Chicago Human Rhythm Project
Chicago Human Rhythm Project is a nonprofit founded in 1988 that presents, teaches, and incubates American tap and percussive dance in Chicago through festivals, school programs, classes, and studio rentals. It serves dancers, K-12 students, audiences, and resident artists.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Chicago Human Rhythm Project does
Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP) is a Chicago-based nonprofit performing-arts organization founded in 1988 by Lane Alexander and Kelly Michaels that presents, teaches, and incubates American tap and contemporary percussive dance. Its core programs include Rhythm World (the oldest annual tap festival, now in its 36th edition), the Mayfair Arts Center (a five-studio education center and business incubator in the Calumet Heights neighborhood), Stomping Grounds (a city-wide percussive dance festival), Stone Soup Rhythms (a resident education ensemble delivering after-school arts classes in Chicago Public Schools), We All Got Rhythm (free school programs reaching 60,000+ children over five years), and Tap Scholarships (over $350,000 awarded to youth over 27 years). The organization employs 1-10 staff and partners with major Chicago cultural venues including Harris Theater, Millennium Park/Pritzker Pavilion, Museum of Contemporary Art, DuSable Museum of African American History, and Jazz Showcase.
CHRP's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack combining earned income from ticket sales, festival registration, dance and music classes, and studio rentals at the Mayfair Arts Center with contributed income from individual donors, corporate sponsors (e.g., Target), and a deep bench of institutional funders including MacArthur Foundation, NEA, Illinois Arts Council, Joyce, Driehaus, Shubert, Polk Bros., Pritzker, Walder, and Chicago Community Trust. Annual gala events such as JUBALEE are material fundraising vehicles (raising $200,000 in 2014). Programs are delivered through owned facilities (Mayfair Arts Center), partner venues, and CPS classroom channels; marketing runs through the organization website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter), email newsletter, press coverage, and earned community referrals.
The organization is led by Founding Director Lane Alexander (38+ years), Artistic Director Jumaane Taylor (appointed 2021), and a board chaired by Dona Williams, with no parent entity and no recent M&A activity. CHRP claims status as the first year-round presenter of concert tap and contemporary percussive dance, holds an Emmy nomination for its co-produced WTTW documentary JUBA! Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance, and has received multiple NEA American Masterpieces grants. Disclosed financial data is limited; combined earned, contributed, and in-kind contributions exceeded $1 million in 2007, the only year for which a revenue figure is available in the provided data.
Chicago Human Rhythm Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chicago Human Rhythm Project
- Legal name
- Chicago Human Rhythm Project
- Website
- https://www.chicagotap.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Chicago Human Rhythm Project is a nonprofit founded in 1988 that presents, teaches, and incubates American tap and percussive dance in Chicago through festivals, school programs, classes, and studio rentals. It serves dancers, K-12 students, audiences, and resident artists.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chicago Human Rhythm Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Dance Companies (711120), Dance Companies (71112), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tap, Jazz & Musical Theatre Dance (MPAGADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD)
Keywords
Where Chicago Human Rhythm Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Chicago Human Rhythm Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales and Performance Revenue: Revenue from concerts and performances including Rhythm World festival, Holiday Rhythms, School Shows, and other performance events throughout the year.
- Dance Classes: Fees from dance and music classes at the Mayfair Arts Center for various skill levels and age groups including children, adults, and seniors.
- Donations and Contributions: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and government funding from supporters including MacArthur Foundation, NEA, Illinois Arts Council, and individual donors.
- Space Rentals: Rental revenue from Mayfair Arts Center studios to other organizations, artists, and community groups for classes, rehearsals, and events.
- Gala Events: Revenue from annual gala events such as JUBALEE, which raised $200,000 in 2014.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Studio 1 (1,675 sq ft) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Dance and Music Classes |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Chicago Human Rhythm Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chicago Human Rhythm Project presents American tap and contemporary percussive dance through live performances, education programs, and community development initiatives. It operates the Mayfair Arts Center as an education center and business incubator offering classes, studio rentals, and residency programs for artists and organizations. It also runs school-based arts education programs, scholarships for youth, and signature festivals (Rhythm World, Stomping Grounds).
Product overview
Chicago Human Rhythm Project is a nonprofit performing arts organization that operates as a single unified offering centered on American tap and contemporary percussive arts. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected programs including Rhythm World (annual tap dance festival), Mayfair Arts Center (education center and business incubator with studios), Stomping Grounds (city-wide percussive dance festival), Stone Soup Rhythms (resident ensemble with school programs), We All Got Rhythm (free school programs), Tap Scholarships (youth financial support), and various performance concerts. The Mayfair Arts Center also offers studio rentals and residency programs for artists. Core Programs work together to deliver performances, education, and community development throughout Chicago.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rhythm World: Annual summer festival of American tap dance - the oldest and most comprehensive tap festival in the world. Currently in its 36th edition.
- Stomping Grounds
- Stone Soup Rhythms
- We All Got Rhythm
- Mayfair Arts Center (MAC)
- JUBA! Award
Products and services
- Rhythm World The oldest and most comprehensive annual festival of American tap dance in the world, featuring performances, classes, workshops, masterclasses, and residencies for tap dancers of all levels.
- Stomping Grounds
Quantifiable outcome
- 60,000+ school children reached through We All Got Rhythm program over five years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Chicago Human Rhythm Project
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Chicago Human Rhythm Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Chicago Human Rhythm Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Illinois Humanities CouncilcoreGovernment agency providing ongoing institutional support to CHRP's programs and operations.
- City of Chicago - Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)coreGovernment partner providing grants and support for cultural programming including Rhythm World festival.
- National Endowment for the ArtscoreFederal arts agency providing American Masterpieces grant and other funding support.
- Creative Schools Fund at IngenuitycoreSupports We All Got Rhythm school programs in Chicago Public Schools.
- Millennium Park FoundationcoreSupports Rhythm World festival events at Pritzker Pavilion and Millennium Park venues.
- Illinois Arts Council AgencycoreState arts agency providing grants and program support.
- DuSable Museum of African American HistorycoreVenue partner for CHRP performances and cultural programming.
- Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagocoreVenue partner for CHRP performances and cultural programming.
- Harris Theater for Music and DancecoreMajor venue partner for Stomping Grounds Grand Finale and other performances.
- WTTWcoreChicago PBS affiliate that co-produced Emmy-nominated documentary JUBA! Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance.
- Jazz ShowcasecoreHistoric Chicago jazz venue hosting CHRP performances.
- Dance USAminorNational service organization for dance communities.
- Performing Arts USA (PAS)minorService organization for performing arts.
- See Chicago DanceminorChicago dance service organization.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chicago Human Rhythm Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American Tap Dance Foundation: New York-based nonprofit dedicated to tap dance preservation, education, and presentation (Tap City festival, Tap Extravaganza). Most directly comparable to CHRP as another year-round tap-focused presenter with festival and education programming.
- Giordano Dance Chicago: Chicago-based dance company originally founded by Gus Giordano, where CHRP's first Rhythm World was held in 1988. Closely aligned in geography, genre (jazz/tap roots), and educational mission, making it a strong operational peer.
- Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Chicago-based contemporary dance company with strong education and community programming. Operates in the same metro with overlapping school-outreach and performance programming, serving as a directly comparable nonprofit dance peer.
- Deeply Rooted Dance Theater: Chicago-based dance company rooted in African American dance traditions with significant education and community engagement. Comparable in mission (cultural preservation + community programs) and geographic footprint.
- Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago: Chicago-based African dance company focused on performance, education, and community programming. Comparable as a culturally-rooted, education-forward Chicago dance nonprofit with similar revenue mix (performances, classes, school programs).
Broad incumbents
- Joffrey Ballet: Chicago's largest ballet company with major touring, education (Joffrey Academy), and community programs. Larger and broader in scope than CHRP but shares the Chicago performing-arts nonprofit model and venue partnerships.
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Premier American modern dance company with national touring, Ailey Extension (education), and school programs. Comparable as a leading dance nonprofit combining performance, education, and community engagement at a much larger scale.
- Dance Theatre of Harlem: New York-based ballet/dance company with national education programs. Comparable as a culturally-rooted dance nonprofit combining performance, school programs, and community engagement, though broader in repertoire.
Emerging players
- STOMP: Commercial percussive performance ensemble that overlaps with CHRP's percussive-dance focus. While not a direct nonprofit competitor, it competes for the same percussive-arts audience and touring slots in major venues.
- Complexions Contemporary Ballet: Contemporary dance company with strong education and outreach programming. Comparable in scale and nonprofit/educational orientation, though contemporary ballet rather than tap-specific.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chicago Human Rhythm Project social profiles
Digital presenceChicago Human Rhythm Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chicago Human Rhythm Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Chicago Human Rhythm Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chicago Human Rhythm Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Human Rhythm Project
What does Chicago Human Rhythm Project do?
Chicago Human Rhythm Project presents American tap and contemporary percussive dance through live performances, education programs, and community development initiatives. It operates the Mayfair Arts Center as an education center and business incubator offering classes, studio rentals, and residency programs for artists and organizations. It also runs school-based arts education programs, scholarships for youth, and signature festivals (Rhythm World, Stomping Grounds).
Is Chicago Human Rhythm Project a public or private company?
Chicago Human Rhythm Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Chicago Human Rhythm Project founded?
Chicago Human Rhythm Project was founded in 1988. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Chicago Human Rhythm Project based?
Chicago Human Rhythm Project is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chicago Human Rhythm Project make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales and Performance Revenue is the primary driver. The others are dance Classes, donations and Contributions, space Rentals and gala Events.
Who are Chicago Human Rhythm Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American Tap Dance Foundation, Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago. Broad incumbents are Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Emerging players are STOMP and Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
Does Chicago Human Rhythm Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chicago Human Rhythm Project.
What industry is Chicago Human Rhythm Project in?
Chicago Human Rhythm Project's product category is Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGADAG, Tap, Jazz & Musical Theatre Dance, with a secondary code of MPAGADAJ, Dance Festivals & Dance Series. Its NAICS code is 711120 and its SIC code is 7900.