A multicultural celebration of dance, which was presented throughout Chicago in spring and summer, is making its way to the Southland.
Chicago Human Rhythm Project presents “Stomping Grounds” Oct. 7 at Governors State University’s Center for Performing Arts in University Park.
“We were really thrilled to be invited to bring this program outside of Chicago,” said Lane Alexander, co-founder and artistic director of Chicago Human Rhythm Project, via phone from his office in the Fine Arts Building in Chicago.
“Sometimes we forget that many of the companies here in Chicago are the very best you can find in the world so we’re always happy to share them and to collaborate with presenters to bring them to any venue in the region.”
The show features Chicago Human Rhythm Project dancers, Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater, Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, and dancers from Trinity Irish Dance Company.
“‘Stomping Grounds’ is a little bit of an evolution of a couple of our programs. We had one called ‘Global Rhythms,’ which presented only international performing arts companies like Vata Tap from Brazil and Tao from Japan,” Alexander said.
“We’ve always presented percussive dance companies — primarily tap dance — here in Chicago, and we brought the two together through this program called ‘Stomping Grounds,’ which presents the whole family of foot drummers.
“It’s Spanish flamenco, Irish step dancing, Mexican folkloric and American tap. The idea was to showcase not only all of the different forms of foot drumming but to do it standing next to each other to show solidarity.
“The art itself is not political but the fact that we’re doing it together is our statement. Despite the fact that we dance differently we still dance together.”
Alexander and the late Kelly Michaels co-founded the Chicago Human Rhythm Project dance company in 1988. The festival of the same name launched in 1990.
“I’m still excited about it every day. After all these years I can still imagine other things that we want to do. I still teach three days a week. I still perform when I can on occasion. It’s just as much of a joy today as it was 30 years ago,” Alexander said.
Chicago Human Rhythm Project (chicagotap.org) recently named Daniel “Dani” Borak as its inaugural three-year artist in residence. The Switzerland native is a world-renowned performer, choreographer and teacher.
The mission of Chicago Human Rhythm Project is to build community through American tap and contemporary percussive arts through performance, education and outreach programs.
“Somehow through the creative genius, every culture in the world has come up with extraordinarily beautiful and complex ways of expressing themselves through drumming with their feet,” he said.
“It just boggles my mind when I think about the diversity of expression that’s possible with toe and heel and right and left. It’s unbelievable and, of course, it’s evolved. Drumming was one of the first forms of human expression. That’s how we danced originally — stomping the earth with our feet.
“It’s not primitive. It’s primal It’s continued to evolve for thousands of years and it’s still relevant so we like to bring it to people, not only for that but also just the pure artistry that’s on display.”
Alexander said he enjoys hearing about children who see a performance and then want to start tapping themselves.
“The thing about this form of percussive dance is it really makes you move,” he said. “It moves you and makes you want to move.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer reporter for the Daily Southtown.
‘Stomping Grounds’
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 7
Where: Governors State University’s Center for Performing Arts, 1 University Parkway, University Park
Tickets: $28
Information: 708-235-2222 or centertickets.net
