By La’Niya Jones
MIDLAND – A new, unique genre of dance has taken center stage. It combines two completely opposite genres of dance: classical ballet and hip-hop. The new genre is called Hiplet and was created by Homer Hans Bryant after he wanted to change the way of normal ballet and make it more diverse.
Hiplet is much more than just ballet and hip-hop, as it also brings in Latin, African, and jazz components. The key thing about Hiplet is diversity; everything that they do is unique to the dancer, and they make room for people who don’t fit the stereotypical ballerina.
On March 16 and 17, the Hiplet Ballerinas performed at the Midland Center for the Arts. They blew the audience away with dance moves that seemed impossible, especially with the majority of moves being done on point. Many guests showed up to marvel at the amazing dancers and the unique dance style that is Hiplet.
This performance showed a wide range of amazing and beautiful choreography that was like nothing you’ve seen before. The introduction alone was fantastic, with beautiful costumes, upbeat music, and crowd interaction. The first dance alone showed a lot of Latin and African roots interwoven with the elegant and graceful ballet.
A number that stuck out was a classical music twist on the Michael Jackson song “Smooth Criminal.” The performance included a dark street dance battle with many of Jackson’s signature moves, like the moonwalk and the iconic lean.
Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” also made an appearance as the dancers strutted across the stage, showing off their fierce and beautiful solos.
The show wrapped up with an emotional video showing the Hiplet Ballerinas journey and just how much they had to go through. They also recreated and revamped their performance from America’s Got Talent.
This was a spectacular event that got a lot of support from the audience, as people were clapping and dancing along in their seats. At the end of the performance, the company got a standing ovation.
The Hiplet Ballerinas are based in Chicago, Illinois. They blew up after a video of them going across the floor became viral on social media during 2016. That was just the start for them, as they continued to work hard and push forward. It was no easy journey, as they were met with a lot of criticism, saying that what they were doing brought shame to ballet.
These harsh words and comments did not stop them, as they continued to improve and get more recognition, growing into the company that they are today. They have now been all over the world showing everyone their creative dance style. With the important message of staying true to yourself and never giving up.
