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 & Martin Dumas Il'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 50, and their backgrounds are equally diverse. The one thing they all have in common is a love for "the dance".
Button TextM.A.D.D. Rhythms’ mission is to preserve, promote and contribute to this art form called tap.
We will teach its history, represent its culture and advocate for its future. We will use this beautiful dance/music form to make a difference in the underserved communities of this world by connecting and caring for the youth of this world. We believe that having access and options gives a child a greater chance at a positive life. Therefore, we will spread the joy, love, discipline and expression of tap to as many children as we humanly can!
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Over the past 25 years, M.A.D.D. Rhythms has appeared on some of the most influential stages in the dance world, including Jacob’s Pillow, New York City Center’s Fall for Dance, the IABD Conference, the Dance/USA Conference, and even the Democratic National Convention (DNC) — solidifying the company’s presence on both artistic and national platforms. In Chicago, M.A.D.D. Rhythms has performed at cornerstone cultural venues including the Harold Washington Cultural Center, Harris Theater, Auditorium Theatre, Millennium Park, Navy Pier Live, the 3Arts Awards, and the Chicago Dance Month Kickoff — reinforcing its role as a leading force in the city’s performing arts landscape.
Internationally, the company has appeared at the Stockholm Tap Festival, the Poznań Jazz Festival, and in The Stars of Dance Chicago in Istanbul, Turkey, and collaborated with M.A.D.D. Rhythms Canada in “Release Yourself” and “Great Feets of Rhythm,” as well as Downbeats Canada’s “Embrace the Rhythm.” Additional highlights include Dance Africa Chicago, Dance Chicago, Miami’s Art‑Deco Festival, An Expo for Today’s Black Woman, Kwanzaa Festival, The African Festival of the Arts, the St. Louis Tap Festival, the Boys & Girls Clubs National Conference, the Chicago Historical Society’s Summer Performance Series, and the DuSable Museum’s educational theatre series.
