Hip Hop Class at CAA

Hip Hop

Bring your energy! Hip hop is more than a dance style — it’s a culture of creativity, self-expression, and community, and this class brings all of that into a fun, high-energy environment where every dancer belongs.

Led by the dynamic PJ Barnes, this class welcomes beginner to intermediate dancers who are ready to move, find their own style, and build real skills. The session wraps with a relaxed showcase so every dancer gets their moment to shine. No experience needed to get started.

What to expect

Each one-hour class kicks off with a warm-up to get bodies moving and the vibe locked in, then moves into skill building before diving into choreography. With a full hour each week, your dancer has time to actually learn, not just run through the moves. Some of the skills featured in this class include:

  • Rhythm and Musicality
  • Footwork Patterns
  • Body Isolation
  • Popping and Locking
  • Freestyle Movement

Over the course of 8 weeks, students will grow more comfortable with hip hop movement and build toward a relaxed showcase at the close of the session.

Why you'll love it

This class is perfect for any young dancer ages 9 to 18 who is ready to move, express themselves, and have a genuinely great time doing it. Whether your child is a seasoned dancer or has never set foot on a studio floor, hip hop meets you exactly where you are.

At the heart of this class is PJ Barnes — choreographer, director, performer, and one of the coolest people your kid will ever meet. With a BA in Theatre from UNCW and over a decade of hip hop teaching experience, PJ has directed and choreographed shows across the country and yes, he can breakdance! But what he says he loves most is working with kids, and it shows. PJ creates a space where students feel free to find their own style — because kids need to move, not just for their bodies, but for their minds and well being too.

PJ Barnes, Musical Theatre Teacher

PJ Barnes

Dance, Acting, & Musical Theatre Teacher

New York born actor PJ Barnes, like most, started performing early in his life. From putting on shows for his family, he eventually stumbled onto the wonderful world of Theatre in middle school, where he first took the stage. Always driven by his obsessive creativity, PJ is noted for writing most of the material he appears in. A huge fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and comic books, PJ was determined to stretch the borders of reality in his work, putting his characters in incredible situations. When PJ was in high school, he choreographed his first ever dance number for his spring musical Footloose. Since then, PJ has explored the stage either by acting, or dancing, and has enjoyed doing both in order to express himself in front of a live audience. Leading into his senior year of college, PJ and friend, Keith Welborn, started the company "ScrewUp TV", which started as a sketch comedy series, and quickly evolved into something much greater. In 2011 PJ produced his first ever feature film, The Screw. PJ more recently wrote, directed, and produced Ogden, a mystery comedy series you can find on Amazing Prime. At The Academy, PJ has led choreography workshops as well as directed several of our SHINE Musical Theatre productions including High School Musical JR, Legally Blonde, and The Addams Family young@part. We love PJ's welcoming and enthusiastic directing style!

Class details

Clothing: Wear loose baggy clothing that you can comfortably have free range of motion in for this class. Dance tops, tee shirts, sweatpants, dance pants, shorts, athletic wear, etc. Modesty is key, so please avoid low cut tops and be mindful to wear appropriate undergarments.

Shoes: Clean, dance class only sneakers which are not worn outside or for your normal everyday use. Choose lightweight, flexible sneakers with smooth soles (less tread) to allow for easy pivoting, sliding, and spinning.

What’s included

  • 12 weekly classes
  • Casual performance at end of session
  • Charlotte Academy of the Arts t-shirt for performance
  • Savings on Spring Production, Into the Woods JR

Hip Hop

September 5-November 21
Saturdays, 10:00-11:00 AM
Teacher: PJ Barnes
Ages: Ages 9-18

$228 Enroll

What’s next

The skills and confidence your dancer builds in this class carry far beyond the showcase. Students may audition for our Fall and Spring Productions. The rhythm, movement, and stage presence developed in this class will make them stronger performers in everything they do.

Students who catch the dance bug may also want to explore our Dance for Musical Theatre or Intermediate Tap and Jazz classes to keep building their skills and versatility. And stay tuned — we regularly offer Dance Workshops that are a great way to keep moving between sessions.