Join Us and Celebrate 36 Years of
Rhythm World
Gala! JUBALEE
Honorees
For their LIFETIME EXCELLENCE in EDUCATION and PERFORMANCE
Bruce Bradley
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Buster Cooper
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Jorge Perez
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Mark Howard
Honorary Co-Chairs: Nora Daley & The Honorable Michelle Harris
Event Co-Chairs:
Time & Location
August 6, 2026 | 5:30 PM | Tickets: $250/$500/$1,000 Sponsorships: $1,000-$25,000
The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, 1306 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
About The Event
On Thursday, August 6th, 2026 at the beautiful Dance Center at Columbia College Chicago, Chicago Human Rhythm Project will honor Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater Executive Director Jorge Pérez, Trinity Irish Dance Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard, and legendary tap dance performers Bruce Bradley and Buster Cooper (posthumously) with JUBA! Awards for Extraordinary Contributions to Performance and Arts Education. As we celebrate their accomplishments, we'll be Tapping into the Future to raise
$500,000 to continue improving and expanding CHRP's community cultural center, the Mayfair Arts Center and its many programs for children, teens, adults and elders.
The MAC's "re-opening" heralded the revitalization of a South Side institution as a growing center for arts education, creative expression and economic development. To support this expansion of our facility and programs, CHRP has launched the HIGHER GROUND Capital Campaign - a $2.4 mil comprehensive campaign to acquire, expand and operate the MAC. To date, we have raised $1.5 mil toward this goal and we invite you to help us complete this campaign. In addition to the gala, naming opportunities are available for the MAC's dance and music studios as well as a broad range of facility and community improvements.
Schedule of Events
5:30 PM Buffet, Cocktail Reception
7:00 PM Gala Performances & JUBA! Award Presentations
8:30 PM VVIP Dancing and Dessert
Sponsors
Producing
Philip and Marsha Dowd
Presenting
Joyce Chelberg
Award
Paul Levy & Mia Park
Elaine Cohen & Rosalyn Jacobson
Katie & Steve Wiencek
Concert
Susan & Ted Oppenheimer
Richard G. & Diane Weinberg Family Foundation
Dona & Lewis Williams
Education
Lane Alexander
Mike & Helen Arkes
Kwaku Osebreh
Judy Wise
Scholarship
Terrence & Carol Coakley
Margaret Balsey Cross
Belle Fahrer
Carol Efron-Flier
Friends of Chicago Public Schools
Patti Eylar & Charlie Gardner
Cheri Gibson
Dee Grein
Polly Kintzel
Donna LaPietra & Bill Kurtis
Samir Mayekar
Ann & Tom Nash
Joan Shapiro
Amy & Tony Volpe
Support the Mayfair Arts Center
This year's JUBALEE will support the repair and expansion of the Mayfair Arts Center (MAC), a legacy South Side institution reborn as a hub for arts education, creation, and community development. Bolstered by an $800,000 capital grant from the City of Chicago and an additional $450,000 raised to date, this year's Gala seeks to raise $500,000 to complete the $1.75mil Tap into the Future campaign.
The Story of JUBA
William Henry Lane was the first African American to earn the right to perform with white minstrel dancers in the 1830’s and 40s. Lane and an Irishman named John Diamond were promoted in a series of staged tap dance competitions of which Lane won all but one. He was given the appellation “Juba”- a Zulu word meaning King – by fellow dancers and went on to give command performances before the crowned heads of Europe where he was proclaimed the greatest dancer of all time by American and European critics alike.Juba (also spelled giuba) is a river/valley/city in Somalia/Ethiopia/Sudan. It is also a word in Swahili meaning “dove”. Juba was also a dance created by slaves featuring hand clapping and foot stomping, referred to as “patting the juba”.
The JUBA! Award
William Henry Lane faced crushing prejudice in a country still divided by slavery– and was still able to accomplish, to excel and to win. Lane’s life is a testament to the ability of people to overcome all obstacles, to excel despite adversity and to affect change through acts of personal courage and fortitude. This award acknowledges those who personify these characteristics and have made extraordinary contributions to the field as artists and patrons.
The Mayfair Arts Center is a collaborative space for sustainable development that offers diverse classes for the general public and business development services as well as subsidies to independent artists and small to mid-sized nonprofit companies.
CHRP closed the American Rhythm Center in the Fine Arts Building - and reopened in our very own new home - the MAYFAIR ARTS CENTER - or MAC - in Calumet Heights. This move will not only allow CHRP to expand our own services and programs, but also to honor the 63+ year legacy of Tommy and Peggy Sutton's Mayfair Academy - a true South Side institution. The MAC will serve more independent artists, more small to medium-sized dance companies and more children, teens, adults and elders - through classes, performances and business development services.