Saturday, April 29, 2017
Our Mission
Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2016-2017 season is made possible, in part, by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, F.M. Kirby Foundation and other numerous foundations, corporations and individuals. As a courtesy to the artists and for the uninterrupted enjoyment of your fellow patrons, please turn off all cell phones, pagers, beepers and other electronic devices. Please unwrap any lozenges before the performance begins. No portion of this performance may be photographed, recorded, filmed, taped, broadcast or mechanically reproduced without the written consent of the Artist and/or the Presenter. Mayo Performing Arts Center is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Rhythmic Circus: Feet Don't Fail Me Now! Rhythmic Circus is a troupe of 13 internationally renowned artists and the creators of Feet Don't Fail Me Now. Since their early beginnings eight years ago at a small theatre in Northeast Minneapolis, they have grown into an international sensation touring to over 200 cities worldwide. The brilliance of Rhythmic Circus has been marked by their production's rave reviews, sold-out engagements and numerous awards, which include: 2 Sage Awards for Outstanding Ensemble and Performance, the "Spirit of the Fringe" Award (Edinburgh Fringe Festival's top theatrical award), 2 Upper Midwest Emmys, as well as being named "Best Dance Performance" by the City Pages.
Musical Numbers A Capella We Got It
Dream Song
Feet Don't Fail Me Now
Salsa
Heatbox
Heatbox
I Believe
Battle
World Tour
Boogie Monster
Chairs
Circus
Great Big Ending
Ninja (FDFMN Reprise)
- Intermission -
Who's Who Ricci Milan – Dancer/Artistic Director
Nick Bowman – Dancer/Executive Director
Ricci received his early training at Larkin Dance Studio under the direction of Michele and Molly Larkin and has since been professionally entertaining audiences for over 15 years. He was a featured soloist in ONE at the Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach, SC, and in Tap Happy for Two at Tokyo Disneyland. He has choreographed and performed for the NFL, NBA and NCAA. Ricci was a cocreator and choreographer for the nationally and internationally acclaimed tap dance company Ten Foot Five, which he toured with extensively for 10 years. He is honored by his work as artistic director of Rhythmic Circus and looks forward to the 2016-17 North American tour of Feet Don’t Fail Me Now.
Nick is one of the dance industry’s finest tap technicians and one of the most sought-after tap choreographers in the U.S. In addition to his role as executive director of Rhythmic Circus and co-creator of Feet Don’t Fail Me Now, he is currently on faculty with the nation’s premiere touring dance convention West Coast Dance Explosion, for which he has been the master tap teacher for the past 8 seasons. As an adjudicator and master teacher, Bowman has worked with many dance organizations, competitions, universities, and dance studios worldwide, having students go on to perform in every avenue of the performance industry. His performance credits include Caution Men at Work: TAP, Legends of Tap, Disney’s La Feet and Buckets and Tap Shoes.
Who's Who Kaleena Miller - Dancer
Aaron “Heatbox” Heaton – Beatbox/Vocals/ Kaleena is a Minneapolis-based performer, Percussion choreographer and teacher best known Heatbox is a one-man beatboxing sensation for her work in the tap dance genre. from Minnesota who has been singing She is a founding member of Rhythmic since the age of ten. He describes his music Circus, and currently tours nationally and as sounding like “a funky a’cappella group internationally with their production Feet from outerspace.” He built a reputation for Don’t Fail Me Now! As a solo artist, she is himself while performing with Twin Cities’ a 2007 SAGE Award recipient for People’s band Root City (voted Best Blues Band of the Choice and a 2011 nominee for Outstanding Twin Cities by the readers of City Pages in Performer. She has received funding from 2006), as well as a one man band, Heatbox the Jerome Foundation, and has twice been (1st place at the 2007 “Yo! The Music” commissioned to create works for the Walker Minneapolis beatbox battle.) In addition to Art Center. In 2011, she starred in Untitled, performing with Rhythmic Circus, Heatbox a silent tap film as part of the Dance/Film is constantly touring internationally with top Project in Minneapolis. She graduated from acts, appearing at the most popular musical the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with festivals in the world and opening for famous a BFA in Dance, and has received tap training musicians such as Cee- Lo, Boyz II Men and from Char Weiss, Karla Grotting, Heather George Clinton. Cornell and Roxane Butterfly. Dan Ristrom – Vocals/Bass Guitar Galen Higgins - Dancer Music has been the driving force in Dan's Galen started dancing at The Dance Shoppe in life from a very early age. Following in Plymouth, Minnesota at the age of three. After the footsteps of his parents - son of Jazz receiving his early training and graduating guitarist, Reuben, and Music Educator/Choral from their program, Galen has continued Director/ Organist, Diane – Dan pursued dancing at the University of Minnesota, where Music Education and Performance as his he is currently busy pursuing two degrees: career. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in a BS in Graphic Design, and a BA in Dance. Music Education with a Vocal Emphasis from In June of 2009, he performed as a member the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Dan in the Ensemble of the Ordway Theater’s returned to the Twin Cities and started his production of Singin’ In The Rain. He has also band, ‘The Throwdown.’ His musical talent performed dance works by choreographers has taken him all over the world. Whether he Keri LaGrand, Ray Leeper and Desiree Robins is playing electric bass, singing, or teaching, and has toured extensively performing and music is Dan's life and passion. teaching nation-wide. Josue Alfaro – Drums/Vocals/Guitar Cornell Blanchard – Keyboards/Vocals Josue’s heartbeat is aligned with the pulse Cornell sang and trained as a pianist since the of music. His zest for music began at the age of nine and has become a highly sought age 6 in Brazil where he was raised by after performance and studio musician in the a family deeply rooted in the Arts. Now Twin Cities area. He studied music, theatre established in the Twin Cities, Josue is and dance at the University of Minnesota- the go-to drummer for Belladiva, and has Duluth where he aided many mainstage worked both nationally and internationally productions during his time there as Musical with Northstar. He stays connected to his Director. Cornell loves to sing, teach, dance Latin roots as the drummer for the 15-yearand entertain and he is loving every minute old Brazilian jazz group Ticket to Brasil and of being a new dad! collaborates regularly with a variety of Twin
Who's Who Cities' musicians, including Coyote Wild, The Big Throwdown, Viva Brazil, Elliott Blaufuss & The Sensitive Fellas, and others. David Feily - Guitar David is a professional multi-instrumentalist based in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota). Raised in the Washington D.C. Metro area, David moved to Minnesota to attend the University of St. Thomas where he graduated in 2011 with a BA in Music. He has been a professional performing artist for the past 10 years and continues be to an active member in the music scene. David is an active composer, private instructor, recording artist, and touring artist who performs locally, nationally and internationally. Aaron Wiener - Trumpet Born in Eugene, OR and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Aaron moved to the twin cities in 2000 to pursue a degree in classical trumpet performance from the University of Minnesota. Studying under the likes of David Baldwin, Craig Kirchhoff, Gunther Schuller and Charles Lazarus, he developed the facility to blend jazz, classical, r&b and world musics. He's been touring nationally and internationally with various projects for the past decade and can currently be seen with Dan Ristrom and the Big Throwdown, Alex Rossi, and Bluewater Kings Band, in addition to the Rhythmic Circus.
of the celebrated electric jazz unit Moveable Feast and is a regular feature in a host of others. He's been in the bands of national performers, some of which include Cynthia Johnson (Funkytown), Jennifer Holliday (Dream Girls' Grammy winning vocalist), the Horn Heads, Eric Kamau Gravatte (of Weather Report fame) and Nachito Herrera. Peter has been recorded on more than 40 albums including his own 2014 release What You Believe Is True which was listed in Minnesota Public Radio's top ten “Jazz Favorites of 2014”. He also has many commercial television, independent film and theater soundtrack credits. www.petervircks.com Miles Hanson – Audio Engineer/Sound Designer Miles is a live sound engineer and Emmy award winning record producer, engineer and mixer based out of Minneapolis, MN. When not touring with Rhythmic Circus he can be found at Creation Audio where he's had the opportunity to work on projects ranging from Taj Mahal to Eric Hutchinson to Prince, as well the finest musicians the Twin Cities have to offer. Mark Ruark – Company Manager/Lighting Designer
Mark is a theatre artist. He learned his craft at the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He has Peter Vircks - Saxophone worked professionally in many capacities, Saxophonist Peter Vircks has established including: stage, costume, lighting, and sound himself as a versatile artist with a uniquely design; stage management; technician; rich instrumental voice. Aside from being a musician, singer, dancer and actor. When he contributing member of the award winning is not touring the globe with Rhythmic Circus, theater experience Rhythmic Circus: Feet Don't you can find him creating sound and music Fail Me Now, he is bandleader of the Peter at home in Minneapolis. You can find some of Vircks Quartet and Midnight Love, co-founder his work online at www.liarsconspiracy.com.