Events

As part of the Program in Dance’s spring 2020 co-curricular dance offerings, James “Cricket” Coulter leads a hip-hop class on “house.” This class series develops a diverse understanding of hip-hop’s foundational forms. With an emphasis on physical techniques, the course exposes dancers to the many dance forms that exist under the umbrella of hip-hop. Through the course, students will understand the basics of hip-hop’s form and will also be challenged to synthesize elements of groove, musicality, texture, footwork, and personal expression in their own individual improvisation.

The Program in Dance offers weekly, drop-in co-curricular courses where members of the University community can train with professionals. Classes are FREE and open to all Princeton University students, alumni, faculty, and staff. No prior dance or movement experience needed.

No advance registration required; participants will be asked to sign in and show Princeton University ID. Participants may leave class early if needed.

These classes are not open to the general public.

 

ABOUT

man dancing in shadowsJAMES “CRICKET” COLTER is respected around the globe as a professional street dancer, visual artist, and artistic director. 

Mr. Colter (Cricket) is a part of the “Step-Fenz” dance crew, a NY based dance group that is known for its mix of B-boy and House dance. From 2012, Mr. Colter has worked as the Hip-hop/Street dance director for American Voices, a U.S. State Department-administered program that brings the arts to youth in nations emerging from conflict or isolation. He is also a founding member of the hip-hop theater company Rennie Harris Pure Movement (RHPM), and has worked with the company for over 16 years. During his time with RHPM, he was involved in teaching and performing worldwide, and was the lead in the outreach portion of Puremovement’s education programs. In addition, he’s performed in Rennie Harris’ Bessie Award-winning multidisciplinary hip-hop theater presentation, “Rome and Jewels”.

His own work includes teaching at dance festivals worldwide (one of which includes the famous Bates Dance Festival held annually in Maine), and the international SDK (Street Dance Kamp) in Europe. He was a featured dancer in the successful Disney movie “Step Up 2 the Streets”, and music videos for recording artists, Boys IIMen, KRS-1,Will Smith, Eve, Avil Lavigne, Fall Out-Boy, Chris Brown. Cricket constantly finds himself next to movement experts that push the envelope of dance, touring and working with the likes of Bill “Crutch Master” Shannon, to Urban tap dancer, Tamango Van Cayseeleas, and dancer and founder of the Breakin Convention from London, Jonzi D. Cricket has produced and directed various dance works in Philadelphia and New York City, and has worked as the artistic director of “Independance,” a London-based production company that created the show “Heroes.” 

Cricket’s artistic mission is to push the limits of the various movements that exist in Hip-Hop and other contemporary dance forms. It is his belief that by blending the various art forms, a viable story could be told on the concert dance stage, destroying the notion that Hip-Hop is merely an athletic form of dance that can only be performed in a showcase setting. Cricket believe that through Hip Hop, complex stories can be told and the boundaries of theater can be pushed by adding the urban/hip hop aesthetic to costume, set design, and soundscapes. To this end, Mr. Colter has recently founded his own company “Concept Kinetics” to accomplish this goal.

Map + Directions

Ellie’s Dance Studio is located on the 2nd floor of the Arts Tower in the Lewis Arts complex, 122 Alexander Street, Princeton, NJ. View map of Lewis Arts complex


ALEXANDER BRIDGE CLOSURE

Alexander Street, between Lawrence Drive in Princeton and Canal Pointe Boulevard in West Windsor, will close for about six months beginning on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, for road construction.

Construction makes traveling to campus more time consuming. Traffic congestion from all routes to campus during peak times (weekdays, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) will be higher than normal. Drivers traveling to campus along Route 1 will see the greatest delays.

Visit bridgeclosure.princeton.edu for the most current information on detour routes, parking, and tips for planning your visit to campus.


View directions and campus maps, information on parking and public transit, and other venue information on our Venues & Directions page »

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