Jimmy Payne Jr. is a tap dance teacher, choreographer, and performer from Chicago. He began his tap dance lessons at Jimmy Payne School of Dance. His teacher and father was legendary dancer, Jimmy Payne, who taught tap and Afro-Caribbean dance to thousands of dance enthusiasts and professionals for over seventy years. Jimmy Payne Jr. continues this legacy. Jimmy has performed with Jazz legend Von Freeman, with Chicago Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Bill Russo, and Bradley Williams 21st Century Jazz Review, whom he accompanied on a trip to India for a series of concerts. He most recently performed at Blowing Rock History Museum in North Carolina. Performances also include, shows at Spurlock Museum, Davis Elkins College, Iowa State Historical Museum with Gateway Dance Theater, Castle Theater in Maui Hawaii, and Chicago Jazz Festival. Jimmy teaches tap dance to both children and adults. He has taught for Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center, After School Matters, Stone Academy, and Columbia College Chicago where he has been on faculty for over 20 years. He teaches that tap dance is a language and builds the students vocabulary, all the while building the students confidence and sharing his knowledge of the rich history of tap dance. Critics have described Jimmy as "a tap classicist with a composer's mind," (Chicago Sun Times) "the real deal," (Maui Times) and the Chicago Tribune referred to him as "smoking virtuosity." Jimmy has also won an award with Black Theater Alliance for best performance in concert. Jimmy describes his style of tap as traditional tap rooted in rhythm and movement.
