Jumaane Taylor

Jumaane Taylor, a Chicago native, has been tap dancing since the age of 7 beginning at the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre. He has been 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.

In 2015, Jumaane created ‘Supreme Love’. A dance production honoring John Coltrane’s ‘A Love Supreme’ and the art of tap with live musicians, premiering at jazz music and dance festivals including Jacob’s Pillow in 2017. In 2018 he established The Jazz Hoofing Quartet, a solo dance performance using improvisation to continue the progressive exploration of live music and tap.

Jumaane has received the Black Excellence 2024 Outstanding Choreographer Award, 3Arts 2019 Award and Chicago Dancemakers Forum 2017 Lab Artist Award. Presented his work with the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art, Jazz Institute of Chicago, Columbia College-Dance Center 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, continuing to be dedicated to the proper advancement of tap dance.