Chicago’s celebrated tap dance company M.A.D.D. Rhythms marked its 25th anniversary with a special performance on Saturday at the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Bronzeville. The event was part of the Chicago Tap Summit, a weekend of workshops, classes, and public showcases aimed at celebrating and advancing the local tap dance community.
The program featured a double bill headlined by the company’s co-founders, Bril Barrett and Martin “Tre” Dumas III, each presenting a deeply personal work. Barrett opened the evening with “Oscar Plays Gershwin,” a homage to the 1959 Oscar Peterson Trio album interpreting George Gershwin’s songs. Barrett, known for his jazz-infused tap style, incorporated company members into vignettes inspired by individual tracks, while reserving “A Foggy Day” for a duet with special guest Ayrie Easley King III, known as “Mr. Taps.” King, a prominent figure in Chicago tap’s street and stage history, has mentored Barrett and is credited with instilling key qualities of improvisation and showmanship.
The performance encountered significant technical difficulties that delayed its start by 20 minutes and recurred throughout the evening. The anticipated music track for “A Foggy Day” failed to play, forcing Barrett and King to improvise on stage for several minutes amid ongoing sound issues. Audio imbalances also affected the clarity and volume of microphones, and technical mishaps including a computer repeatedly going into sleep mode disrupted the musical flow. Despite these setbacks, the performers and audience maintained a supportive atmosphere.
Dumas’ segment, titled “My Personal Stash,” offered a reflective exploration of his family history through music. The piece utilized projections of childhood photos and recorded voiceovers to contextualize Dumas’ connection to the 1970s Chicago funk/soul band Rasputin Stash, led by his father, Martin Dumas Jr. The choreography intertwined with the band’s recordings—most played as original tracks—to honor their legacy and evoke a sense of rediscovery and tribute. One exception was the song “Mr. Cool,” performed live by Justin Butler, son of Rasputin Stash’s Barry Butler, who was Martin Dumas Jr.’s brother. Butler’s vocals were supported by backup singers and keyboard, with Dumas’ tap rhythms augmenting the ensemble.
Saturday’s showcase was billed as “Two icons, one stage,” acknowledging the stature of Barrett and Dumas within Chicago’s tap community. Both have been influential as performers and mentors, fostering multiple generations of tap dancers. The event also featured appearances by company veterans such as Donnetta Jackson and Star Dixon, alongside returning alumni including Ian Berg, Nico Rubio, and Megan Davis. Emerging artists like Andrew Carr, Sterling Harris, Davon Suttles, and Caleb Jackson demonstrated the continued vitality of Chicago’s tap scene.
The anniversary performance underscored M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ enduring impact on tap dance as an art form, even as technical challenges underscored the demands of live performance. The company’s commitment to artistic excellence and cultural heritage remains a defining feature of its legacy in Chicago’s performing arts landscape.