Chicago Human Rhythm Project

Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP) builds community through rhythm by presenting American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts in world-class and innovative performance, education, and community outreach programs that build affinity between diverse groups of people. CHRP began more than 20 years ago as a summer festival and now presents four major annual series in diverse neighborhoods throughout Chicago, including Winter Tap JAMboree!, Windy City Rhythms, Rhythm World – the oldest and largest festival of American tap in the world -  and Global Rhythms. Through its programs, CHRP promotes cultural diversity, emphasizing ethnic minority participation and partnership among Chicago artists and Chicago communities. Students, audiences, and artists come from around the block and around the world to participate in performances, classes, workshops, and residencies that enable them to share experiences, and learn from and about each other. Rhythmic dance is present in every culture, and we highlight this fact to emphasize our similarity as human beings. CHRP uses tap dance to build bridges between diverse communities of dancers and audience members by preserving traditional choreography, creating new work through local, national and international collaborations and by giving scholarships to deserving young dancers to study with elders. Founded by internationally acclaimed tap master, Lane Alexander, CHRP was recognized by the New York Times for pioneering work as the oldest and most comprehensive institution in the United States dedicated to concert tap dance. Most recently, CHRP led the development of a shared dance/arts space in Chicago’s historic Fine Arts Building – the American Rhythm Center – offering a wide array of dance and movement classes taught by world class teachers.