About James

James Belk a highly skilled percussionist with a comprehensive background in both live and recorded performance. An experienced percussionist and instructor with more than 40 years of musical experience.

James Belk served as percussionist at The Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities for more than 40 years as one of the instructors as well as the accompanist for the Annual Katherine Dunham Dance Technique Seminar. Hired by Ms. Dunham as the primary percussionist for The Performing Arts Training Center in East St. Louis, Illinois, James displays astuteness in rhythms of diverse cultures such: Haitian, Cuban, Brazilian, Senegalese, Ghanian, Polynesian as well as other ethnicities.

James has conducted Master classes in Illinois, California, New York, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indianapolis, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Missouri. Teaching, performing, and accompanying dancers continues to be James’ reason to carry on Katherine Dunham’s legacy.