12 Stunning Images from the #BrownGirlsDoBallet Campaign

Ballet’s roots are in 16th century Italy, but it is now a global phenomenon. American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland has brought incredible visibility to black women in ballet, and black women and girls are sharing their own inspiring photos under #browngirlsdoballet. The hashtag is an evolution of the Brown Girls Do Ballet photo project, started by TaKiyah Wallace of Some Sweet Photography in 2012.

We weren’t able to find the source of all the photos included, so please help us out in the comments if you recognize these women.

And then there’s this incredible video that has now gone viral of dancers from the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center.

Although the video got some pushback from ignorant folks calling it ghetto, an actual CMDC dancer named DeQuila RaQuel McCoy broke down the dance form, which is called, “hiplet”.

2. This is a trademarked form of dance called hiplet that was formed out of this studio. Just because it isn’t the classical ballet some of you small minded people are used to seeing does not make it invalid. We know being innovative and doing anything different outside of the small bubbles people tend to live in is asking too much. 3. This is a clip of ONE piece, and not an entire piece for those who are quick to say this isn’t ballet and ask where is the rest of the choreography. 4. For the dummies who claim this isn’t ballet because they need to see more technique, I dare you to meet these girls in the studio and trust you won’t be able to keep up. Most of these girls have been training since they were toddlers, assuming that many of those who commented are actual dancers … probably not though.

We would agree. Ladies, what do you think of ‘hiplet’ and the incredible photos?