We ALL Got Rhythm
In-school & after school dance programs in Chicago
CHRP provides high quality educational programs that offer a range of experiences that teach artistic skills, enhance social and emotional learning, support other academic subjects and lead students to lifelong engagement with the arts.
Programs are tailored to each individual school and vary based on dance style, number of weeks, and hours per week. CHRP offers a range of opportunities, including long- and short term residencies, lecture demonstrations, and field trips to our south side dance center.
If you are interested in bringing rhythm to your school, or would be interested in funding a CHRP outreach program for elementary and high school students, please contact:
Canisha Russ
WAGR Outreach Coordinator
312-542-2477
IGNITION
CHRP provides rhythm-based, lecture-demonstrations and master classes in K-12 settings throughout Chicago.
“Ignition” moments expand the minds and imaginations of students who have had little or no access to percussive dance. Almost every great artist can point to a moment that led to a lifetime of artistic practice. While deep engagement is important, we do not discount the deep impact of “ignition” opportunities.
ENGAGEMENT
We also offer extended residencies during or after-school. These programs are supported in part by the Creative Schools Fund and individual donors.
CHRP’s in-school/after-school education programs help to level the playing field at a critical early age for underserved Chicago young people attending public schools that lack sufficient funds to offer high-quality, standards-based dance education programming. CHRP’s partner schools are located across Chicago.
IMMERSION
Through our world class Tap Scholar program and summer intensives, our immersion programs bring together world renowned teachers with gifted students which accelerates the advancement of the individual as well as the field.
Alumni from these programs have included a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, Michelle Dorrance, Jazz at Lincoln Center Soloist, Jared Grimes, and numerous leaders of the field of dance education, creation and performance including Dani Borak, Jumaane Taylor, Nico Rubio, Star Dixon, Chandler Brown, Ian Berg among others.
WE ALL GOT RHYTHM INSTRUCTORS
Keyana Latimer
Keyana was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She began her dance training at The Academy of Dance Arts and at the age of nine, she began choreographing dances for young teen girls in Chicago’s North Lawndale community. She made her professional debut in 2009, as a Junior Luvabulls and Bulls Kidz for Chicago’s NBA team. She later was selected to be dancer for the memorable band Pink Floyd in 2010. In 2020, she pursued her professional acting career on Fox’s television show, “Empire” and “The Chi” on showtime. Later that year, she premiered as a principal dancer in Ugly Flavors. A livestream work sample performance piece created by tap dancer Jumaane Taylor, premiered at The Dance Center of Columbia College. Keyana has also dedicated her time in being a professional stuntwoman featured on television shows such as Power Book IV: Force and the Chi. Keyana strongly believes in empowering underserved youth in Chicago through the education of the performing arts to help reflect on and envision their futures.
As a native Chicagoan, Kenneth Russell (Djedi) was the second child to be born out of 3 siblings and has been involved the in performing arts since he was 8 years old. He started out in tumbling class at Mayfair Academy, but after 2 years of repetitive routines, his enthusiasm faded, so his mother introduced him to tap dance. After all, his mother, brother, and sister were all taking up tap, so he finally gave it a shot. After his first performance, Kenn fell in love with the art form and sought after it more as years passed. He has taken master tap dance classes from some of the greatest tap dancers in the world (Jason Samuels Smith, Bril Barrett, Martin “Tre” Dumas III, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Dianne "Lady Di" Walker, Derrick Grant, Reggio McLaughlin and the late great Ernest “Brownie” Brown to name a few). Now more than 20 years in his craft, he's teaching children to pursue their dreams, while he leads by example with his own style in the art form of tap dance. Amongst other rhythmic dance genres that were picked up along the way, Djedi has been using tap dance as an outlet for healing.
Markeya was introduced to West African and Caribbean dance from the late Regina Taitts Founder & Artistic Director of NuNu Fatima Dance Company in the late 1990’s. Regina trained Markeya to the level of professionalism where she then went on to such West African dance companies such as Alyo Children's Dance Company, Najwa Dance Corp., Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, and now she’s the Founder & Artistic Director of Mofindu Urban Village Dance Company. By the way of Mofindu’s Mo’Drum Mo’Dance programs Markeya has gained a great reputation for being an awesome beginner’s drum and dance instructor. She has taught health and wellness through music, song, and dance to thousands of youths and adults for more than 15 years. Markeya is steadfast on continuing her mission of making urban villages of youth and families by removing violence and generational trauma through traditional West African & Caribbean drum and dance.
Monternez Rezell, also known as Monty, is a Choreographer, Dancer, and Teacher of all styles of Hip Hop/Break Dance, as well as tumbling. Monty is Co-Artistic Director of the world famous Stick and Move dance crew (Seen on America's Got Talent season 7), Artistic Director/Founder of Monternez Rezell’s Movement Revolution and one of the choreographers of Hip Hop Chicago, an artist collective that performs all the elements of the Hip Hop culture. Hip Hop Chicago was selected to represent Chicago and the USA at the World Expo in Shanghai, China in 2010. Monty has been blessed to travel around the world performing and teaching master classes and workshops everywhere from Chicago to Shanghai, Paris to Germany and Uganda. Monty has been selected as one of the top choreographers from Chicago to showcase in the Carnival Chicago 2011 and the Carnival Chicago 2012, a Choreographer's Ball that puts the top choreographers in the world on the same stage all in one night. He was also selected as a member of the USA dance team to compete as a soloist in the World Hip hop Championship 2010 and 2012 in Bochum, Germany. Monty's goal is to continue to spread H.I.P. H.O.P. Healthy Independent People helping Other People. His motto is Pray, Prepare, Perform and remember to always feel the beat!
Terrence Morris Jr. is a Chicago native that has been dancing since the age of 5. His journey began from watching music videos from the “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson. Although he never got the opportunity to take classes at a young age, dance still became a huge part of his life. He spent his years learning from artists such as Missy Elliot, Usher, Omarion, and various music videos & dance films that soon would flourish. At the age of 18, Terrence finally got the opportunity to take his first dance class (beginner hip-hop) with Monternez Rezell of Movement Revolution dance crew in Chicago. When Terrence made his transition to college (Marquette University) in Milwaukee, he found his new home to flourish his dancing with “HYPE: Dance Crew”. After graduating, he continued to perform with Movement Revolution and even joined a urban/fusion dance crew named “Chicago Onyx Dance Association (CODA) where he got his first experiences competing on stage against some of the most talented crews in the world. Recently, Terrence gained experience teaching dance classes with Movement Revolution’s company classes as well as teaching kids at Robert A. Black Magnet school through the Mayfair Arts Center. Through all his trials and tribulations, what now inspires him to dance is the ability to tell stories through music and dance, teaching what he has learned over the years to the current and next generation, as well as continuing to be a student and grow as a choreographer.
(She/Her) Julie Matolo is an accomplished dancer, acrobat, aerialist, stunt performer, actor, choreographer and teaching artist. Julie toured with the largest touring stunt show, “MARVEL Universe Live”, where she played Agent Maria Hill and Black Cat, in addition to multiple other tracks in the show. She considers The Joel Hall Dancers her longtime home dance company.
As a Teaching Artist, Julie has taught a diverse range of students and has worked with many children in Chicago and surrounding areas, California, Tennessee and Iowa. Inspiring artistic growth, imagination, self confidence, community and discipline, are class staples.
Julie can be seen performing in film, television, music videos, large arenas, theaters, stages, corporate venues, festivals and beyond!
Julie looks to continue to grow everyday as an artist, a performer, a teaching artist and a mentor!!
Kenneth (Djedi) Russell
Markeya Olokunsmoon Howard
Monternez Rezell
Terrence Morris Jr.
Julie Matolo
Jarais Musgrove
Jarais Musgrove is a Black, gender nonconforming Chicago-based actor, dancer, vocalist, writer, and model from Joliet, IL. They grew up performing on the stage and for their community which eventually led them to receiving a BFA in Musical Theater-Dance from Roosevelt University’s Theater Conservatory. Jarais has been seen in regional stage productions at Chicago Shakes, Drury Lane Theater, Paramount Aurora, and Steppenwolf. Within the educational sphere, they hope to not only foster the next generation of dance stewards but to also help youth develop a liberatory relationship with the craft regardless of their long term life goals.
Brenda (Malika) Moore
From the Southside of Chicago to Senegal, West Africa, Ms. Moore has fashioned a unique brand of mystical, magical dance in motion and considers herself a dance ambassador.
Ms. Moore's first dance teacher was Lucille Ellis, one of the original Katherine Dunham dancers, who provide scholarships for Ms. Moore to study with Katherine Dunham at her school in East St. Louis, IL.
Ms. Moore was also Artist-In-Residence for the City of Chicago and has served on the Dance Program Advisory Panel for the Illinois Arts Council, Technical Advisory Dance Committee for Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts & Alvin Ailey Ambassador for the Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University.
Malika's focus is to develop dancers in the intergenerational transfer of dance.
Amansu Eason
Amansu Eason began performing at age 4 with the Morning Bishop Theatre Playhouse, and at age 10 began studying ballet, jazz, tap, and modern at the Emerson School for the Visual and Performing Arts in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. Throughout his early career he has performed with Ben Harper, Euclid Gray, Celestial Voices and opened for artists such as Omarion, Marcus Houston, Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Arrested Development, and the Brat. Eason began performing with Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, under the direction of Amaniyea Payne, around this time and would continue to perform with the company until 2021. Eason began training Katherine Dunham Technique in 2008 and became a certified instructor in 2013. He has performed and trained with Chris Walker and Kevin Ormsby since 2016. Eason plans to continue learning, training, and sharing his passion for the arts with the world.
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