Ken Swift

Ken Swift is one of the greatest influences the dance of Breaking has known and is credited with establishing movements critical to the dances’ foundation with his personal style and techniques. He is recognized worldwide for his continued contributions throughout the last 44 years of promoting, educating and preserving the art form of Breaking and Hip Hop culture. Ken is an original 2nd generation B.Boy from NYC and Former Vice President of the world renowned Rock Steady Crew (RSC) who were featured in the first Hip-Hop documentary film “Style Wars”, the first Hip-Hop motion picture “Wild Style” (1983), and major motion pictures “Flashdance” (1983) and “Beat Street” (1984), including the first International Hip Hop Tour, “New York City Rap” (1982).

Due to Ken’s contributions as a pioneer he has received many accolades including four Lifetime Achievement Awards from various organizations, received an American Masterpieces in Dance Award from the NEA, has taught dance courses in Breaking and Hip Hop Culture History at UCLA and UC Riverside, as well as voted the 2nd Most Influential Dancer of the 20th Century by CNN’s Icon Series. He has been featured and interviewed as an expert in over seventy documentary film projects as well as hundreds of newspapers, magazines and books over the course of his career. Currently he travels the world judging Breaking competitions and teaching workshops at universities and dance schools around the US and the globe.