Brandon Avery spent 12 years of self-instruction in urban dance techniques until he joined ClearVision Dance Team, directed by Derrick Donnell Berry, in 2006. Avery took his first formal dance technique courses at his alma mater, Knox College, under the direction of Jennifer Smith. After graduating, he began studying numerous dance techniques from artists and institutions, such as Homer Hans Bryant, Caitlin Gray, Yanis Marshall, Kiira Harper, Dereque Whiturs, Gus Giordano Dance School, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, and Ballethnic Academy of Dance.
Avery has performed with/for Mielle Organics, Fuego Dance Sneakers, Silky Nutmeg Ganache of RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars, Nejla Yatkin, Anthony Burrell’s Project AB, Praize Productions, Inc, Ballethnic Dance Company, Joel Hall Dancers, Katie Got Bandz, and MTV2. He has choreographed for Donavan “Korporate” Price, Drew Sidora, Aya Ito, and Hiplet NEXT. Avery has taught for Chicago Multicultural Dance Center, Rhythma Studios, Ballethnic Academy of Dance, Red Clay Dance Academy, Emory University, Dance 101, and Dyett High School for the Arts.
Recently, Avery made history as the first heels dancer to perform (televised at that) at the 94th annual Bud Billiken Day Parade, and the first male heels dancer to perform on the Dance for Life Chicago stage at the 32nd annual benefit showcase, as well as being the first dance artist as a guest lecturer for Knox College (2024 William L. Honnold Lectureship). Currently, he is a company member with the Hiplet Ballerinas, a repertoire coach/choreographer for Hiplet NEXT, modern dance teacher at Chicago Contemporary Dance Theater, and the founder/instructor/director of Hips & Heels by Brandon Avery™.
Brandon Avery is a native South Holland, IL.
I was first introduced to ballet as a prospective student at Knox College. I thought it was cute, but it didn't call to me like jazz and hip-hop did at the time. Now ballet has a major place in my career and personality. As a Hiplet dancer, ballet is literally half of what I do. My ballet mentors are Homer Hans Bryant, Waverly Lucas, Nena Gilreath, Lydia Mitchell, Savery Morgan, Deneen Graham-Kerns, Fury Gold, Wayne Villamil, Calvin Gentry, Karla Tyson, Yanis Marshall, and Dereque Whiturs. I agreed to participate in Ballet Unboxed because all of the people mentioned provided a perspective of how to approach the technique for my body's benefit, and what it is like to have a personal relationship with the movement/music/genre/profession; that is what I want to share with the students of my Ballet Unboxed classes.