THE BRIL BUNCH Chicago Bril Barrett continues to influence the lives of many dancers
Six members of the international group, M.A.D.D. Rhythms
(Making a Difference Dancing), made a huge impact on the 2006 St. Louis Tap Festival. From the Chicago wing of M.A.D.D., Lee Howard, Nico Rubio, Jaybo Dixon and Star Dixon were sensational in all their classes and performances. Canadians Danny Neilsen and Lisa LaTouche inspired their audiences and LaTouche taught on the faculty by special invitation from St. Louis Tap Festival Director, Robert L. Reed.
Founder and Director of the M.A.D.D. Rhythms Company, Bril Barrett, started the group in Chicago and with the help of Lisa LaTouche, expanded it to include a Canadian branch. It was ably represented by these six members.
Lee Howard--Musical Genius Lee Howard is only a high-school senior. He started tap and acrobatic classes at
ten years old, at his mother's insistence, at the Sammy Dyer School of Theatre in Chicago. M.A.D.D. Rhythms founder, Bril Barrett, and Idella Reed were his teachers. He came to his first M.A.D.D. Rhythms class at the invitation of Bril Barrett, and it was a unique experience. "It was different because of 'improv'and the whole level of choreography and mentality was different," Howard stated. "You had to be in a different mode. You had to understand the choreography and how to stay with the music, understand phrasing and rhythmicality and how it made sense wherever it was going." Even though he is still in high school, Howard has been with M.A.D.D. Rhythms for six years.
"Musical genius! Lee is to tap dance what Coltrane, Monk and Bird were to jazz-pure unadulterated genius!" Bril
Barrett exclaims.
Howard reciprocates in his appreciation of earlier generations. "Every time I go to the St. Louis Tap Festival, it changes my perception of dance-just being around others...the masters...to learn about the history gave me a whole other level of understanding," Howard said. "Everyone is family there. There are so many others who are in dance from other places. I felt privileged to talk to Dr. Leonard Reed before he passed. I didn't know what he had contributed. I enjoyed talking to Dr. Jimmy Slyde and the others. I enjoy the jams, showcase, theatre, classes, and history. Everything
is nice and Robert Reed is appreciated."
Lee Howard would like to be famous, which he no doubt will, but most of all he wants to get dance out into the community where it is appreciated. He hopes to make a living by this dream. He wants dance to be successful and to be successful himself. "Bril has been a big
influence," Howard said. "Previously I wasn't thinking of dance as a career. It has affected every aspect of my life. It gave me focus. It gave me a path to follow
and goals to shoot for."
Jaybo Dixon--Entertainer
A younger brother of Bril Barrett, Jaybo Dixon decided to dance with M.A.D.D. Rhythms when there only six boys in the group. Later, Star (Bril's and Jaybo's younger sister) and M.A.D.D. Rhythms Technical Director Jumaane Taylor joined the first group in Chicago. "Once I started getting pretty good at it, it helped me realize that I enjoyed it more. I was able to do more. At first I stayed in the group because there was a girl I liked. After that I developed a real love for tap and all dancing and began to create and express myself."
"Jaybo is a strong dedicated tap dancer who has committed to constantly improving and representing the nature of an entertainer," said Bril Barrett.
Dixon cherishes his first St. Louis Tap Festival and meeting Dr. Jimmy Slyde, Dr. Leonard Reed, Dr. Prince Spencer, Harold Cromer and Robert Reed. He still feels the ir influence, along with that of others in the older generation: Harold Cromer, Dr. Bunny Briggs, Arthur
Duncan and Ernest "Brownie" Brown.
"Now in today's world I am inspired by Jason (Samuels Smith), Dormeshia (Sumbry-Edwards) and Derick Grant,"
says Dixon.
"I want to share my tap with the world and write a show that runs in Chicago, my home. I hope to bring tap to the public and help make it easily accessible." One of Jaybo Dixon's personal goals and dreams is to be on the Oprah show.
Star Dixon--Dance Technician "At first I use to complain when [brother] Bril would teach at my school," Star
Dixon recalled. "Later, I began to like it. I saw Idella Reed in Chicago at the Black Women's Expo. Bril started with all boys but started bringing me to practice when I was nine years old because I asked him." That's when girls were allowed." Star is Bril's and Jaybo's younger sister.
"Star has amazing technical ability and musical dexterity. She is one to watch!" said Bril Barrett.
Dixon is inspired by Idella Reed, Dianne Walker, Jimmy Slyde, the late Gregory Hines, Savion, Dormeshia Sumbry-
Edwards, Jason Samuels Smith, Chloe Arnold, Ayodele Casel, and many young people. People who have influenced her include M.A.D.D. Rhythms Co-Director Martin "Tre" Dumas, its Technical Director Jumaane Taylor, and its
Founder and Director Bril Barrett.
"It felt great to attend the St. Louis Tap Festival because I got to learn from the legends like Dr. Prince Spencer, Dr. Jimmy Slyde, Harold Cromer, Brownie, Arthur Duncan and Dr. Leonard Reed. They were willing to share. The tap jams are good because you can see all the things people are doing and what they do best."
Like so many gifted entertainers, Star Dixon wants to travel and spread the word of tap.
Nico Rubio--The Heart of A Hoofer
Beginning at the age of 10 years, Nico Rubio took ballet, tap and jazz at a Chicago studio with his sister Michele. "I saw Savion dance and then I met Bril when I was about 12 years old," Nico recalled. "I used to do competitions where Bril judged and he invited me to the South Shore Cultural Center where they 'improvised.'"
Improvisation was a new experience for Nico, but after five weeks Bril asked him to audition for the M.A.D.D. Rhythms Company. He was 13. That first year the Company went to the St. Louis Tap Festival and Rubio met Robert. L. Reed.
"We had talked about the hoofers during breaks at rehearsals and to meet Jimmy Slyde, Robert Reed, Dianne
Walker, and Leonard Reed was a privilege and of course we loved meeting Dormeshia," Nico said. "It was a good
experience. You could see the art form that everyone had, even in the hallways, they would show you things.
They were sharing. Bril introduced me to a different style. His style was different from studio tap. Studio tap is not wrong, but Bril's style attracted me. He
was improvising and it was so cool to me to see someone coming up with something off the top of their head without being choreographed first."
"Nico is fast becoming one to watch," said Bril Barrett. "His command of the essence of rhythm and ability to communicate it, almost effortlessly, makes him a rhythmic breath of fresh air!"
"The St. Louis Festival has helped me evolve as a dancer through the showcase, jams and theatre performances.
Meeting people my age was important. At school they would tease me, but when you see other people your age you realize you are not the only one out there. The whole St. Louis Festival has helped me to do things the right way. At first I didn't realize it was important to watch older tap dancers on VHS until I was taught respect for the people who came there. After St. Louis I asked Jumaane Taylor if he would make me some copies
of the elder hoofers dancing."
Though still a Junior in high school, Rubio has already inherited the older hoofers' desire to share his art. Nico Rubio wants to make a difference and change people the way people have changed him. He credits M.A.D.D.
Rhythms with helping him to make something of his life and inspiring his plan to attend college at Columbia in
Chicago and to "make jobs happen."
Lisa LaTouche--Living Her Dream While in college, studying engineering, Lisa LaTouche began teaching dance. Thanks to an opportunity Sean Cheeseman provided, she realized she could make a living in tap. "Well that was it," La Touche stated. "After that show I realized that I could get paid to do what I loved. I had a passion and wanted to learn more."
LaTouche, a Canadian, first met Bril Barrett in Calgary when she started a weekly summer dance camp with Sean
Cheeseman. Cheeseman brought in Bril Barrett. "Bril and I hit it off from the getgo. I loved his classes and teaching style and most of all how much he really talked about tap dance. His passion was always evident."
"Lisa has great talent, but humility and understanding," said Robert L. Reed. "She shows joy when she teaches and
presents the art form the correct way through her performing and teaching."
Later, Bril suggested that they start a M.A.D.D.Rhythms group in Canada, expanding it beyond the original
Chicago Group. In October 2003, she recruited 14 dancers to begin rehearsals that led to 80 for the first workshop. In June of 2004, they did a festival in
Canada and brought in M.A.D.D. Co- Director Tre Dumas, Technical Director Jumaane Taylor, and Founder and
Director Bril Barrett to lead. In January of 2005 they created and directed their first full festival in Canada, and honored Dr. Jeni LeGon.
In 2004, LaTouche brought nine of the Canadian M.A.A.D. Rhythms dancers to the St. Louis Tap Festival to meet the Chicago group that Bril brought. They combined to perform a number that both groups knew from Bril's repertoire. There were more than 20 sharing the stage.
"That was the first time I met Robert (Reed) and he made us feel so welcome," LaTouche said. "I knew from the
first day what a treasure it was as there was nothing but love, passion and respect all the way around. The fact that you have such greats at your disposal all
living in the same hotel is unimaginable. All the stories, the songs, and random video sessions are moments that I will remember for a lifetime."
She has served on the faculty of the St. Louis Tap Festival ever since. "The spirit of tap truly shines at the St. Louis Tap Festival," LaTouche said.
LaTouche wanted to continue her personal growth and, with Bril's approval, moved to Chicago to continue her dancing with the M.A.D.D. Rhythms group there. Now Danny Neilsen spearheads projects for M.A.D.D. Rhythms in
Canada.
Danny Nielsen--Hittin' Hard, Workin' Hard
Nielsen, also a Canadian, and a member of the Canadian arm of M.A.D.D. Rhythms, began tap dancing at age
eight, tutored by his sister. He connected with Lisa LaTouche at age 14 at a summer dance camp. She recommended him for the Sean Cheeseman Dance Camp where Bril Barrett was teaching. "After working with these two, I knew it was what I wanted to do," Nielsen stated.
LaTouche and Barrett connected and on October 5th, 2003, M.A.D.D. Rhythms Canada held their first rehearsal. Nielsen was one of the Canadian group's first members, and now leads its Canadian activities.
"Danny has respect for the art form and is hittin' well," said Robert L. Reed.
"I have attended the St. Louis Tap Festival the last 3 years and it has been such an eye opener to me," Neilsen
said. "There is so much history learned each year in the classes, the discussions, everywhere. The SLTF has definitely influenced me to always keep working hard and practicing and that no matter where you are to carry the
art form of tap dance forward. Hearing about all their struggles and the fact that they persevered through everything simply for the love of their art form left an impact on me. That really taught me not to take anything for granted and to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself."
"For a Canadian, having contact with a group like M.A.D.D. Rhythms and with Bril is truly surreal to me. Bril is definitely a motivator and a preserver of tap
dance. He always supports me in whatever I do and offers guidance. Bril and Lisa have truly motivated me and supported me to create opportunities for tap dance in Calgary. To be associated with them keeps me working as hard as I possibly can every day."
The "Bril Bunch" represent tap at the highest level and proudly represented their M.A.D.D. Rhythms group and its
directors.
Robert L. Reed, director of the St. Louis Tap Festival sums up the tap world's appreciation of the efforts of these young people and their directors. "Because they dance at such a high level, their dedication to the art form inspires other youth. Through the leadership of
Bril Barrett, they know the right way to do things. They are learning to respect the history and the art form in general. They are ambassadors to the youth. They are being given the discipline that it takes to succeed and it carries over into other aspects of their lives."