Photos From...

Lane Alexander's Chicago Human Rhythm Project was contracted by the China Performing Arts Agency to put together an all-American tap extravaganza to perform at the 5th Annual Beijing International Dance Festival. This history-making opportunity eventually led to a cast of 28 teens, 17 adult performers, a 7-person band from Chicago's Columbia College, and a 5-person tech crew heading to Beijing on the adventure of a lifetime.

Lane assembled a cast including 6 youth ensembles who have worked and studied together at CHRP’s Youth Tap Ensemble Conferences over the years: Footprints Tap Ensemble (IL), Keane Sense of Rhythm (MN), North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NC), Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble (Metro DC), RPM (TX), and Sole-2-Souls (IL).

In addition to the teens, "Juba, Masters of Tap" included an all-star cast of professional dancers from across the US and Canada including, Harold Cromer, Tre Dumas, Dormeisha Sumbry-Edwards, Ted Levy, Jason Samuels Smith, and Sam Weber as well as Lane Alexander himself. Lane's adult ensemble BAM and Jason’s company ACGI were also featured on the tour.

The trip was amazing for so many reasons – and among other wonderful things, it gave us a chance to reconnect with Alison Friedman, a TWA alum who lives and works in Beijing, pictured above with Lane Alexander and the four TWA members who made the trip.