M.A.D.D. Rhythms kicks off year 20 with new company members

Now in its 20th year, the tap dance company M.A.D.D. Rhythms is adding four new dancers, announced Wednesday. Ivy Anderson, Izaiah Montaque Harris, Caleb Jackson and Molly Sute join this extraordinary group of hoofers, led by artistic director Bril Barrett.

Anderson, of Muncie, IN, will continue dancing with 333, a group started by Nico Rubio, in addition to M.A.D.D. Rhythms. Chicago High School for the Performing Arts and Columbia College alum Harris studied contemporary, urban and popular music, recently finishing an 8-month stint in the musical "After Mindnight" on Norwegian Cruise Lines. Seventeen-year-old Jackson has worked his way up the ranks with M.A.D.D. Rhythms, begining at age 10 in the company's tap academy. And Michigander Sute has numerous performance credits including Detroit Music Weekend, Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit Pride and the Detroit Pistons Drumline.

“These new members give all of us another reason to celebrate our 20th anniversary season. We welcome Ivy, Izaiah, Caleb and Molly to the company,” said Barrett in a prepared statement. “Each of these young people has been dancing for almost their entire lives and we look forward to seeing them grow, learn, teach and perform as members of M.A.D.D. Rhythms.”

Upcoming events, planned as a mostly digital season, will include a new documentary about the company, a full docket of classes and tap jams, plus the return of the Chicago Tap Summit.