Eric Durden

Hip Hop Historian, Social dance, Vernacular Jazz, Lindy Hop, Locking, Hip Hop, House, Photography, Videography, Shooting Mini Documentaries and also music videos, Photo and video editing

Jacobs Pillow Alumni, Frankie Manning Foundation member, International Council of Dance Member

Jazz 1 and Jazz 3

My dance journey began in 2003 when I traveled to Colorado with my dad and helped him teach a class. Even though I have been dancing since I could remember, I got to dance with a lot of major people in Hip Hop who broke my shyness and told me I have a natural talent. In 2014 I was the company manager for Keystone Dance Project (KDP now known as The Underground Dance Company) and became ambassador of Lindy Hop through the Frankie Manning Foundation. I have taught at local studios since 2009 as a principal hip-hop teacher at five dance studios, I continue to make connections, gain more knowledge, spread the love of social dance, and share dance history. One highlight of my career is my work with the P.R.I.D.E Dance Project at Marshall Math Science Academy (MMSA) in Harrisburg. In September 2014, KDP gave a lecture demonstration for students at MMSA. After the program, students were inspired to start their own group called P.R.I.D.E Dance Project. I was the co-director and choreographer until the program ended in 2018, It gives me great pride to serve these students in the neighborhood where I grew up. In 2016 I became a member of the International Dance Council CID. I also recently did the choreography and hired local dancers and students to dance for a tv show called Blank Meets Blank on Tru Tv which aired in June 2018. In 2021 I was blessed with the opportunity to take over one of the oldest dance studios in the area and start my own Hip Hop/Social Dance based studio.