Rhythmic Circus

Rhythmic Circus is a troupe of 11 internationally renowned artists and the creators of Feet Don’t Fail Me Now. Since their early beginnings four years ago at a small theatre in Northeast Minneapolis, they have grown into an international sensation touring to over 90 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. This coming theater season, Rhythmic Circus continues their phenomenal run with a 2013-14 North American tour.

Ricci Milan (white dancer)

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 co-creator 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 2013-14 North American tour of Feet Don’t Fail Me Now.

Nick Bowman (green dancer)

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.

Kaleena Miller (blue dancer)

Kaleena is a Minneapolis-based performer, choreographer and teacher best known for her work in the tap dance genre. She is a founding member of Rhythmic Circus, and currently tours nationally and internationally with their production Feet Don’t Fail Me Now! As a solo artist, she is a 2007 SAGE Award recipient for People’s Choice and a 2011 nominee for Outstanding Performer. She has received funding from the Jerome Foundation, and has twice been commissioned to create works for the Walker Art Center. In 2011, she starred in Untitled, a silent tap film as part of the Dance/Film Project in Minneapolis. She graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a BFA in Dance, and has received tap training from Char Weiss, Karla Grotting, Heather Cornell and Roxane Butterfly.

Galen Higgins (red dancer)

Galen started dancing at The Dance Shoppe in Plymouth, Minnesota at the age of three. After receiving his early training and graduating from their program, Galen has continued dancing at the University of Minnesota, where he is currently busy pursuing two degrees: a BS in Graphic Design, and a BA in Dance. In June of 2009, he performed as a member in the Ensemble of the Ordway Theater’s production of Singin’ In The Rain. He has also performed dance works by choreographers Keri LaGrand, Ray Leeper and Desiree Robins and has toured extensively performing and teaching nation-wide.

Aaron "Heatbox" Heaton (investigator - vocal percussionist/singer)

Heatbox is a one-man beatboxing sensation from Minnesota who has been singing since the age of ten. He describes his music as sounding like “a funky a’cappella group from outerspace.” He built a reputation for himself while performing with Twin Cities’ band Root City (voted Best Blues Band of the Twin Cities by the readers of City Pages in 2006), as well as a one man band, Heatbox (1st place at the 2007 “Yo! The Music” Minneapolis beatbox battle.) In addition to performing with Rhythmic Circus, Heatbox is constantly touring internationally with top acts, appearing at the most popular musical festivals in the world and opening for famous musicians such as Cee- Lo, Boyz II Men and George Clinton.

Alex Rossi (guitar/vocals)

Alex is the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Twin Cities’ famous funk, rock, and blues band Root City. An innovative singer/song writer and a strong vocalist who continually strives to evolve, Alex lends a breath of fresh air to his blues roots and is constantly attracting members of his generation who seem to overlook the blues genre. As well as being the founder and front man of Root City since 1998, Alex was the original guitar player for the nationally touring tap dance company, Buckets and Tap Shoes. He has recently released “Alex Rossi - The Root City EP” to critical acclaim and is recording the follow up release when not on tour with the Circus.

Cornell Blanchard (keys/vocals)

Cornell sang and trained as a pianist since the fourth grade and is now a highly sought after performance and studio musician in the Twin Cities area. He studied music, theatre and dance at the University of Minnesota-Duluth where he aided a handful of productions including Guys and Dolls and Sweet Charity as Musical Director. Cornell is a core member of the popular Twin Cities' funk, rock and blues band Root City who still loves to sing, dance and entertain. Seeing the world is his most recent dream, which he hopes to achieve as he continues his inspiring adventure with Rhythmic Circus.

Patrick Nelson (drums/tuba/vocals)

Patrick is a multi-instrumentalist based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and has since maintained a regular performance and recording schedule as a freelance drummer, bassist, and tuba player. He has had the privilege to perform along side the likes of John Scofield, Eric Hutchinson, Grammy Award winner Bryan White, Ricky Peterson, Paul Peterson, The Harry James Band, the Jimmy Dorsey band, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Exultate Chamber Orchestra and the Grand Symphonic Winds. In addition to Rhythmic Circus, you can see him perform with the Twin Cities Blues/R&B institution ‘Root City’ and the Roots/Soul group ‘Elliott & The Sensitive Fellas’.

Dan Ristrom (bass/vocals)

Music has been the driving force in Dan Ristrom's life from a very early age. Following in the footsteps of his parents - son of Jazz guitarist, Reuben, and Music Educator/Choral Director/ Organist, Diane – Dan pursued Music Education and Performance as his career. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with a Vocal Emphasis from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Dan returned to the Twin Cities and started his band, ‘The Throwdown.’ His musical talent has taken him all over the world. Whether he is playing electric bass, singing, or teaching, music is Dan's life and passion.

Peter Vircks (saxophones)

Minneapolitan musician, composer and arranger Peter Vircks is a founding member of the modern jazz group Moveable Feast (voted Best of the Twin Cities by the readers of City Pages in 2002) and works with many of the area’s prominent musicians. In 2004 he was accepted to attend the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music where he was mentored by Bill Frizell, Dave Douglas, Mark Turner, Han Bennink, and Clarence Penn. He is also a 2007 American Composers Forum Subito Grant recipient and subsequent adjudicator. Vircks is credited as a sideman on dozens of recorded albums and has performed music on several nationally syndicated commercials and independent films.

Aaron Wiener trumpet

Aaron was born in Eugene, Oregon and grew up in Milwaukee, WI. He earned a degree in classical trumpet from the University of Minnesota, studying under the likes of Craig Kirchhoff, Kaye Berigan, Dr. David Baldwin, and Kelly Rossum among others. Fluently spanning the range of musical genres from hip hop to blues to jazz, orchestral and R&B, he's had the opportunity to tour the country and abroad. In addition to Feet Don't Fail Me Now, he can regularly be seen playing with the likes of Root City Band, Solomon Witherspoon, Paola Ancona, the Steph Devine Collection and Corey Carlson.

Miles Hanson (sound design/audio engineer)

Audio landscapist and pizza lover, Miles made it his life long goal to make a single pair of tap shoes louder than a 7- piece funk band. His ear for music started at an early age but quickly developed while attending The Institute of Production and Recording in Minneapolis, MN. After IPR, Miles has had the opportunity to work with the likes of Nickel Creek, Average White Band, Esperanza Spalding and Buddy Guy among many others. When not touring with Rhythmic Circus, Hanson is a house engineer and producer at Creation Audio in Minneapolis, MN.

Mark Ruark (lighting design)

Mark is a theatre artist. He learned his craft at the University of Northern Iowa and earned his graduate degree at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Locally he has worked with Live Action Set, Jon Ferguson, Deborah Jinza Thayer, Rosy Simas and Xelias Aerial Arts School, as well as many others. He has worked professionally in many capacities, including: stage, costume, lighting and sound design; stage management; technician musician, singer, dancer and actor. He is currently touring the globe with Rhythmic Circus.