Between filming a British reality dance TV show, promoting his new DVD and playing choreographer to the stars, Darrin Henson is making a stop in Delray Beach to teach children how to groove like Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.

Henson, 34, of New York, teaches classes all over the world.

“Someone from Delray e-mailed me, and we’re going to go there,” he said.

That someone was Rhonda Williams-Turner, the program and events coordinator at Pompey Park. She teaches a step class for elementary, middle and high school children.

“I knew Darrin from TV. I just went on his Web site, sent him an e-mail asking if he would teach our kids,” she said.

About 45 children from Williams-Turner’s step class and at least two other children have signed up for Henson’s Sept. 9 workshop, despite the $50 fee. It is open to children in kindergarten through 12th grade, regardless of where they live, she said.

The city is paying about $4,000 for Henson’s fee, airfare and hotel. Organizers hope people will sponsor children for the dance class to recoup the costs, she said.

“No child will be left out” if they can’t afford the fee, she said.

“Kids are our future dancers. They have such great energy. They know all the dances. It’s amazing to see them do all the hip-hop moves,” Henson said in a phone interview from New York. “They get them sometimes before the adults do.”

He accepted the gig because of the children, he said.

“I do it because I love teaching dance. The children are the new choreographers and dancers; they are also my life line … pay it forward,” he said via e-mail.

Henson has been dancing since he was 5. He studied at a dance school in Brooklyn and formed his own company. He has choreographed for Spears, Lopez and ‘N Sync, winning an MTV award for the boy band’s Bye Bye Bye video.

He finds inspiration for new and unique dance moves from the music.

“All music is different, and the dance steps have to follow suit to that. Music tells us what to do,” he said.

He has been busy filming Bump and Grind, in which he plays the American judge, in the style of American Idol’s Simon Cowell. The show will air in the United Kingdom in September, he said.

As Darrin Dewitt Henson, he has parts in an upcoming film with Queen Latifah called Life Support, and he appeared in the 2005 film The Salon, with Vivica A. Fox. He had a recurring role on Showtime’s drama Soul Food.

Henson plays a fraternity brother in a dance movie called Steppin’, scheduled for release Jan. 12. “It’s being compared to Chicago. It’s going to be big,” he said.

Henson has been getting ready for the release of his new DVD, Darrin’s Dance Grooves 2, which is a follow-up to Darrin’s Dance Grooves. The DVD commercials should start airing nationally this month, he said.

For more information on Henson, go to

IF YOU GO

What: Dance class taught by New York choreographer Darrin Henson for children and teens, kindergarten through 12th grade

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sept. 9

Where: Pompey Park, 1101 NW Second St., Delray Beach

Cost: $50

Details: Register by Sept. 1 by calling 561-243-7356. To sponsor a student, call the same number.