Chicago Human Rhythm Project showcases Mexican, Spanish, African-American Rhythmic Dance: Global Rhythms, Nov. 26-27 at the Harris Theater

 Chicago, IL – The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), the world’s longest-running year-round presenter of American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts, opens its 22nd season with Global Rhythms, its annual community-building, shared-revenue performances that spotlight national and international artists. Performances are November 26 and 27 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

Global Rhythms artists

• The Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago (Nov. 27 only) aims to perpetuate and showcase the splendor of Mexico’s traditional dance, music, dress and history, and to cultivate and promote public awareness and appreciation of this rich cultural heritage.

•  Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater (Nov. 26 only) shares the rich traditions of the dance, music, literature and culture of Spain in classical, folkloric and Flamenco styles.

•  Step Afrika! (Nov. 26 and 27), returning for the third year with all-new works, is the first professional company in the world dedicated to stepping, a unique dance tradition that grew out of the song and dance rituals practiced by historically African-American fraternities and sororities in the mid-1900s. Step Afrika! creates an “ocean of sound” with contemporary stepping and hip hop beside ancient Zulu dances, South African gumboot dancing and more.

Thanks 4 Giving

In conjunction with Global Rhythms and in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, CHRP offers an opportunity to give back to Chicago nonprofits while increasing its exposure to new audiences through the Thanks 4 Giving program. When purchasing tickets, patrons receive a 10 percent discount by mentioning one of more than 50 participating Chicago-area nonprofit organizations, and CHRP shares 50 percent of the revenue from that sale with the selected organization. In previous years, Thanks 4 Giving has produced as much as $32,000 in revenue for Chicago-based nonprofits. Visit this link for a current list of 2011 participants to date. Nonprofits interested in participating should call the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, 773-281-1825.

Ticket information

Global Rhythms performances take place Saturday, November 26 at 8 p.m. (Step Afrika! and Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater) and Sunday, November 27 at 7 p.m. (Step Afrika! and Mexical Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago) at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Dr. Tickets are $15-55 and are available by calling 312-334-7777 or visiting harristheaterchicago.org. All programming is subject to change. For information, visit chicagotap.org.

About Chicago Human Rhythm Project

CHRP’s 2011-12 season is supported by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Target, The Boeing Company, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The MacArthur Foundation for Arts & Culture at Prince, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, The Saints, The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, The Jeanette & Jerome Cohen Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, The Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg Family Foundation, L&L Hardwood Flooring, The Service Club of Chicago, Arts Work Fund, Leo’s Dancewear, The Seneca Hotel and Suites and generous individual donors.

Founded in 1990, Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP) builds community by presenting American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts in world-class and innovative performance, education and community outreach programs. The organization’s vision is to establish the first global center for American tap and percussive arts (The American Rhythm Center), which will create a complete ecosystem of education, performance, creation and community in a state-of-the-art facility uniting generations of diverse artists and the general public.

CHRP Founder/Director Lane Alexander served as the only member of Chicago’s dance community on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s transition team for Arts & Culture. And CHRP has raised more than $700,000 to support the establishment of the Collaborative Space for Sustainable Development (working title),which will serve as a shared, affordable and eventually self-sufficient education, rehearsal and administrative facility for several Chicago arts organizations.