Jared Grimes
Dance Specialty
Tap
Best Advice to Young Dancers
Never stop wanting more.
Favorite Thing about an NYCDA Weekend?
I enjoy seeing how many students have a passion for being great.
Background
Jared Grimes was born in Jamaica Queens NY where he began taking tap lessons from his mother at the age of 3. A few years later, his family moved to High Point North Carolina where he would become versed in all genres of dance, studying under Sheryl Patton of Greensboro’s Dance Connections. Here he was exposed to the dance competition and convention life and entered circuits such as Showstoppers, Star Systems, Star Quest, etc. After, excelling to the top of his age division in tap, jazz, and hip-hop, Jared discovered Gene Medler of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble in Chapel Hill North Carolina. He became a part of the company and began touring with the group nationally and internationally working with legendary artist such as Gregory Hines. In 2001 Jared moved back to New York City to pursue his entertainment dreams. After getting his degree at Marymount Manhattan College, Jared tapped his way from the subways underground to almost every stage in NYC.
Stage Performances
Jared’s live stage credits include “Babes in Arms” at the Goodspeed Opera House, “Stormy Weather” at the Prince Music Theater, “Scottsboro Boys” workshop at the Vineyard Theater, “Twist an American Musical” at the Alliance Theater and Pasadena Playhouse, “Cotton Club Parade” at City Center, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” at City Center, “Run The Night” at Highline Ballroom, “Broadway Underground” at BB Kings in Time Square, and Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center world tour which he is currently active in.
TV/Film Performances
Jared can be seen in New Line Cinema's “Little Manhattan”, Elevation Filmworks’ “First Born,” starring Elizabeth Shue, and “The Marc Pease Experience” starring Ben Stiller. He’s appeared on Fox’s “Fringe” and HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" in addition to commercials for MTV, Subway, and Coca-Cola. Grimes has also performed on CBS’s “Star Search”, “Showtime at The Apollo”, Fox’s “30 Seconds to Fame”, “ABC Family’s, “Dance Fever” and “The Jerry Lewis Telethon”. When it comes to commercial dance Jared has performed with Mariah Carey on Good Morning America, BET’s 106 and Park, Ellen, and VH-1’s Save The Music. He also rocked the stage with Busta Rhymes at the MTV Video Music Awards and Common, Salt N Peppa, and LL Cool J at VH-1’s Hip-Hop Honors.
Choreography
Grimes, is currently a Cirque Du Soleil choreographer, and is the youngest to, by himself, choreograph an entire show (Banana Shpeel) for the organization. He continues to choreograph his own creation Broadway Underground and recently was an assistant choreographer for the Macy’s Kids Bop commercial.
Teaching Credits
Jared currently teaches tap and hip-hop at Broadway Dance Center.