Duane Lee Holland Jr.

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.

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 Lee 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.