James
Felton
Artist / Dancer / Choreographer
Hi! I’m JAMES.
The Michigan native, Brooklyn based James Felton II first trained at Sandra Brewer’s Dance Connection learning iconic choreography from Ms. Sandy’s illustrious careers across TV, film, & Broadway prior to joining Flint Youth Ballet under Founding Artistic Director Emeritus, Karen Mills-Jennings.
James received his first professional Guest Artist contracts prior to and throughout his journey in higher education, performing Principal roles in The Nutcracker, Paquita, The Sleeping Beauty, and more with Ballet Kalamazoo, Ballet Arts Ensemble, & Karen’s School of Dance. James earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance & Choreography from Western Michigan University (2021) where he performed in Dance Department’s annual mainstage Winter Gala Concerts, WMU Theatre’s production of Guys & Dolls , and in the touring repertoire company Western Dance Project under direction of Whitney Moncrief.
Throughout his education, James had the opportunity of engaging in artist residencies & workshops with Giordano Dance Chicago, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Peridance, Danceworks Chicago, and The Balanchine Trust™. Following graduation, James has danced professionally with Accent Dance NYC, Eglevsky Ballet, Ballet Theatre Company, City Ballet of Boston, Flint Institute of Music, Thomas/Ortiz Dance, and more in works by notable choreographers Pedro Ruiz, Durante Verzola, Darrel Moulterie, Jennifer Archibald, Mike Esperanza, Jackie Nowicki, Seyong Kim, Monique Haley, Christine Turner, Mikal Fokine, and others.
James’ choreography has been commissioned throughout Michigan and New England and accepted in programming at Detroit Dance City Festival, Small Plates Choreography Festival, and Hartford Dance Festival. An educator for over ten years, James passionately champions accessibility to quality training and performance opportunities with fervor, humility, and humor.
James credits his affinity for the footlights to his sister and cousins in the countless dance routines created & redeemed for sleepovers spent playing Pretty Princess™ board game, watching Mary-Kate & Ashley boxtapes, and recreating their favorite dance recital archives.
West Hartford Patch
“Dance Captain, James Felton II, is a standout in the ensemble in his Playhouse on Park debut. The supremely talented dancer joined West Hartford’s Ballet Theatre Company last spring (2022) and is a treat to watch in this production.” –Nancy Sasso Janis
CT Critics
“Felton’s addition, …feels like salt to taste. The instruction you see in recipes that allows for as much salt as is needed to make the dish just so— Felton provides just enough gracefully melancholy movement to each scene to emphasize the emotion present, or to subsidize it, in some cases.” – Kimolee Eryn
One Man’s Opinion
“Zoller and Mintz have choreographed some excellent dance numbers, …especially for James Felton II who portrays a spectral Michael throughout haunting Donnie. Like a musical motif, Zoller and Mintz give him a recurring dance move of him bending and almost shrouding himself that sets up the haunting emotions about to be exhibited.”