Open House Dance classes at Peridance have several instructor options. Please see instructor methods & styles below and choose an instructor that best aligns with your needs and wants:
1) Ejoe Wilson is a House Dance pioneer who began his journey through movement in Manhattan in the early 80's winning Amateur night at the world's famous Apollo Theater 4 consecutive times, from there he would go on to dance in both Rap & Pop music videos for... Nikki D, (Wasted), Monie Love, (Born 2 Breed) (In a word or 2), Heavy D, (Now That We Found Love), MC Lyte, (Ice Cream Dream), Pet Shop Boys (So boring), The Real Mccoy (Automatic Lover), Deelite (Groove is in the Heart) (Big Beat), Will Smith (Men in Black) (Gettin' Jiggy wit it). My latest video was for Elton John (Philadelphia Freedom concert video).
In 1988 along with dance partners Voodoo Ray Ultarté (rip)and Sekou Heru, Ejoe would start the first house dance classes in a old run down flamenco studio called "Fasiels" House dance is now taught in dance schools across the country and world wide.
Ejoe then joined the Moptop dance crew and became a principle dancer for Mariah Carey for 11 years from 1992 to 2003 completing 5 world tours as well as 6 music videos.
Class Description: An upbeat house dance class exploring three elements of house dance (Footwork, Spins,Floor) Smooth form upbeat dance class for beginners to push their knowledge.
Schedules: Mondays 2:30-4:00PM
2) Sekou Heru 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 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 seen 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 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.
Class Description: 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.
Schedules: Tuesdays 4:00-5:30PM; Thursdays 4:00-5:30PM