Hiplet Ballerinas: Meet the Cast

Training with Homer since the age of 11, Alexandria Franklin graduated from Howard University and began her professional career shortly after. Her credits include the NBA dance team the Washington Wizard Girls, Brooklyn Ballet, Neglia Ballet, UniverSoul Circus and Royal Caribbean International. She joined the Hiplet Ballerinas in 2017 and has danced in Paris Fashion Week, Le Coq Sportif Korea SS18, Visa Japan “New Normal”, G-Star Raw Uniform of the Free, as well as the Fox TV shows Empire and The Big Leap. Alexandria has also had the opportunity to dance for artists such as Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, and Jamilah Woods. 

Allison Harsh (Allie) was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska where she began her dance training. She earned her BFA in Dance Performance from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri Kansas City. Allie’s dance training also includes the Kansas City Ballet, and Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre. She performed with the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey for 3 years before joining Hiplet Ballerinas in 2019 and also dances as a member of Redd’s Angelz. Enjoy the show! 

Ben Marshall began training at the Chicago High School for the Arts. Later, he started and led a small dance group made up of him and his peers, performing original works for John Schmitz’s Dance Chicago showcase series, as well as producing his own shows. After graduating from ChiArts, he attended the University of Michigan. In 2018, he graduated from U of M, and joined the Hiplet Ballerinas in August of 2022.

Brandon Avery, native of South Holland, IL, taught himself urban dance techniques and later joined Clear Vision Dance Team in 2006. His formal dance training began at Knox College, and continued with the Chicago Multicultural Dance School, Gus Giordano Dance School, and Ballethnic Academy of Dance. Avery has performed with/for Mielle Organics, Ballethnic Dance Company, Anthony Burrell’s Project AB, Red Clay Dance, Joel Hall Dancers, and MTV2. He has choreographed for Donavan “Korporate” Price, Drew Sidora, and Praize Productions, Inc. Currently, he is the choreographer for Aya Ito, an instructor for Praize Productions, Inc., a dancer for Mikey Everything and The Haus of Everything, a member of the Pioneering HOUSE of Alain Mikli, and the founder/instructor of Hips & Heels by Brandon Avery™. This is Brandon’s second season performing and touring with the Hiplet Ballerinas Company."

Brandy is a Chicago native and started as a figure skater from age 4-16. After figure skating, she transitioned into dance and was trained at Studio One Dance Theatre. After high school she took on dance as her full-time career and with the help of her mentors, Tanji Harper and Daz Harris, she has been able to work with some amazing choreographers and artists. Brandy is beyond excited to be touring with Hiplet Ballerinas and hopes to continue to be an inspiration.

JC started dancing at the age of 8 watching Aaliyah videos where he knew this is what he wanted to do. He started taking it seriously when he joined his first studio “Dance Expressions” where he met Cyx Wynne who trained and helped take his journey to new levels. He joined a well-known Hip Hop company, Hip Hop ConnXion, where he stayed for 7 years until he met Tanji Harper who brought him on as the choreographer for The Happiness Club and she is the executive director and founder of Blu Rhythm Crew where he is the General & Artistic Director. He can’t wait to hit the stage with Hiplet. 

The American actor, model, dancer, and choreographer is one of the newest members of the Hiplet Ballerinas dance company. He appeared in the 2022 feature film North of the 10 and has made recurring appearances in the Power Book IV: Force television program and was a recurring dancer in season six of Empire. He has toured and worked with the artists Dlow, Nathan Napalm Palmer, Sir The Baptist, and D. Lylez. Other credits include performances with Kelly Clarkson, Chris Brown, Twista, Social Club Misfits, Kanye West, Mario, Da Brat, and Black Eyed Peas. In all of his hard work, Kris has been able to uplift and provide outlets for the youth in the form of dance programs, tutoring and mentoring. This is Kris’ second season touring with the Hiplet Ballerinas Company.

Makyla (Kyla) Bates is a Southside Chicago native and began dancing at Mayfair Dance Academy at the age of three. She began training at Chicago Multicultural Dance Center (CMDC), under the direction of Homer Bryant at age 11. This is where she discovered the true meaning of classical techniques. She graduated from Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) and studied in New York at the Dance Theater of Harlem and Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive Programs. She also trained with the Deeply Rooted Summer Intensive and Emerging Choreographers. She successfully completed Alonzo King LINES Ballet Professional Training Program in 2020. Currently trained in Ballet/Pointe, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, African, Modern, and Jazz. Makyla is an original Hiplet Ballerina. She was part of the viral sensation and had the opportunity to perform on Good Morning America, TedTalk and in the US Virgin Islands St. Thomas. She was recently featured on the Kelly and Ryan show and looks forward to the many dance opportunities to come.

Nia Towe is a Chicago based dancer from Oak Park. She received a bachelors in dance from the University of Missouri Kansas City. While in school she worked with Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey and danced at Debbie Allen’s Key to the City ceremony. After graduating she performed with Eleoné Dance Theatre, on America’s Got Talent, Moncler’s Paris fashion week, and the 51st World Dance Conference on Dance Research in Athens Greece. This is Nia’s second season touring with the Hiplet Ballerinas Company.

Chicago Native, Taylor Edwards, is a graduate of the University of Missouri Kansas City with a BFA in Dance. She received her early training in dance from The Sammy Dyer School of Theater, Chicago Multicultural Dance Center, and The Chicago High School for the Arts, and has also trained with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. She is fluent in many styles of dance including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Contemporary, Jazz Funk, and Improvisation; and has worked and performed with companies such as Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Owen Cox Dance Group, and Wylliams Henry Dance Company. Taylor has choreographed and danced for many different artists including Chicago’s very own Kanye West, Tink, & Chance The Rapper.

Born and raised on the westside of Chicago, Trevon started dancing at the age of 4 at Lorianne Grey Dance studio. Later she joined Chicago Multicultural Dance Center and the Chicago High School of the Arts. Trevon began dancing Hiplet during her time at CMDC and is one of the choreographers of “Thunder”. Trevon has performed in many shows with Hiplet, the highlights being Paris Fashion Week and the Lunar New Year parade in Hong Kong. In 2020 she had the opportunity to perform and choreograph for Chance The Rapper's Virtual Concert: Chi-Town Christmas and has recently received the opportunity to performed with Tink at Big Jam 2022. She is still evolving her knowledge of dance and aspires to become a commercial dancer, through being a part of the Hiplet and a Chicago based company named “Redd’s Angelz”.