A charter member
of the ensemble, Kristi is now in her 5th season.She is also the Education Coordinator for the
Chicago Human Rhythm
Project.After graduating from the
University of Oklahoma with a BS in Health and Sport Sciences, Kristi became a
performing member of Especially Tap Chicago and is currently in her 9th season
under the direction of Julie Cartier.In
2006, she was chosen to work with Lou Conte on his tribute piece to Bill
“Bojangles” Robinson.In addition to
performing, Kristi has taught at Lou Conte School of Dance and is currently
teaching at The Tap Studio in Chicago.In July of 2008, Kristi founded Dance Profusion Project, a project
designed to utilize professional dancers from Chicago to increase dance
awareness and education throughout Oklahoma. Kristi can be seen in the PBS
documentary “Dance in Chicago” highlighting Fayard Nicholas.
Heather Brown (St. Charles, MO)
In
her 2nd season with BAM!, Heather has had the opportunity to perform at the
International Dance Festival in Beijing, China, and throughout Chicago and the
Midwest in such venues as the Harris Theater and the Pritzker Pavilion in
Chicago’s Millennium Park. As an
individual artist, she has also performed at The Joyce Theatre in NYC with the
NYC Tap Festival, and as a guest artist with local dance companies in different
venues, including jazz clubs in St. Louis.
While living in St. Louis, Heather taught tap classes and private
lessons at several dance studios.
Heather graduated from Webster University in St. Louis where she
received her B.A. in Marketing and a minor in dance.
Tristan Bruns (Itasca, IL) A
founding ensemble member of BAM!, Tristan is currently performing in his 5th
season with the company. Tristan’s
career has been established both nationally and internationally. Besides performing, Tristan has taught at
many of the premiere dance studios in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Tristan is currently on reserve staff at the
Lou Conte Dance Studio, and an on staff faculty member of the Makkai Ballet
Academy and the Dance Centre. He is also
Co-Director of the Tap Program at the Academy of Dance Arts. Tristan holds a degree in music from Columbia
Collge Chicago and is an active writer.
Jessica Chapuis (St. Louis, MO)
Jessica is
currently in her 4th season with BAM!.Jessica began her dance career by studying and performing at tap festivals
throughout the Midwest.While earning a
B.A. in Biology from Boston Unversity, Jessica served as performer,
choreographer, and President of the student-run group, BU on Tap.She also organized and directed MASS Rhythm,
a concert featuring BU on Tap along with other college tap ensembles and
professional soloists.In 2006 Jessica
appeared in Imagine Tap!, a dance musical chreographed and directed by
Derick K. Grant.Jessica has since
established herself as an internationally acclaimed, Chicago-based artist.In addition to BAM!, Jessica dances
with Jus’LisTeN, a tap ensemble directed by Tre Dumas.
Zada Cheeks (Aurora, IL)
Currently in his 4th season with BAM!, Zada
began his dance training at an early age and became a member of Especially Tap
Chicago, and BAM!, before graduating from West Aurora High School. Since then, Zada has performed with companies
such as: River North Chicago Dance
Company, Chicago Dance Crash, Civic Ballet of Chicago, and Corpo Dance
Company. He has toured nationally and
internationally to Venezuela and China.
Andrew Tomlinson (Geneva, IL)
Andy
is in his 3rd season with BAM!. A former
member of Especially Tap Chicago, Andy has been dancing for over 20 years. He has been lucky enough to perform with the
likes of Gregory Hines, Dianne Walker, the Nicholas Brothers, Jimmy Slyde,
Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates, and Savion Glover.
He has studied under Lane Alexander, Dianne Walker, Bruce Stegman,
Idella Reed, Wilfredo Rivera, Homer Bryant and Joel Hall. He has also been teaching tap, hip hop,
ballet and jazz all over the Chicagoland area for over 15 years.
