Chicago’s Hiplet Ballerinas blend ballet and culture

Hiplet Ballerinas are making their debut at the Auditorium Theatre on Saturday.

The big picture: The term "Hiplet" (pronounced hip-lay), coined by dancer and founder Homer Hans Bryant in the '90s, is a combination of Eurocentric and Afrocentric dance.

• The group rehearses at the Chicago Multicultural Dance Center in Printer's Row, and offers classes in tumbling, classical ballet, jazz, and Latin styles for children and adults.

Flashback: Horner used to rap ballet terminology to his students while teaching and quickly discovered how much joy it brought them.

• As rap evolved into hip-hop, he transformed his concept from rap ballet into Hiplet.
• Since then, the Chicago dance company has performed around the world, including Seoul, Paris, New York and Los Angeles.

What they're saying: "Our approach is classical, our delivery is African," Bryant told Axios.

• "We are working with the art of classic ballet which is Eurocentric, but we are dipped in versatility which is Afrocentric."

🤳🏾 Watch a behind-the-scenes dance practice.

What's next: The Hiplet Ballerinas will take the stage at the Auditorium Theatre Saturday at 7:30pm.

• Cost: Tickets start at $54