The Rhythm Project

Katherine Kramer (tap dancer), a major force for the growth and exploration of tap dance worldwide, is an accomplished artist, tap dancer, choreographer, contemporary dancer and educator. She has performed and taught across the United States and internationally, at venues such as Jacob’s Pillow, the Colorado Dance Festival and Tap Extravaganza. She received the 2018 Hoofer Award from the American Tap Dance Foundation and her tap dance archive was recently placed in the New York City Public Library, Dance Archive. 

Tania Tandias (Flamenco dancer) is the director of Tania Tandias Flamenco & Spanish Dance, based in Madison, where she teaches and performs Spanish dance.  Besides dancing with Alma Flamenca in Albuquerque and María Benítez’s Nuevo Flamenco in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she has also been a soloist with Madison Opera, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and Milwaukee Ballet to name a few.  In 2016, Tandias was honored to receive the “Performance/Choreography Award” from the Wisconsin Dance Council. 

Omari Carter (body percussionist) is an assistant professor in the dance department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and founder of Motion Dance Collective (2011-2025), a screendance production company developing more than 50 screendances shown at festivals worldwide. Hailing from London, England, he performed for seven years in the West End and international touring productions of “Stomp!” Carter received an MA in screendance at London Contemporary Dance School in 2020, where he was an assistant lecturer in dance until 2023.

James Zavos (Irish dancer) is a recent West High graduate who Irish dances competitively at national and world championships. His choreography seeks to combine traditional steps and modern rhythms. Zavos is pursuing a dance teaching certificate and is studying to become an American Sign Language interpreter. 

Laurie Lang (musician) is an educator, community organizer, bassist, composer and current president of the Madison Jazz Society. Lang studied bass violin, Black Music Ensemble and jazz history with the late, great Richard Davi and has performed with multiple area musicians. She has worked as a jazz artist-in-residence in K-12 schools, organized the Improv Music Workshop, facilitated Madison Jazz Jam and Workshops and worked on COPA Madison’s Harmony Madison project at One City Schools.   

Leah Reinardy (musician) is a multi-instrumentalist, improviser and composer. Reinardy studied percussion and jazz piano at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where they served as musical director for tap master Heather Cornell for two years. This transformative experience led them to intentionally seek collaborations with dancers of many disciplines, including tap, samba, maracatu and ballet.