Chicago-based tap dancer, Tristan Bruns, has been on the scene since 2004, becoming a founding

member of Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s BAM! dance company. With CHRP from 2004-

2020, Bruns performed works by Michelle Dorrance, Ted Louis Levy, Daniel Borak

(Switzerland), Guillem Alonso (Spain), Jakari Sherman, Lane Alexander, Martin “Tre” Dumas

III, Lisa LaTouche and (the) Lou Conte. After joining M.A.D.D. Rhythms (2009-2022), Bruns

continued to train under and perform works by Bril Barrett, Starinah “Star” Dixon, Jumaane

Taylor and Donnetta “lilbit” Jackson, appearing on television (“The Steve Harvey Show,” “Super

Dancer Born Tonight” (Japan)) and in theaters across the country and overseas. In musical

theater, Bruns was a featured soloist and male dance captain for “Sophisticated Ladies”

(Porchlight Musical Theatre, Jeff Award-winner, 2020) and was a featured soloist in the recent

reimagining of “42 nd Street,” choreographed by Jared Grimes (Drury Lane Theatre, Jeff Award-

winner, 2018), and has performed as a featured soloist at theme parks (“Celtic Fyre,” Busch

Gardens; “Showboat Branson Belle,” Silver Dollar City). Bruns is Director of Tapman

Productions, LLC, producing original works by Bruns and modern dance company, The Modern

Marvels, and supplies affordable dance floors for Chicago dance companies and visiting artists.

Bruns is Managing Editor and critic at SeeChicagoDance.com, with the goal of prioritizing

diversity of coverage, and a contributing writer to Newcity Magazine. “What I’ve learned from

tap dancers like Michelle and Bril,” says Bruns, “is that there is no one way that a dancer should

move, and it’s the unique ways our individual bodies move that make us special. It’s this ethos

that I try to embody in my work and my class.”