Chicago Hip Hop Theater Fest Fellowship

The CHHTF Fellowship is funded by the Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts. Ralla Klepak (1936-2019), a performing arts enthusiast, was an educator, attorney, and a fierce advocate on behalf of disadvantaged youth and individuals with disabilities. As an educator in her early years, earning her degrees from Northwestern University, Ralla chose to teach in under-resourced public schools to bring her best efforts to help educate Chicago students. After receiving her J.D. at John Marshall Law School, she continued her commitment to the cause of civil rights. Ralla was determined to ensure that the system worked for everyone.  

 Kuumba Lynx honors the legacy of  Ralla Klepak by providing an annual Fellowship to emerging performing artists and educators who are committed to equity and world peace, where they are provided monetary support to dream up creative impact projects for our city.  Fellowship recipients also are invited to facilitate up to a twenty week residency with CPS students from across the city. Ralla passionately believed that providing education and opportunities in the performing arts would fulfill her vision in bringing future generations together through a mutual appreciation and love for the performing arts. Her experience as a performing artist and her love for theater and music brought her immense joy. She wanted to share that joy with others.

MEET THE FELLOWS!

  • Ronise Doss is an artist based in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. She specializes in printmaking, graphic design, mixed media, fiber arts, and creative direction. While Doss is a professionally trained artist, she calls upon unconventional art making processes to create conceptual works that can be explored literally and metaphorically. Using bright colors, sparkles, text, photography, and everyday items Doss’ art is majestic and raw. Her work is unapologetically loud and liberating in a world that tries to silence Black women. Her experiences as a low income Black woman inspired her to spread social justice and beauty through her artistic projects. Currently, she continues to work on custom fashions, album covers, prints, and other commissions.

    As a 2023 fellow, Ronise debuted her Homecoming exhibition at a gallery space in the Columbia College Student Center. Along with debuting her work, she taught multidisciplinary classes centering self love, mental health, and imprisoned individuals. We used makeup items as tools for our final mixed media artworks. Using lipsticks and eyeliners, the students created original poetry on the mirrors that were displayed in the Homecoming exhibition.

  • Christopher “Mad Dog” Thomas is an extremely motivated dancer, activist, and youth mentor. Born and raised in Chicago’s Altgeld Gardens housing project, he was inspired to dance at age 5 by artists like Michael Jackson and New Edition. “Mad Dog” became a member of the FootworKINGz in 2007 and was the official spokesperson for FWK during their 2009 appearance on “America’s Got Talent.” In 2005, Thomas joined Kuumba Lynx, where he is now the Program Manager. He also teaches footwork at a juvenile temporary detention center as a part of a social/emotional development program and is a member of the dance fraternity Delta Phi Delta Dance Fraternity Incorporated.

    As a fellow, Mad Dog spearheaded the ‘Juke for Liberation’ (J4L) program. J4L is a collaborative rebirth of Chicago Dance community. The initiative pairs Chi-town’s hottest youth dance crews with established and emerging Juke producers. This summer, Kuumba Lynx’ Chicago Hip Hop Theater Fest will present a special community engagement series of performances, dialogues, and workshops throughout the festival. J4L challenges these 6 dance groups and 4 DJs to develop original performance works to be presented as the opening act for every headliner performance at the festival.

  • Victor Musoni (William) is an actor, writer, and dancer based in Chicago. Select Theater credits include What to Send Up When it Goes Down (Congo Square); Queen of the Night* (Victory Gardens); Columbinus (Steppenwolf); America V2.1, Are you Ready to Smash White Things, No child (Definition Theatre Company) La Havana Madrid (The Den Theater); Luck of the Irish, The Q Brother’s Rome Sweet Rome(UIC); Fun Harmless War Machine (The New Cooridnates); PYG: Or the Misedumacation of Dorian Belle*, Blood at the Root (Jackalope); The Toilet, How We Got On (Haven Theatre). TV/Film credits include 61st Street, WHOLE, Chicago Med, 6x9. Web Series/Music Video credits include Brujos, Young Lost Love, Sinner. Endless love to Mom, Ama, and loved ones for holding it down always and forever. Victor is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.

    As a fellow, Musoni premiered a short film that he starred in entitled The Come Up. Along with hosting a private viewing and talk back, he facilitated a bi weekly virtual acting workshop serving Chicago Public School youth ages 14-18. Amidst the pandemic, Musoni successfully curated a community of young passionate actors and mentored them using his professional theater experience and knowledge.