The Columbia Chronicle’s Nico Waugh covers the recent Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World at the Dance Center. The week-long festival brought together a community of dancers, including audience members with little tap experience.

For five days, tap dancers of all experience levels gathered at Columbia College Chicago’s Dance Center to learn, perform and celebrate the history of a dance form deeply rooted in Chicago.

Now in its 36th year, Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World featured classes, workshops and four showcases from Aug. 4 through 9, bringing professional dancers and students together for performances ranging from choreographed pieces to improvisation.

Chicago had ‘one of the biggest tap festivals, even when I was a younger dancer training in the city,’ said artistic director Jumaane Taylor.

The first Rhythm World festival had performances held at Northwestern University, and has since been held at the Dance Center at Columbia College Chicago for many years.

The festival brings together all levels of tap dancers, including audience members with little tap experience participating.

Taylor has been involved with Rhythm World since its inception in 1990, and was appointed artistic director after his experience directing in 2021. During Friday’s performance, he performed a choreographed piece with five other dancers and a live band.

Nicholas Young, a performer in the showcase, has known Taylor since he was a child.

‘It’s just Chicago family, you know?’ Young said of the Rhythm World organization.

Young was among nine performances on Friday night, eight of which were fully improvised….