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| The Boston Conservatory Appoints First Hip-Hop Dance Faculty Position The Boston Conservatory has named its first-ever full time faculty position in hip-hop dance. Dancer, choreographer, singer, actor and director Duane Lee Holland Jr. will join the Boston Conservatory's Dance Division and will teach electives for Berklee students beginning in the fall of 2016. This is the Boston Conservatory's first faculty appointment since its merger with Berklee College of Music was approved, and the first Conservatory teaching role that will be available to both Conservatory and Berklee students. "The Conservatory considers hip-hop dance to be an essential, although often under-represented aspect of a contemporary dance curriculum. As a leading and innovative contemporary dance program, we are proud to offer hip-hop dance as a subject of rigorous study, both in the studio and through academic coursework, " said Cathy Young, director of the Dance Division at The Boston Conservatory. "Duane Lee Holland has a depth of expertise not only as a performer and choreographer of hip-hop, but as a scholar, which places him at the forefront of the field." "I'm extremely humbled and honored to work with the future stars of music, dance and theater, " said Holland. "I've taught a wide range of talent over the years and I feel the main objective is to provide empowerment through a healthy and rigorous process of practice and theory. Students at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee individually already embody the balance of rigorous practice and theory. I look forward to collaborating with them to cultivate an encouraging environment of innovation and continued excellence." Philadelphia native Duane Holland Jr. began his professional dance career at 17 with Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM), the first hip-hop theater dance company, where he later served as Assistant Artistic Director. While performing with RHPM, he also taught at MIT, Stanford, Jacobs Pillow, University of Utah, UCLA, Monte Carlo Ballet Company, Pennsylvania Ballet Company, Philadanco, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Broadway Dance Center. Holland has worked with choreographers including Ronald K. Brown's Evidence, Garth Fagin (The Lion King), and Jeff Masted (A Few Good Men). He was also assistant choreographer and assistant dance captain for Maurice Hines' Hot Feet on Broadway, and was featured in Jerry Mitchell's AIDS benefit Broadway Bares: New York Strip. Holland has taught at Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, and at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Holland is a visiting assistant professor in the University of Iowa's Dance Department, where he was the first hip-hop artist/choreographer to graduate from the dance program with a Master of Fine Arts. About The Boston Conservatory Founded in 1867, The Boston Conservatory offers fully accredited programs in music, dance and theater that train exceptional young performing artists for careers that enrich and transform the human experience. Known for its multidisciplinary environment and deep community engagement, The Boston Conservatory is internationally recognized as an innovative leader among conservatory programs, focused on elevating and celebrating every aspect of the performing arts, and presenting more than 700 performances each year. The institution has established itself as an important voice in the movement to make all forms of performing arts a more visible and valued dimension of communities locally and abroad. For more information, visit bostonconservatory.edu. About Berklee College of Music Berklee was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through the study and practice of contemporary music. For 70 years, the college has evolved to reflect the current state of the music industry, leading the way with baccalaureate studies in performance, music business/management, songwriting, music therapy, film scoring, and more. In December 2015, the Berklee Board of Trustees voted to merge with The Boston Conservatory, creating the world's most comprehensive and dynamic training ground for music, dance, theater, and related professions. With a focus on global learning, the Berklee campus in Valencia, Spain, offers graduate programs and study abroad opportunity, while Berklee Online serves distance learners worldwide with extension classes and degree-granting programs. The Berklee City Music Network provides after-school programming for underserved teens in 46 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. With a student body representing more than 100 countries, abundant international undergraduate and graduate student populations (33 and 53 percent respectively), and alumni and faculty who have won more than 300 Grammy and Latin Grammy awards, Berklee is the world's premier learning lab for the music of today—and tomorrow. write your comments about the article :: © 2016 Jazz News :: home page |