PULSE ICONS

 Popin 'Pete

Popin' Pete, is an American dancer and choreographer who popularized the "popping" dance style and member of the Electric Boogaloos. Pete’s career has spanned over forty years since the emergence of popping dance. Popin’ Pete is a first-generation member of The Electric Boogaloos, joining the group in 1978. According to Pete, he learned to pop first because Boogaloo was too difficult. Boogaloo Sam, as a creator of the group, taught basics to the members of The Electric Boogaloos. As all the members were very experienced and passionate dancers, the group soon became successful. During that time, Pete and the other members of The Electric Boogaloos appeared on many popular shows.

 Ken Swift

Ken Swift is a second-generation b-boy, or breaker. He was a longtime member and key figure in the Rock Steady Crew, and its former Vice President. During the period in which hip hop and breaking were gaining national attention, Ken’s original footwork and overall style became an integral part of b-boying and is recognized as a blueprint for the dance. Widely known in the breaking world as "the Epitome of a B-Boy," he is considered by b-boys to be the individual who has had the greatest influence on breaking.

 Suga Pop

Suga Pop worked with artists such as Michael Jackson, James Brown, Lionel Richie, Janet Jackson, and Sheila E in the 1980s and 1990s, touring as a dancer, featuring in televised performances such as Herbie Hancock's performance of "Rockit" at the 1984 Grammy Awards, and appearing in such seminal pop musical videos as Michael Jackson's "Beat It" and "Thriller," and Janet Jackson's "That's The Way Love Goes." Suga Pop is recognized as a key contributor to the international street dancing scene, regularly teaching and delivering workshops on the dance forms of locking and popping around the world.

LINK

Henry grew up in the projects of Brooklyn and at the edge of 18, after graduating from Canarsie High School, opportunity knocked on his door when he met Rosie Perez. After meeting Miss Perez, his career in dance & choreography started to take flight. His dedication finally started paying off when his style of dance landed him in the music video of... Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey. Today, as a founding member of Elite Force Crew, Henry has become one of the world's most charismatic figures in the art of freestyle dancing and, naturally, one of Brooklyn's finest!

Caleaf 

Caleaf is one of the original pioneers to come out of New York's dance movement in the late 80's. He is a member of the famed Moptop Unit and Dance Fusion. Caleaf mixes Hip-Hop and House to create his own unique dance style.

Caleaf tours the world teaching the art of House dancing.
@caleafsellars

Mr Wiggles

Mr. Wiggles, born in 1965 in the South Bronx of New York City, is of Puerto Rican descent and was raised on hip hop since the early 1970s. During his time in the graffiti crew TC5, Clemente was known as "Rek" by other members of the group. Clemente originally got his stage name of Mr. Wiggles from a leader in the TC5 crew, who went by both "Seen" and "Mr. Wiggles." While cutting class in school, Clemente had shown "Seen" a certain dance move which inspired him to give Clemente his side-alias, "Mr. Wiggles." Mr. Wiggles performs as a solo artist and with the Electric Boogaloos and Rock Steady Crew. He is also committed to participating in outreach programs teaching youth about the positive aspects of hip-hop culture.

Marjory Smarth

Marjory Smarth was born in November of 1969 on the island of Haiti. She moved to the Upper West Side of New York City by 1974. Though she was already familiar with the native dances of her culture, in the States she was exposed to the many styles of dance. Hip-hop being one of her favorite rhythms to express herself, she attended many street jams and engaged in battles. In the late 1980s, she started dancing professionally with various music artists, including Diana Ross, Heavy D and CeCe Peniston, among others.

Honey Rockwell

Born and raised in the South Bronx, legendary b-girl Honey Rockwell began gymnastics and dancing at the Bronx Academy of Dance at the age of 7. Currently, she represents both TruEssencia and Bgirl Mafia crews. Recently, along with the Seven Gems Crew, she participated in a US government-sponsored tour teaching Hip Hop dance and performing in Brazil. Honey produced and distributed the first b-girl dance video and continues to contribute to the culture by performing and teaching workshops and masterclasses to the youth worldwide.

 Orko

Bboy Orko, raised in Los Angeles, he has been popping and breaking since the age of 12. He has performed with the dance group Air Force Crew in Japan, California, Las Vegas, and New York City. Orko participated in the 1995 L.A. Funk Festival at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Big Five sporting expo in Long Beach, and as part of the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. His 1990 (8-time spins in row) is known as one of the best in the world. He is still active to this day working with his wife Bgirl Honey Rockwell at Rockwell Dance Academy in Acworth, GA.

Sweepy

Popper from LA, Rock Steady Crew, in Pirates of the Caribbean

Cebo

Cebo teaches from the understanding that if you understand the culture, it will be easier for you to find yourself in the culture and what makes you comfortable.

Cebo has been dancing since before he could speak, winning his first dance competition at 5 years old. He has since gone on to win some of the world’s largest dance battles such as Juste Debout Japan and House Dance International.

Cebo is also a member of the world-renowned groups Dance Fusion and Mop Top.

 Storm

Niels Robitzky aka Storm, counts amongst the pioneers of hip-hop culture in Europe. Very early, he decided to dance. In the 1990’s, he is one of the first to develop choreographies with dance styles associated to the hip-hop culture, and to question this specific stage form. Storm became one of the most presented choreographers and dancers, touring worldwide, with no distinction for poor or prestigious conditions. Since 1991 and until today, his crew Battle Squad has an international reputation. After a collaboration with Ghettoriginal in New York, he founded The Storm & Jazzy Project in Berlin (1996) – one of the first hip-hop-rooted dance companies presented on French and international theatre stages.

Rhapsody James

Rhapsody James began her career as a choreographer after receiving her BFA Purchase College (NY). Born in Brooklyn, her first job was at Sony Music as an Executive Assistant, which planted the seed for her foray into the Commercial Dance industry. She quickly became a lead choreographer for the NBA New Jersey Nets Dance Team and a principal dancer in the acclaimed Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See music video by Busta Rhymes. Not one to limit herself or the students and dancers she works with, Rhapsody has several programs she continues to pursue artistic inspiration under. She is: the Artistic Director/Choreographer of R.E.D. – Rhapsody En Dance; Director/Creator of a multimedia cabaret show Siren Assassins; and the Artistic Director of her Commercial Dance Training Program called Motivating Excellence.

Spicey 

Montreal choreographer and major figure in hip-hop dance in Quebec, ‘Spicey’ began her career as a choreographer in 2005 as a performer and teacher. As an independent choreographer she presented three pieces in Quebec prior to 2015, including Retrospek (2008, 9 performers), which influenced a generation of Montreal street dancers. She was awarded the Rideau-Entrées en Scène Loto Québec bursary in 2009, and Retrospek was then presented in twenty different venues across the province. At the same time the Bust A Move Festival that she founded (2005–2015) became the biggest street dance competition in Canada, attended annually by 3500 spectators and participants. Eager to further expand her artistic aspirations and to actively promote street dance and its performers, ‘Spicey’ founded the dance company Ebnflōh in 2015. With the support of collaborators and peers, her approach to hip-hop as choreography evolved, becoming more exploratory, radical and authentic.

 Neguin

Neguin began dancing at the age of 14 on the vibrant streets of his hometown, Paraná, a Brazilian city where dance is a way of life. Starting off with freestyle and social dance, he added breaking to his dance vocabulary in 2003. Neguin describes his style as involving death-defying jumps, blitz-speed movement, unpredictability, clean execution of his arsenal and variations in each ground and power move, infused with flavour and high energy while keeping a constant rhythm. Among the highlights of his B-Boy career he lists battling in both 2007 and 2008 at R16 Korea, O Duelo 2008 in Brazil, Coosh Crash Test 2008 in the USA, the Battle Of The Year 2008 in Brazil, Humanitarian Massy Battle 2009 in France and the World B-Boy Classics in Holland.

Thaiyo

Born in the small town of Jeonju, South Korea, Thaiyo is a world-famous b-boy now a Vancouver-based artist. By the age 23, Thaiyo won the International Battle of the Year (BOTY) 2005, in Germany, with his crew, Last For One. Thaiyo's crew was highlighted in the feature film "Planet B-boy", that followed the story of each crew that went to BOTY in 2005. After Last For One’s rise to fame, Thaiyo’s hometown of Jeonju named a city square after the crew, Last For One Plaza, as a recognition of international success for the local team. Each crew member’s handprint and signature can be found at the plaza, which is located in the downtown core of the city. At age 27, Thaiyo moved to Vancouver, Canada, and joined Canada’s top breaking team, Now Or Never. Thaiyo's style is based off of his belief that a well-rounded b-boy is a good b-boy. He combines style, power, and foundation to create his dance, and passes it on to his students with great enthusiasm.

Chrybaby Cozie

From Harlem, NY, Chrybaby Cozie is one of the founding fathers of the Hip-Hop freestyle genre called Lite Feet.

Chrybaby has been teaching Lite Feet and Hip-Hop and has been cultivating and keeping the Lite Feet culture alive for ten years with the NYC youth.

Through the culture, he has created a Hip-Hop dance organization called The Bwreckfast Club E.A.T (Earning All Together) in 2005.

The Bwreckfast Club is a platform for youth to build upon their passion, talent, and to be given an opportunity to promote themselves in a positive light.

YNOT

Anthony Denaro, M. F. A, aka YNOT, explores the design, sustainability, history, and community of Hip Hop. Through a futuristic lens, YNOT’s work manifests in dance, typography, music, and architecture. YNOT’s reputation in the dance world precedes him. As a B-boy, he’s traveled the world extensively judging battles, teaching workshops, and building cultural awareness. In YNOT’s vision of the sustainability of Hip Hop, teaching and mentorship are paramount. Alongside his dance and professorship, YNOT both physically and digitally creates two and three dimensional visual works that construct a possible future of the Hip Hop aesthetic.

King Charles

King Charles is a Chicago Footwork pioneer from the South Side of Chicago and a prominent international teaching artist for Chicago Footwork. He has been a global ambassador for the art form for over 20 years. King Charles is the founder and leader of Creation Global, an international Chicago Footwork dance crew with 100 members worldwide. King Charles continues to blow audiences away with his energy and creativity.

 Bboy Venum

Hailing from Tampa, Florida – Jaime "Venum" Burgos, a.k.a. Bboy Venum is known for his technical skill, powerful energy and dedication to excellence in the art of breaking. Having appeared in feature films such as Step Up 3D, Justin Bieber Believe, Honey 2, and performing with major recording artists among the likes of Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber, are only a few of his experiences in the industry and the roots. Passionate for dance and continuously holding himself to the vision of mastering his craft in 26 years and counting, Bboy Venum has opened doors that allowed him to travel the world to compete, judge and teach in events which continue to inspire and educate avid breakers of all ages, newcomers and well-seasoned alike, from all around the globe to this day.

HYA

Handy “Monsta Pop” Yacinthe is recognized as one of the leading forces in building the current-day Montréal popping community, and an innovative dance creator and technical experimenter in his own right. Montréal-born of Haitian parents, he has traveled throughout Canada, Europe and Asia competing, teaching, judging and exchanging with other specialists. His expertise and creative movement approaches have led him to coach contemporary companies like Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, to co-choreograph for the television show America’s Best Dance Crew, and to work with Franco Dragone of the Cirque du Soleil. He has also conceived and organizes the innovative Jack of All Trades dance competition event. In 2021, Monsta Pop changed to HYA due to “Monsta Pop has been limiting for me for the past years if not more.”

Kid David

Kid David started b-boying in 2000 after being inspired by the movie Breakin’. In 2003, he entered the “competitive” scene, winning many regional competitions. His regional reputation grew rapidly as he became recognized as one of the top up-and-comers in the Bay Area. With forward momentum, in 2007 Kid David stepped onto the international scene, blowing up instantly. Since then, he has won, judged, and participated in the most prestigious events worldwide. In 2010, Kid David made his move to Hollywood where he reached success very fast.

Ian Eastwood

Ian Eastwood is a dancer, choreographer, and director from Chicago, Illinois. He started his dance journey at the age of 10, training in Hip Hop, Jazz, and Ballet. By the age of 16, Ian was already traveling the world teaching classes and workshops, and today, he’s known as one of the most talented artists in the industry. He’s performed on hit shows like America’s Best Dance Crew (Mos Wanted Crew) and World of Dance, worked with incredible musical artists including Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper, SHINee, and Hayley Kiyoko, and launched his own dance company called YOUNG LIONS, which trains up-and-coming dancers from around the globe.

 Slim Boogie

Slim Boogie is a world-renowned Popping freestyler, battler, and community leader. He's most famous for his Animation and techniques like dime stops, speed changes, waving, tutting, and control. Slim has won several national and international competitions in his 15 years of dancing. He has had the privilege of traveling the world and working with Usher, Wiz, Disney, and many others. He created the Battle Games, and started a cultural session in downtown LA.

Nubian Néné

Nubian Néné, born in Montréal, is known in her community for her waacking and house dance styles, as a well-versed dancer, an out-of-ordinary and powerful choreographer, and her ability to wear many hats, such as host, judge, performer, director, and more. Since 2014, Nubian is hosting the Ladies of Hip Hop dance competition and is well anchored in the Festival, presenting choreographic work, teaching and helping with the organization.

 Waackeisha

Leah McFly AKA Waackeisha is internationally known since she won the 2009 HDI waacking battle in NYC. Montreal-based dancer, Leah McFly AKA Waackeisha, has taught, battled, judged, choreographed and performed in places such as Asia, Europe, Caribbean and Russia to name a few. Known for her battle credibility, she has judged battles such as; Bust A Move, Dance@Alive, Street Star, Last One Stands and UK Champs. She has mixed dance and fashion as she worked closely alongside designers like Nova Dando, Karl Lagerfeld, Jeremy Scott and Vivienne Westwood for fashion weeks in Paris, London and New York.

Venum

Mecdy Jean-Pierre, aka “Mystic Rootz”, is a Montreal-born of Haitian descent performer, choreographer, judge, and teacher who has been active in the dance scene since 2005. He has worked with several dance companies, including Cirque du Soleil, Blueprint Dance Company, Gad Fly, We All Fall Down, Tentacle Tribe, and Zab Maboungou / Compagnie de danse Nyata Nyata. He has also appeared in dance films like “Sur le rythme”; “Step Up All” and “Full Out.” In 2023, he won the Grand Prix de la danse, “Prix Interprète de la Danse de Montréal.”

LADY C

Lady C is a Calgary-born, Toronto-based artist.

As a dancer, her main focus is in Street Dance culture, and although she has made her mark in this global community, her training includes a background in Ballet, Contemporary, Tap Dance, and most recently extends into Jazz Dance forms.

In 2012, she became a member of Soul Shifters Crew (USA), and a few years later also became a member of Symbiotic Monsters Crew (CAN).

Lady C holds titles from renowned events such as JOAT Festival, Red Bull Dance Your Style, Juste Debout, and was also invited to judge another of these events—Summer Dance Forever, one of the largest Street Dance events in the world.

Jaja 

Jaja Vankova is an artist, choreographer, and dancer with 20+ years of experience in movement and street dance. Since then, Jaja has traveled to 40+ countries to share her knowledge, give performances, and work on numerous projects around the whole world. She's notably known as a finalist of So You Think You Can Dance season 12, as Robot Girl from Step Up All In, or for her own project The Puppet & The Puppet Master.

Ebnflōh

EbNflōh Dance Company was founded in 2015 by dancer and choreographer Alexandra ‘Spicey’ Landé from Montreal. Her mission is to create, produce, and present engaging, authentic, and original work. By putting forth a novel choreographic language that is deeply rooted in the spirit of Hip-Hop, the company presents its creations throughout Québec, Canada, and abroad. EbNflōh’s chief goal is to spread its artistic endeavors through the Montreal contemporary dance scene but also promotes street dancers in other Canadian cities, and beyond. Inclusive at the core, it equally values the practices of emerging talent along with those of the culturally diverse.

Jigsaw

Ja James Britton Johnson aka Jigsaw aka Ozkar the Grouch – one of Montreal's most respected Krump and Hip Hop dancers. He began working with 2 Marvelous, then ventured into krumping in 2006. He has devoted 10 years to his art and, with determination and dedication, has become one of the leaders of the new generation of krumping in Canada. He is also a member of the Montreal Krump Alliance, a non-profit dance organization, and now dances for the Ebnlōh Dance Company.

KOSI

Born in Nigeria, Kosi is a multi-hyphenated dance artist who started her journey with street dance forms in 2012. Since then, she has gone on to share her systems of approach across the world, most notably at The Alvin Ailey School and the O2 Forum, amongst others. Kosi is currently tasked with embodying movement that is informed and promoting emotional intelligence through her art—as it impacts the way we preserve dance practices for generations to come.

Natasha Gorrie

Natasha is the founder of Diamonds in the Rough crew. Natasha has grown up in the Vancouver hip hop dance scene since a young age. Her first brush with hip hop dance was when her mother taught her how to do the running man in the living room of their home. Natasha is the Founder & Director of Higher Ground Dance Company. This company is training-based, focusing on freestyle in Hip Hop, popping, breaking & locking. Together as a company they go to battles to put that training into action. Let me know if you'd like help refining or rewording it!

Logistx

She took ballet classes when young, but was unable to continue due to costs associated with classes. When she was age seven, her father suggested trying out hip hop dance classes. Edra was nicknamed "Logistx" by her father at age 10, and went on a strict schedule to develop as a dancer, which included gymnastics classes. She began competing in breaking competitions and won the Silverback Open B-Girl tournament in Philadelphia in 2018. She competed at the Red Bull BC One World Final in 2021 and won the title, becoming both the youngest winner and the first American winner in the women’s category.

RAWSS

A leading woman in Montreal's street dance culture, Elie-Anne was introduced to popping in 2006. After five years of training with Montreal’s popping pioneers such as Fon De Vueno-Powell, Hitmaster Fish, and Handy Yacinthe, she participated in numerous battles both locally and internationally. In 2017, she became a member of the crew Symbiotic Monsters. Elie-Anne has worked with Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Éloize and has performed in various festivals, including the JOAT Festival, which she now co-directs alongside Handy Yacinthe.

Marlee Hightower

Marlee Hightower is a professional dancer, choreographer, and visual artist based in Orlando, Florida. At age 11, Marlee began making solo appearances, as a headliner on the World of Dance tour, as well as teaching dance workshops across the country. In 2013, World of Dance nominated Marlee for "Teen Choreographer of the Year." In 2015, Marlee’s family opened Orlando’s first open-class hip hop/choreography studio, called Motiv Dance. In 2016, Marlee started a dance team of her own called Motiv Crew; which she now co-directs with fellow dancer/choreographer, Dario Boatner. In 2018, Marlee and Motiv Crew appeared on NBC’s World of Dance, Season 3. In 2020, Marlee became co-owner and artistic director of Motiv Dance Studio.

Raoul Wilke

Raoul Wilke, a multifaceted Dora Award-winning artist, is the co-founder of The Moon Runners dance crew and the CEO of Feed Your Sole. His choreographic work extends into film and theatre, artistic directing and coaching for artists such as Dillion Anthony’s “Love That We Found,” Tyra Jutai’s “New Shoes” and Abhithi’s cover of “7 Rings.” Under the artistic direction of Gadfly Dance Company, he got to perform for major brands such as Canada Goose, Azzaro Fragrance as well as grant commissioned works, at the Four Seasons, The Sony Center and many other Canadian-based venues.

Chris Bonus

Chris Bonus is a dancer, choreographer, instructor, and director from Vancouver, Canada. Chris is currently a captain and choreographer of the well-known Canadian mega-crew, Two Four Seven Company.

He has competed at Hip-Hop International, World of Dance, Artists Emerge, VIBE, and recently took first place at Body Rock 2017 with Two Four Seven.

Jacksun Fryer

Jackson Fryer is half of a dynamic Hip Hop and Popping dance duo from Vancouver Island, Canada with Carlow Rush called Funkanometry. They participated in the second, third & fourth seasons of World of Dance, and in 2024, Funkanometry competed on the fourth season of Canada's Got Talent where they finished runner-up to Saskatchewan singer Rebecca Strong. (Jackson is in the red hoodie.)