FORT GREENE — Jamel Gaines, founder and artistic director of Creative Outlet Dance Theatre, has produced another national star.

Brooklyn-born and raised Kevin “K’bez� Hunte, a member of Creative Outlet’s professional company, is currently one of the top 16 finalists on season six of the Fox reality series So You Think You Can Dance.

The 23-year-old, who specializes in hip-hop, has been a student of Gaines’ since he was about 10, says the instructor. Hunte has performed with Creative Outlet at venues throughout the U.S., including, when younger, for Michael Jackson.

According to his bio for the show, Hunte is a “dance ’til you drop kinda guy� who has performed with Lil Mama, worked with Beyonce and is inspired by Jackson. “I hope someday I can touch people around the world and have an impact on their life through dance, the way MJ had an impact on me,� he says.

Not only is this a thrilling victory for Creative Outlet, but this is actually their second company member who has competed on the show. The first was Ryan Rankine, who was a top 10 finalist on season three.

Judges have so far this season cut four finalists from the competition, and audience voting begins on tonight’s two-hour episode, airing at 8 p.m.

As Hunte fights to compete another week, the Creative Outlet crowd will be cheering him on from a watch party at Fort Greene beer garden Der Schwarze Kölner.

Gaines says Hunte has always been a “go-getter.�

“Kevin has shown amazing potential since he came to Creative Outlet as a young man,� he says. “Kevin is a dynamic, strong, masculine and very photogenic artist on stage. He is also very charismatic with the audience. He has great lines and poise, with a beautiful technical body for cultural and performing arts ... I want him to show the world what Brooklyn is made of.�

In other exciting new for Creative Outlet, the company leaves in two days for Palm Desert, Calif., to participate in the McCallum Theatre’s “Dancing Under The Stars� choreography competition.

Gaines and company were selected to perform his piece, Forces, as one of 12 finalists chosen from 142 applicants.

In addition to the dance school, Creative Outlet’s Arts in Education program hires teaching artists who instruct children in New York City public schools about African-American cultural heritage.

For more information visit www.creativeoutlet.org.

--Caitlin McNamara
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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