This drop-in class series, curated and taught by dance program alum Liam Lynch ’21 and guest artist Sekou Heru, develops a diverse understanding of foundational techniques in street and club dance. With an emphasis on physical techniques, the class exposes dancers to a multitude of dance styles including hip-hop, house, and popping. Through the sessions, students will understand the basic techniques of street dance and will also be challenged to synthesize elements of groove, musicality, texture, footwork, and personal expression in their own individual improvisation. All experience levels welcome.
Fall 2025 Class Schedule
- September 20 — Taught by Liam Lynch
- October 4 — Liam Lynch
- October 25 — Liam Lynch
- November 1 — House taught by Sekou Heru
- November 8 — Sekou Heru
- November 15 — Sekou Heru
Admission & Details
All classes are free and open to University students, faculty & staff. No advance registration required, just drop in!
Alumni interested in participating should email Cindy Rosenfeld at cr17@princeton.edu.
Directions
Get directions to Ellie’s Studio, located on the second floor landing of the Arts Tower at the Lewis Arts complex.
Accessibility
Ellie’s Studio is an accessible venue. Visit our Venues and Studios section for accessibility information at our various locations. Guests in need of access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at 609-258-5262 or email LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least one week in advance of the event date.
About the Instructors
Photo credit: Andrew Ye
Liam Lynch grew up in New Jersey, where he learned to dance by cyphering with friends in the hallways of his high school and then performing at the annual talent show. At Princeton, his passion for dance grew as a certificate student in the Lewis Center’s Program in Dance and as director of the student dance group, diSiac Dance Company.
Liam currently lives in New York City, where he has worked with artists including Doja Cat, Jimin (from BTS), Tomorrow X Together, and BeFirst, while also performing off-Broadway with IMGE Dance Company, BOLD Dance Company, and Stamptown. In 2024, he was a member of the inaugural Mets “Queens Crew” dance team, where he regularly performed in front of crowds of over 40,000 and on national television. He can also be seen in Doja Cat’s 2025 MTV Video Music Awards performance. Liam is active in the New York battle scene, dancing hip hop, popping, and house.
Liam cares deeply about passing on his knowledge and passion for the foundation, history, and culture of street dance to the next generation of Princeton dancers. He is also excited to bring street dance pioneers in to share their expertise and personal connection to the forms that they practice.
Photo courtesy Sekou Heru
Sekou Heru has been in the performing arts since he was very young. His first love was B-boying. In high school, he attended Mercer County School of the Arts and studied modern dance. In 1993, Sekou started studying Capoeira Angola with Mestre Joa Grande at the Capoeira Academy in NYC. He went on to fuse his breaking and modern dance styles with hip-hop and house dance. Sekou has worked with Gwen Guthrey, toured with Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, and he can be seen in videos with Aretha Franklin, MC Lyte, Clubland, Pet Shop Boys, Foxy Brown, and Jay Z. Sekou was a featured dancer in the movie Marcy X with Damon Wayans, can be seen in the dance scenes on Spike Lee’s The 25th Hour, and featured in Brown Sugar starring Taye Diggs and Sanna Lathan. He has toured in Germany with German rapper Tony Cottura and has traveled several times to Japan for the annual premier Dance Delight event as a guest judge and featured dancer with the group Dance Fusion, of which he is a founding member. He was a part of the opening act for Cece Peniston’s Japan tour, and he also opened for Cool C’s “Let me clear my throat” in his Japan performance. He was featured in Japan’s “woofin” magazine as one of NYC’s top dancers. Sekou toured the USA with Fred Ho and The Afro Asian Ensemble in the Martial Art stage show Voice of the Dragon. In 2005 Sekou choreographed the Dance Dance video for Fall Out Boy that went #1 in the country and won a Best Video Award at the MTV VMAs. Sekou’s method focuses on the development of stamina and high-energy movement. He teaches foundation drills designed to help the student evolve and internalize the spirit of House dance.
