The most important of the Chicago faucet is that of Juman Taylor Supreme lovea tour de force that pushes the best of the best to the limit. When Andrew Carr was in the original 2015 cast, he was just 11. Always ahead of the curve, Carr has been choreographing since he was 15 and went viral earlier this year with his video Universe 4 Two:featuring members of the MADD Rhythms company. Carr’s insatiable attention to detail and instinctive musicianship have pushed his seasoned, unparalleled perfection over the line.
company: MADD Rhythms:
Age: 7:00 p.m
Hometown: Chicago:
Training: Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts, MADD Rhythms Tap Academy, After School Matters, The School at Jacob’s Pillow
A quick survey. Carr started dancing at the age of 4. He credits tennis and piano training to his rapid development through the MADD Rhythms programs. He was a senior member of the company before he graduated from high school. “One thing I’ve learned is to recognize fire,” says artistic director Brill Barrett. “I knew Andrew had it.”
Coed life: Currently a student at DePaul University, Carr meticulously manages his schedule. Everything from his choice of school to his class load and major is in service of dance. “With a degree in marketing, I felt like it would allow me to advocate for myself in a professional way and tap into different spaces that I may not have unlocked yet in my career,” Carr says. “Even with my minor in sociology, understanding and navigating these spaces that I penetrate with my weaving and my artistry is.”
A musician first. Carr is choreographing his first full-length concert for the October 2024 Chicago Summit. To love you in every way will explore the tap as a language of love, with infatuation, family love, love of dance and love of self as some of the dialects. While the subject matter is his barometer, the music — a mix of live jazz, R&B and a cappella rhythms — is his guide. “Whatever the music says, I try to choreograph that preserves what the composer intended. Choreography and improvisation reinforce each other. To choreograph, you have to improvise yourself.”
Out of the office. Carr loves action movies and comic books, intentionally taking time out of school and dancing to hang out with his friends. “There’s a shed that me and my friends have—it’s like a garage with a sofa and a bunch of tap boards,” he says. “We’ll go out and dance and play cards and just hang out with each other. Quality time is something I value.”