Drop-In Dance Classes

Hip-Hop Techniques and Foundations

Saturdays, 3-4:30 p.m.
Ellie’s Studio, Lewis Arts complex

Taught by Liam Lynch and experienced hip-hop guest artists

This class series, curated and taught (except for the classes noted below) by dance program alum Liam Lynch ’21, 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.

Class Schedule

  • September 20, 2025
  • October 4
  • October 25
  • November 1 — House taught by Sekou Heru
  • November 8 — with Sekou Heru
  • November 15 — with Sekou Heru

About the Instructors

Portrait of Liam Lynch

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.

 

Portrait of Sekou Heru

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.

Questions?

Contact the Dance Program Associate, Cindy Rosenfeld, at 609-258-3017 or cr17@princeton.edu.