Chicago Tap Theatre

"Many wonder if tap can sustain an entire evening in repertory performance. Chicago Tap Theatre proves that it's not only possible, but it is also every bit as engaging as any other dance genre and in many ways, far more entertaining and accessible." 

— Tommy Hensel, Managing Director, Fine and Performing Arts Center, Moraine Valley Community College

Chicago Tap Theatre is a vibrant dance company with a unique mission to preserve the quintessentially American dance form of tap and to take tap to the next level of creativity and innovation. The company stands apart from other dance companies by bridging the gap between tap and other forms of concert dance (such as jazz, ballet and modern) by adopting a conceptual, narrative (i.e., story based) and more emotional approach to its work. 

Chicago Tap Theatre performs exclusively with live music provided by some of Chicago’s finest musicians  playing everything from Duke Ellington to David Bowie, and many artists in between.  The company has performed the works of Buster Brown, Eddie Brown and Bill Evans, and regularly performs classic, universal tap pieces such as the BS Chorus and the Shim Sham. Chicago Tap Theatre has performed in traditional and non-traditional settings including the historic Green Mill, Jazz Dance World Festival, the New York Musical Theatre Festival and Lollapalooza.

Chicago Tap Theatre offers master classes and workshops. Artistic Director Mark Yonally is a sought-after master teacher in tap dance, improvisation, tap and jazz music history and music theory for dancers.

Touring programs include:

• Unleash the Beats a celebration of tap dance and live music from the 1920’s to the future.

• Sweet Tap Chicago! a celebration of the City of Chicago and the music it inspires.

• Liaisons featuring two guest companies from France and Spain.