Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT), completes its 22nd season with the world premiere of For All We Know, choreographed by Sterling Harris and music directed by Emma Blau with additional works by Mark Yonally, Molly Smith, and Sara Anderson, June 5-8 at The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway Ave. Performances are Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $35 - $65. Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased by visiting https://chicagotaptheatre.com/see-a-show/
For All We Know is an investigation of our understanding of love as reflected through the journey of pursuing tap dance. Largely inspired by bell hooks’ book “all about love,” Director Sterling Harris aims to share this journey by collaborating with Composer and Musical Director Emma Blau and the tap dance artists of Chicago Tap Theatre. For All We Know asks audiences to view tap dance and jazz music from a new angle and will leave them asking, “What is the true meaning of love?” Filled with original compositions, striking choreography and heartwarming resolutions, For All We Know is not a show to miss.
“When preparing for this opportunity to create a new work I knew that I wanted to build on the concepts we explored in Synesthete and also reflect on how my relationship to the dance and the world around me has developed since then,” said Harris. “At the height of this personal investigation, bell hooks’ “all about love” fell into my lap. Her revolutionary and passionate perspective on love seemed to speak directly to the lessons I am learning and practicing through the dance and shares the same goals that I hope to accomplish through the work I create: building and uplifting community, resisting oppression and domination and authentically expressing joy.”
For All We Know features the choreography of Sterling Harris and the company of Chicago Tap Theatre: Sara Anderson, Ellie Guzzano, Sterling Harris, Roxy King, Heather Latakas, Chris Matthews, Kelsey Nickens, Molly Smith, Greta Sorensen, Mark Yonally, with additional works by Mark Yonally, Molly Smith, and Sara Anderson.
Accompanying the dancers will be local Chicago jazz musicians, led by composer and music director Emma Blau. The band includes Brandon Harper (piano); Carmani Edwards (bass) and Daniel Gayden (drums).
ABOUT CHICAGO TAP THEATRE
Founded in 2002, Chicago Tap Theatre is a growing and vibrant dance company dedicated to preserving the quintessentially American dance form of tap while taking it to the next level of creativity, innovation and quality. CTT 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. Under the dynamic direction of master teacher and performer Mark Yonally, CTT has gained a loyal and sizable following in Chicago and continues to tour both nationally and internationally. Having pioneered the “tap opera” format, which tells stories with compelling characters and intriguing plots, CTT has used the language of tap dance, live music and narration to move audiences for more than 20 years.
ABOUT STERLING HARRIS
Sterling Harris (he/him), a Chicago native now based in New York, fell in love with tap dance at the age of seven and hasn’t stopped dancing since. Since earning a B.A. in neuroscience from Northwestern University, he has been devoted to pursuing his passion for tap dance as a performer, choreographer and educator. Harris is currently the artistic associate of Chicago Tap Theatre and was responsible for the directing of their show Synesthete. In addition to his work with Chicago Tap Theatre, he performs with MADD Rhythms, Dorrance Dance and Music From The Sole. Recent credits include performances at Jacob’s Pillow, the Joyce Theater, the Kennedy Center and the Auditorium Theatre. In addition to performing, Harris has had the honor of teaching various workshops and at festivals nationally and internationally including the Chicago Tap Summit, the STL Rhythm Tap Fest and RIFF Dallas. Heis also a proud alumnus of the Tap Program at The School at Jacob’s Pillow and the recipient of the 2021 Lorna Strassler Award for Student Excellence. Harris has also been featured in Dance Magazine and NewCity ’s “Players 2025: The 50 People Who Really Perform for Chicago.”
ABOUT EMMA BLAU
Emma Blau, "Tromblau", is a Chicago-based trombonist, composer, DJ and Jewish educator born and raised in New York City. She graduated from The Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University where she studied under Victor Goines, Vincent Gardener and Tom Garling. In May 2022, she created Tromblau&Friends, a collective playing her original compositions inspired by Black American music as well as Jewish music and liturgy (avodah). Her compositions combine freedom, prayer and play to create alternate realities that seek to protest the mundanity of oppression and suppression. Tromblau&Friends includes collaborators Carmani Edwards, Aliyah Jones, Dakarai Barclay, Max Lazarus, Jonah Lazarus, and Julius Tucker. Tromblau&Friends performs regularly and is featured among many venues across the Chicagoland area, including the renowned Marvin Tate’s Y Theater. Recently, International Anthem invited her to lead a trio for their 11th-anniversary series to respond to their first-ever release, “Alternate Moon Cycles” by Rob Mazurek. Blauis also composing the original score and is the music director for Chicago Tap Theater's final production of the 2024-25 season, for all we know, choreographed by Sterling Harris. Alongside food justice organizer and DJ, Nick Davis aka nick2bomb and Julius Tucker, she plays with their trio, NUDJE. nick2bomb and she also cohost a jam session, “The Playdate,” where attendees are encouraged to access their imagination through Jazz, House, Disco and Hip-Hop. She has performed with musicians such as William Parker, Teddy Campbell and Shenel Johns in venues such as Birdland and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York and Oliver's Jazz Bar in London. More information on upcoming shows and how to play with Blau may be found through Instagram” @tromblau.
Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT), completes its 22nd season with the world premiere of For All We Know, choreographed by Sterling Harris and music directed by Emma Blau with additional works by Mark Yonally, Molly Smith, and Sara Anderson, June 5-8 at The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway Ave. Performances are Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $35 - $65. Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased by visiting https://chicagotaptheatre.com/see-a-show/
This season is partially supported by a grant from The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Arts Midwest GIG Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Illinois Arts Council and many generous individual and corporate donors.