EXPERIENCE

Mark “Swarf” Calape

Animanics, Got to Dance, Cirque Du Soleil Las Vegas

““Andy Instone’s passion drew me to the event. I saw Andy’s work and how passionate he was about educating the truth about Hip Hop. In Hip Hop dance there’s so much dilution of the culture out there, so when I see an organization like Urban Strides who are teaching the truth and are committed to helping the art form then I want to help support the Urban Strides movement. If I can be a part of that then I feel privileged. I found everyone so welcoming and open it was just pure love! You don’t get that at many workshops. At Hip Hop Don’t Stop you get to really share and exchange with the students, With the quality of instructors you’re getting at Hip Hop Don’t Stop I’d come as a student and learn! There’s too much knowledge here!”

Dickson Mbi

2x UK Popping Champ, Winner SDK, Fiya House, Prototype

“Urban Strides is the ONE! People don’t get this kind of thing in London, these people are soooo lucky! The community vibe is one of the important things that makes Urban Strides…URBAN STRIDES!”

Yaw

Yaw has competed in competitions such us the UK Hip Hop Championships and various UDO championships. In 2006 he placed 1st the Southern UDO Championships and 2nd in the worlds.

He has since gone on to perform in shows like Move it, Dancers Delight, Breakin Convention, World of Dance and breakout. Having a hand in choreographing in each of the performances and often being the main choreographer. He has taught in various countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Scotland and Wales.

He is currently the resident locking teacher at Base and Studio 68 Dance Studios in London and runs his own Locking company Funk of the Future.

Kayla

If you didn’t know already, Kayla is a member of Birdgang Dance Company. Her artist credits include Katy Perry, Emeli Sande, Rita Ora, Busted, Nile Rodgers and Mohombi’s world tour to name a few. She has also performed in theatre productions such as Zoonation’s shows; Into the Hoods, Some Like It Hip Hop, Into the Hoods:Remixed and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

James

James started dancing at age 4. At age 7 he was the youngest person to have a solo as part of the Urban Strides Crew, in the opening of The Royal Variety Performance in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen. At age 16 he gained a scholarship at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. Whilst in his final year he became the youngest dancer ever to perform at the X Factor Live Shows. James has toured with Jess Glynne and was one of only 20 dancers on the Spice Girls stadium tour. He has worked with many other Artists including Eve, Harry Styles and Hugh Jackman. He has done many professional jobs, including commercials, Music Videos, prime time BBC and ITV shows and Films.

Kenji

Kenji never fails to bring something new and challenging to the event. His choreography is like no other which is why he scores so highly on our feedback forms. Kenji is a founding member of Bird Gang Dance Company and has worked all around the world doing film, stage and TV work with artists including Coldplay, FKA Twigs, Rita Ora and many more.

Sasha

Sasha is a UK based performer, dancer, choreographer, and movement artist. He specialises in Street Dance styles; Breaking, House, Hip-Hop and he is a member of the award-winning Floor Crusaders crew. Sasha has worked with artists such as Sean Paul, Kylie Minogue & Boy George to name a few.

Sasha has also toured with the Urban Strides Senior Crew on our 25 date arena tour and has been working as a vital cog in the Urban Strides teaching faculty.

Ginger

Ginger is a founding member of The Waacktitioners (the first ever U.K Waacking Crew). Through Waacking, Ginger fell in love with teaching and performing. Her workshops and classes bring a unique energy and are always a hit. Ginger has also discovered the battle scene through Waacking leading her to compete in Europe and the U.S earning a notable collection of titles along her way. She is now most definitely a battle addict!

As if she wasn’t busy enough teaching, battling and performing, Ginger is also the creator and producer of hugely successful and international dance battle and party night Waack Date. You’ll know Mademoiselle Ginger when you see her: she’s vivacious, passionate and always bringing something new & fresh to Hip Hop Don’t Stop.

Bagsy

Bagsy has been dancing for over 15 years doing many styles including Hip Hop, Popping, Locking, Krump, Waacking & House. He has studied and trained with some of the most prolific dancers of our time. Pioneers including Archie Burnett, Ana Lollipop Sanchez, Brian Green, The Go Go Brothers, Hurricane, Cebo, Caleaf, Tony McGregor and Sekou. They are all masters in their craft and have all helped Bagsy become an incredibly strong performer and teacher.

Bagsy’s workshops contain everything from technique training, freestyle development, drills and foundations, choreography, battle skills, knowledge of the social/club culture, insights into the professional dance industries and understanding in both music and history of dance.

Keron

Keron proverbs is a choreographer from London and a member of the academy of Definitives company & 16th fluur HIP-HOP collective.

He has taught in London studios such as Studio 68, Pineapple studios and currently teaches HIP-HOP dance at Base studio & the Hub studio. Commercially he has worked with the likes of Kanye west, FKA Twigs, Misha B, Chaka Khan, Becky Hill and more.

Kerons’ credits are very impressive, but what is more impressive is his way of making you feel valued in class and leave you feeling inspired at the end of the session.

Rhian

Rhian Duncan trained at Tiffany Theatre College and has worked hard to become a Professional Dancer in the industry. She has danced for artists such as ; Zara Larsson, Rihanna, Rita Ora, Drake, SteffLonDon, French Montana, Black Eyed Peas, EVE, Kiesza, Helene Fishcer, Union J & many more.

She is a member of Birdgang Dance Company and has toured America, Canada, Luxembourg and Africa.

She has worked also as a Musical Theatre Performer in shows such as Grease The Musical, Exposure The Musical and Blaze The Street Dance Sensation.She has her own class at BASE every week and teaches workshops all over the world such as Dubai, Africa, America and all over the UK.

Fi

Fi is a true Urban Strider. Fi started out at one of Andy’s beginner classes. Since then, Fi trained at every Hip Hop Don’t Stop as she wanted to be the best she could be. Fi worked her way through the ranks and was a significant member in our Senior Crew for 4 years where she performed on 4 UK arena tours. Now Fi has been a part of Bird Gang dance company for 8 years.

Sam

Sam is a Hip hop dance educator and performer with a BA and Masters in Dance. Sam has performed in the Opening Ceremony for London’s 2012 Olympic Games and for four years at Sadler’s Wells for Breakin’ Convention with The Locksmiths Dance Company. She has danced on Britain’s Got Talent and has performed in Saudi Arabia, Italy, Malta, South Africa and St. Lucia. She teaches for The Royal Academy of Dance’s Step into Dance programme as well as for university dance societies in London. She is co-founder of #makemefunky dance classes in London where she specialises in Popping, Locking and 1970’s funky social dances.

Michael

Michael is a multi-disciplined and creative artist. Michael learnt his critical Street Dance foundations at Urban Strides and built on them throughout his dancing career. Michael performed with the senior crew for many years before he went and perused his professional dance career.

Since then, he has performed and choreographed internationally in theatres, arenas, stadiums, TV and film. He’s been featured dancer and Associate Choreographer on the hit West end show ‘Bat Out Of Hell’, taking it to Canada, Germany and New York and also performed in hip-hop theatre shows Blaze, ‘Some like it hiphop’ and ‘Message in a bottle’. He’s danced on The Voice, X Factor, BGT and other TV shows with artists such as Pink, Ellie Goulding, WILL I AM and more. He also danced on the Spice girls Stadium tour, various Netflix films.

Verona

Verona’s Afrobeats Fusion dance class draws influence from a variety of modern and traditional dance and music styles from the African diaspora including Nigeria, Ghana, Angola and much more! Expect to be taken through your paces working closely with polyrhythms, melodic embodiment, percussive and rhythmic steps.