User:EaseScript/sandbox

Homer Hans Bryant

Homer Hans Bryant (Born 3/29/1950 ) is a Black American classically-trained dancer, artistic director, choreographer, instructor and founder of the Chicago Multi-cultural Dance Center, and creator of the dance style, Hiplet. The Hiplet Ballerinas were showcased on the popular TV show Americas Got Talent during season 16 of 2021.[i] They stunned Simon Cowell, known for his cynicism by demonstrating Hiplet is definitely not boring. The troupe received a unanimous "yes" vote after the audition from the judges, however they did not advance to a live TV performance.  The exposure of the audition on the popular show brought the new dance form further notoriety.

Social Impact

Ironically White ballet companies will receive funding through donations and grants to bring in one or two Black ballet dancers, while the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center does not have access to the pool of funds. Black-owned organizations are not considered when funds are provided for diversity and inclusion which hinders their ability to broaden awareness to underserved communities.

Early Years

Born in the St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Homer became involved in dance in middle school. His teacher arranged for him to dance at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance School where he studied under some of the most prominent modern dance pioneers. Homer then came to the attention of dancer and choreographer Arthur Mitchell, founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem the first African American classical dance company in the United States. Arthur extended an invitation to Bryant to come to New York and study with the company, which he accepted.

Career

In 1972, Homer began his professional career when he won an audition to replace a member of the company. He continued to dance and tour professionally with the Dance Theater of Harlem and took a hiatus in 1978 to perform in the Broadway musical Timbuktu! alongside Eartha Kitt. He also appeared in the film version of the musical The Wiz along with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Homer then worked with Donald McKayle’s dance company and while on tour came to Chicago and danced briefly with Maria Tallchief’s Chicago City Ballet.

Timeline of Accomplishments

In 1981, Bryant returned to New York to oversee the Dance Theater of Harlem’s pre-

professional workshop ensemble. Four years later, Bryant moved to Chicago to start his own

dance company and school, Bryant Ballet.. In 1993, Bryant began working with Cirque de Soleil,

a relationship that continued for three of Cirque de Soleil’s most popular productions, Mystère, Alegria,

and Quidam. Bryant also served as ballet master for the Joel Hall Dancers and Dance Chicago.

In 1994 Homer started going to the Chicago Public Schools teaching rap ballet which would

ultimately become Hiplet. The name Hiplet was trademarked in 2007.

In 1997, in recognition of the school’s influence, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley issued a

proclamation officially renaming Bryant’s school the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center. The

next year, Bryant served as lead artist for the city of Chicago’s Gallery 37 .

In 2009, Homer was featured in the 30 minute documentary Raising The Barre; The Homer

Hans Bryant which was showcased in a private screening at the Gene Siskel Theater on

October 21, 2009. Homer describes how dance is a discipline for everyone and that he is

ultimately creating better human beings. The documentary states that he train Ayisha McMillan,

the first Black girl to dance Clara in North Carolina Theatre The Nutcracker. Ayisha shares

that Homer bought her toe shoes when her family could not afford them.

Homer has received the Chicago Cultural Alliance’s Lifetime Achievement Award and coined

the term edutainment.

Personal Life

Homer married fellow dancer Rhonda Sampson, and member of Dance Theater of Harlem in 1978. The couple had a child, Alexandria Victoria in 1981 who was born with Cerebral Palsy. While doctors predicted she would only live five years, she lived to be 28 years old. Alexandria Victoria accompanied Homer to his dance classes and would move her fingers along with the music. Homer would tell his students there was a dancer inside her.

References

1 https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/homer-bryant-41 Homer Bryant was interviewed by The

HistoryMakers on August 23, 2010.

2 http://people.chicagoreader.com/who/homer-hans-bryant/profile/ Isaacs, Deanna, People Issue, Chicago Reader,

December 7, 2016

3 http://people.chicagoreader.com/who/homer-hans-bryant/profile/ Isaacs, Deanna, People Issue, Chicago Reader,

December 7, 2016

4 http://people.chicagoreader.com/who/homer-hans-bryant/profile/Isaacs, Deanna, People Issue, Chicago Reader,

December 7, 2016

5 https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/homer-bryant-41, Homer Bryant was interviewed by The

HistoryMakers on August 23, 2010.

6 https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/homer-bryant-41, Homer Bryant was interviewed by The

HistoryMakers on August 23, 2010.

7 http://people.chicagoreader.com/who/homer-hans-bryant/profile/ Isaacs, Deanna December 7, 2016

8 http: //people.chicagoreader.com/who/homer-hans-bryant/profile/ Isaacs, Deanna December 7, 2016

9 https://mobballet.org/index.php/2017/04/29/homer-hans-bryant/

10 https://abc7chicago.com/archive/7054545/ ABC7, October 8, 2009 Smith, Sid, 2009, December 17

11 https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-12-17-0912160846-story.html

12 http://people.chicagoreader.com/who/homer-hans-bryant/profile/ Isaacs, Deanna, People Issue, Chicago

Reader, December 7, 2016