Mission Statement
BodyHype Dance Co. is an eclectic, innovative, and HYPE family of dancers, choreographers, and multimedia creatives. We aim to produce a professional caliber of dance in an environment that centers artistic possibility, and to constantly push the boundaries of what dance can be. BodyHype is deeply committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, respecting all styles of dance, and supporting each other both within and outside of the studio.
About Us
Founded in 1991, BodyHype is Princeton’s premier co-ed dance company, home to the university’s most talented, dynamic, and passionate dancers, choreographers, and multimedia creatives. While we focus primarily on contemporary, hip hop, and open styles, we embrace and explore all forms of dance in an environment that centers artistic possibility and freedom. BodyHype is deeply committed to continually learning about and respecting the rich history and culture of each of the dance styles we experiment with, choreograph, and perform.
BodyHype brings together dancers from a wide range of backgrounds: our members have trained with San Francisco Ballet, Millenium Dance Complex, Broadway Dance Center, Kinjaz Dojo, American Ballet Theatre, Snowglobe Perspective, Mark Morris Dance Group, Alvin Ailey, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, The Edge in LA, and The Neighbors, and some had no formal training before joining the company! Our members are also multitalented: we’re not only dancers but photographers, cinematographers, entrepreneurs, actors, athletes, writers, musicians, and more. As an organization, BodyHype is committed to acknowledging the biases, discrimination, and systems of privilege ingrained in both the dance world and institutions of higher education, and prioritizes cultivating and supporting as diverse, equitable, and inclusive a community as possible.
BodyHype performs five sold-out, fully student-choreographed and student-produced shows twice per year in Theater Intime, the ideal venue for our incredibly hype audience members. In addition to performing, we host both student and professional choreography workshops, create concept videos, bring in guest artists and speakers to educate about dance history and spark anti-racist discussion and action, and use our platform for various fundraising initiatives. As the first Princeton dance company to create their own production team as well as produce a virtual show, documentary and virtual museum, BodyHype is constantly pushing the boundaries of what dance can be, and staying innovatively creative no matter the circumstances.
Although primarily a dance company, BodyHype is also a tight-knit community, welcoming new members into a loving family that supports them in every aspect of Princeton life. We study together, get meals together, travel together, and continue cherished social traditions such as BodyHype families, affinity groups, company brunch, cast parties, and beach trips. The community doesn’t end after graduation; our dancers remain close friends and even become roommates, and alumni always come back to Princeton to cheer on current members at our shows. BodyHype tends to be the most defining, empowering, and rewarding part of our members’ Princeton experience, and we can’t wait to grow our Red Family each year.
