About Jarell Howard Rochelle
Jarell creates speaking and workshop experiences for students, young adults, and communities—blending story, Hip Hop culture, and embodied Xpression to help people boldly xpress who they are.
Meet JarellTHE WORK
Speaking, workshops, and embodied expression that invite people to boldly xpress who they are
Jarell’s speaking and workshops blend life story, Hip Hop, street dance, multidisciplinary art, reflection, and community engagement. His sessions are clear, energetic, and participatory, giving audiences practical ways to explore identity, purpose, creativity, confidence, and authentic self-expression.
Through Xpression, he creates engaging experiences for students, young adults, and communities that center voice, presence, and purpose.
Bring Jarell to Your Campus or Organization
Keynotes, workshops, performances, residencies, and student experiences for schools, colleges, universities, and youth organizations.
Work With Jarell Privately
A six-week private coaching experience for individuals seeking focused guidance and support.
Read 51 Ways to Express Love to Yourself
A book about self-love, reflection, culture, and honest Xpression.
Experience:
Jarell Howard Rochelle is an Assistant Professor of Hip Hop, Culture, History and Practice at Illinois State University’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Film. He holds an MFA in Dance and Social Justice from The University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a BFA from Sam Houston State University.
A nationally recognized multidisciplinary street dance artist, educator, choreographer, and scholar, Rochelle has performed, taught, and collaborated across major stages and platforms—including the Harlem Globetrotters halftime show, FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, and a creative collaboration with Sony Music artist Dennis Lloyd. His professional credits also include work with Angie Stone, Red Bull Dance Your Style, Freestyle Session, and the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities as a guest Hip Hop teaching artist.
His work bridges Hip Hop culture, street dance, emotion, identity, storytelling, and self-expression, developing his original Xpression™ pedagogy into a framework for helping people transform emotion into connection.
Rochelle is also a TEDx Greenville speaker, delivering “How I Moved from Fame to Purpose,” and has been featured on PBS Blackademics (Season 11, Episode 2). He is the author of 51 Ways to Express Love to Yourself, extending his artistic practice into personal growth, connection, and self-expression.
Â
"Why fit in when you were CREATED to stand out!"
- Jarell Howard Rochelle
"Jarell creates experiences where people feel invited to boldly xpress who they are."
- Hip Hop Xpression Class at The Universitity of Texas
"I do not know how to negotiate who I am...either it is for me or not, and I'll find out by being myself to ensure that its aligned with who I am"
-Â Jarell Howard Rochelle
Why This Work Matters
People are not meant to shrink in order to belong. Jarell creates experiences that help audiences reflect, participate, and leave with a stronger sense of voice, purpose, and permission to boldly Xpress themselves.
His speaking-first approach, supported by movement and embodied expression, helps students, young adults, and communities engage identity, creativity, confidence, and authentic self-expression in ways that feel active, accessible, and real.
BRING JARELL TO YOUR ORGANIZATION
Speaking and workshop experiences for students, young adults, and communities.
Invite Jarell Howard Rochelle to create an engaging experience rooted in story, Hip Hop culture, reflection, and embodied expression.