up and showing out!
If I forgot to Thank anyone, please charge it to my head, not my heart! See you 2019!
