Jumaane Taylor, a Chicago native, has been tap dancing since the age of 7 at the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre. He has had the opportunity to train with Idella Reed Davis, Geraldine Williams, Runako Jahi, Bril Barrett, Martin Dumas III, Jimmy Payne Jr., and George Patterson III.
Jumaane was part of the ensemble in Imagine Tap! (2006 directed and choreographed by Derick Grant); Tap Into Peace (2009 directed and choreographed by Sarah Savelli and Ayodele Casel); and Rasta Thomas' Tap Stars that showcased in Hamburg, Germany. Also since 2008 tapping as a member of local bands, Corey Wilkes ‘Abstrakt Pulse’, ‘Sidewalk Chalk’, Ernest Dawkins ‘We Free Three’, the ‘Isaiah Spencer Collective’ and Justin Dillard’s ‘Set Tripping’.
In 2015 Jumaane created Supreme Love. A tap dance production honoring John Coltrane’s 'A Love Supreme', premiering at jazz music and dance festivals including Jacob's Pillow in 2017. In 2018 he established Heel and Toe Productions, presenting The Jazz Hoofing Quartet, to continue the progressive exploration of live music with tap. 2020 began ‘Ugly Flavors’ with harmolodics, four Ornette Coleman selections then half of Igor Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring'. Choreographing a new layer of rhythmical bars on these legendary compositions, as the tap dancers celebrate their relationship to the earth. Jumaane's 2022 presented ‘Cheap Suites & Hotels’, a collection of short choreographed works with selected instrumentals.
Jumaane has received the Black Excellence 2024 Outstanding Choreographer Award, 3Arts 2019 Award and Chicago Dancemakers Forum 2017 Lab Artist Award. Plus has been recognized by NewCity Magazine as one of the top 50 annual leaders of Chicago culture in 2022, 2024 and 2026. Jumaane presented his work with the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art, Jazz Institute of Chicago, Columbia College-Dance Center, Harris Theater and abroad. He teaches at Mayfair Arts Center, Ruth Page School of Dance, and the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Since 2021 Jumaane has also been the artistic director of the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, directing their annual tap festival Rhythm World and continuing to be dedicated to the proper advancement of tap dance.
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