By Walter Rutledge
Who would defile the sacred world of ballet (the last bastion of “pure” euro-centric dance and culture) by adding a healthy dose of urban flair? Move over Swan Lake and make way for the Hiplet Ballerinas. The Chicago – based dance company, whose unique style has taken the dance world by storm. The company will be part of The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project – Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions on Saturday, August 23, 6 pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Street). The performance is a showcase of Black dance excellence and will feature ten of the city’s most innovative and diverse dance companies.
Hiplet Ballerinas is the brainchild of choreographer, teacher and founder/artistic director of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center Homer Hans Byrant. No stranger to inclusion generating controversy Bryant was reared at the Dance Theatre of Harlem under the tutelage of dance icon Arthur Mitchell. When you hear Byrant discussing his barrier breaking and inclusive new ballet discipline his voice resounds with the power and affirming enthusiasm of his famous mentor.
Homer Bryant Breaks Norms With ‘Hiplet
“Hiplet is important. It is Afro-centric. We are pulling from your urban communities, and we put in the Jazz, Latin, and African, but we stick to the classical Ballet discipline. We have been to Germany, Seoul, South Korea, France, Spain, and the Virgin Islands, New York and California a dozen times. It’s just amazing what has happened.” Bryant continued, “A lot of normal people have been deterred from dancing because they were a little too big and a little too busty. Hiplet ballerinas look like normal people”.
Hiplet Ballerinas AGT 2021
The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project’s (CBDLP) debut performance of Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions offers Chicago’s dance enthusiasts an exciting, innovative and diverse theatrical experience. The holistic and inclusive concept allows Chicago’s Black dance companies to network, shares resources, and introduce the dance community to new audiences. CBDLP Co-Directors Kevin Iega Jeff and Mashaune Hardy in conjunction Curators Gary Abbott and Jeff have implemented former CBDLP Artistic Director Princess Mhoon’s original artistic vision inspired by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Beloved Community” concept.
The exciting roster of performers include: The Chicago Multicultural Dance Company and Hiplet Ballerinas, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Forward Momentum Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers & Center, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Move Me Soul, Muntu Dance Theatre, NAJWA Dance Corps, Praize Productions, and The Era Footwork Collective.
One new component is the Emerging Dancers Initiative. Founded in 2024 the initiative offers a professional dance experience to pre-professional performers. This year performers who were selected at the June 8th audition are presently rehearsing and training with CBDLP artists Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Najwa Dance Corps, and The Era Footwork Collective in the weeks leading up to the performance. Under the direction of Gary Abbott, the Emerging Dancers Initiative is preparing the next generation of performers and balletomanes through the practical application of the craft. For more information and tickets visit harristheaterchicago.org.
