Rick Ausland, left, and Andy Ausland, co-founders of Bucket and Tap Shoes.Photo through Dan Norman.
Rick Ausland, a prominent figure in the Twin Cities tap net who co-founded Buckets and Tap Shoes, the victim of a potentially fatal bike twist that left him with traumatic brain injuries.The turn of fate happened to him last Wednesday at 42nd- One-year-old dancer, percussionist, deejay and jack-of-all-life, sending him to the hospital for six days, 4 of which were intensive care.
Friends and the family circle feared the worst and even created a CaringBridge page.
“His recovery was simply miraculous, ” said Mary Chismar, her mother.”I’m an emergency trauma nurse and I’ve noticed a lot of head injuries and I haven’t noticed anyone recovering so quickly.In fact, this is the positive force of strength: all the help it has received.”
No one can say precisely what happened and Ausland, who has a long way to go to recover, has no memory of the incident.At approximately 8:00 p.m. on August 26, he took a Nice Ride motorcycle near his home near the Wedge in Minneapolis.An hour later, an unknown guy found him bloodied with symptoms of seizures around Lake Calhoun.An ambulance took him to Hennepin County Medical Center, where Hetubó.
“The police seem to think there’s no malicious activity or anything, but we don’t know for sure,” Chismar said.”I don’t mean someone hit him or if he had an epileptic seizure or went through a car.”
What is certain is that he had five damaged ribs, a damaged collarbone and brain damage.
Ausland discovered Bucket and Tap Shoes with his brother Andy, 5-gallon cubes, steel cans, barrels and other uncovered items to create a strong sound wave that surfs and accentuates tap dancers.They have presented their tap exhibitions in concert halls across the country.and around the world, adding an excursion to Russia about a dozen years ago.
And they received enthusiastic reviews, adding a 2007 former New York Times who called them “pretty bright” and noted that “their ordinary tap dancers [are] as capable of channeling hip-hop as the Astaires.”
Ausland supporters have created a GoFundMe online page for help with their medical expenses.He left the hospital on Monday, in a position to return to work.
Dancer and choreographer Giselle Mejía, who joined the company’s Russian Tour, said Ausland’s optimism will help her recover.”Rick has a cheerful, positive and energizing air of mystery about life and I think that’s what he’s going to get through this complicated hour.”