FEELING GOOD: A M.A.D.D. Rhythms Tribute To Nina Simone

4701 South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive,Chicago IL 60653

26 February, 2023

Description

Eunice Kathleen Waymon known professionally as Nina Simone was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop. Bril Barrett Tap Dancer, Choreographer and Founder/Artistic Director, M.A.D.D. Rhythms The founder and artistic director of M.A.D.D. Rhythms knows firsthand that art has the power to save lives, and he has dedicated his twenty-two-year-old company, Making a Difference Dancing (or M.A.D.D. Rhythms), to providing an alternative to the “schools-to-prison pipeline.” Youth work study programs at M.A.D.D. Rhythms—rebooting this year as the pandemic wanes—give ninety young tap dancers the chance to study and perform nationally and abroad each year. Barrett also serves as director of the annual Tap Summit, and last year collaborated with Chicago Tap Theatre to form the Chicago Tap All-Stars—a collective gesture of unity in Chicago’s tap community. Barrett’s longtime contributions to the American art form have gotten notice, as he is a 2022 Meier Achievement Award recipient and will be honored at the DC Tap Fest in 2023.