If all of Misty Copeland’s landmark success tells us anything, it’s that strides are being made and doors are being opened to see more women of color represented in ballet. But a new form of dance, Hiplet, is ensuring that classically trained Black ballet dancers get the chance to shine front and center while also getting the chance to dance hip-hop. You’ve likely seen videos of young women strutting their stuff on their tippy toes on social media. That’s Hiplet.
It was created by Homer Hans Bryant, the founder of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center, which has been around for more than 20 years. For those who have tried to say that Hiplet is a “disgrace” to ballet, Bryant cares not, because it’s been a refuge for quite a few students.
“Well no, it’s not ballet. It’s Hiplet,” he said in an interview with CNN’s Great Big Story. “It’s how we empower our kids. It’s how we empower the world. Hiplet is so freeing and so open. So, it’s a different culture here.”
Someone who agrees with that is dancer Zipporah Wilson, who said that at her former studio, being one of the few dancers of color, she often felt overlooked. Learning Hiplet and dancing it at the CMDC has given her, and all of the other dancers, the chance to stand out. It’s given them a whole new sense of confidence. She agrees with Bryant in saying that Hiplet is much different from ballet, from the posture to the solemn and refined state you’re expected to appear in at all times.
“In Hiplet, you can break that,” Wilson said. “You can just really move your torso more. You can bounce with it, you know. You can have fun with it!”
Moves include the “twist in and out,” the Michael Jackson-inspired “moonwalk,” the Hiplet strut, the zippy, and the Vivian, which is an acknowledgment of the moves of your favorite Aunt Viv from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The aforementioned moves are honestly unlike anything you’ve likely seen before when it comes to formal dance. It may not be what people are used to, but it’s definitely entertaining. It’s also extremely liberating for participants.
“I’m grateful to Mr. Homer because he showed me that I can do anything,” Wilson said. “I love dancing Hiplet. It just gives you a sort of confidence and just a freedom to be yourself. This is the dance genre that does not discriminate.”
Check out the moves for yourself below and let us know what you think of “Hiplet.”
The post Black Dancers Are Mixing Ballet With Hip-Hop To Create “Hiplet,” And It’s A Sight To See appeared first on MadameNoire.