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
Kenneth Russell
Keyana Latimer is an African American actress, singer and dancer. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Keyana began her dance training at The Academy of Dance Arts. At the age of nine, she started 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 her early adolescent years, she devoted much of her time and talent while in middle and high school. She became head choreographer for many school plays and musicals. She was also a writer and composer for the musical, Train performed at Trinity High-school.
In 2020, she pursued her professional acting career landing a principal role on Fox’s television show, “Empire” and “The Chi” on showtime. She later premiered as a principal dancer in Ugly Flavors. A livestream work sample performance piece created by tap dancer Jumaane Taylor, and premiered at The Dance Center of Columbia College. Keyana’s ultimate goal is to empower underserved youth in Chicago through the education of the performing arts.
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 Olokunsmoon Howard
Markeya Olokunsmoon Howard a proud Chicago native, began studying traditional West African & Caribbean dance at the age of 11. She credits her success to a great dance companies such as Alyo Children’s Dance Theater, Silimbo West African Dance Company, NAJWA Dance Corp., Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, and Ayodele African Drum & Dance Company. Markeya’s passion for Afro-Cuban folklore has led to many travels to the Caribbean island. Learning multiple styles of Cuban dance styles such as Rumba, Palo, Orisha, Son, and Cuban-Salsa from master instructors from Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Matanzas.
Markeya remains the Founder & Artistic Director of Mofindu West African Dance Company, founded in 2008. in 2013, Markeya launched The Mofindu Urban Village Program to provided arts education to youth in the urban communities that would likely never have the opportunity to experience traditional performing arts. Successful programs have been assisted with After School Matters, B.U.I.L.D. Chicago, and Chicago Teen Youth Empowerment Programs with in the last 10 years. Markeya instructs at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, The Firehouse Community Arts Center, and The American Rhythm Center for all ages.
Monternez Rezell
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.
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. “Watching him perform was like watching an artist paint on a canvas”; the most memorable of which were "Smooth Criminal" and "Thriller". Upon first discovering dance from this master, Terrence had been practicing his glides and moon-walking in school and in grocery stores growing up. 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. He would also learn all the famous dance crazes and make videos in his basement to study and further improve his technique. 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. Monte saw his potential and added him to the crew, where to this day continues his training as well as performing in various venues across the Midwest. When Terrence made his transition to college (Marquette University) in Milwaukee, he found his new home to flourish his dancing with “HYPE: Dance Crew”. Where he would stay and perform all while balancing school, work, and his soon to be acting career. 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. Through his journey, Terrence also found a new way to incorporate his acting through comedic movement in joining Comedy Dance Chicago. 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 Academy. 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. “I’m finally at a place where I just want to continue to put myself out there and hope to entertain the world with wondrous tales. I can't wait to see how much higher I can go in my career as a performer."