Hip Hop International Crowns 25th Anniversary Champions

Hip Hop International is marking its 25th anniversary by convening 3,000 dancers from 55 countries for its weeklong world championship contest concluding in Phoenix, according to founders Howard and Karen Schwartz. The milestone highlights how the organization transitioned global street dance from underground breaking into mainstream prominence, launching the careers of major crews like Jabbawockeez and choreographers such as Parris Goebel and Sienna Lalau.

Evolution From Aerobics Pioneers to Global Dance Competitors

Before launching Hip Hop International, founders Howard and Karen Schwartz were widely known in the late 1980s as “the mother and father of aerobics,” according to Karen Schwartz. The duo helped pioneer the national aerobics craze and created the National Aerobic Championship, which gained media attention from ESPN and the Soviet Union during the social and cultural upheaval preceding the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Following requests from the Soviet Union, the Schwartzes brought their aerobic champions abroad to teach fitness classes, expanding the competition globally. According to Howard Schwartz, that early venture became almost as large as Hip Hop International is today.

After transitioning out of the fitness industry, the pair sought new communal experiences. While traveling in Paris and Tokyo, they observed young people breaking on the streets and utilizing storefront windows as mirrors for choreography. Those street observations planted the seeds for Hip Hop International. To establish credibility for the new venture, the founders reached out to established figures in street dance, including Don Campbell, creator of the locking style; Ken Swift, a longtime b-boy and member of the Rock Steady Crew; and Toni Basil, a member of the 1970s dance crew the Lockers and singer of the hit song “Mickey,” according to event history.

Building Credibility and International Expansion with Industry Pioneers

Toni Basil, who received HHI’s Icon Award and frequently serves as a judge during championship events, remains a steadfast ambassador for global dance. The Lockers were the first dance group to break out of the “Soul Train” sphere for singular television appearances on programs like “The Tonight Show” and “The Carol Burnett Show,” legitimizing street dance as a viable career path. According to Basil, HHI competitions provide a vital platform for international artists. “I don’t know how Karen and Howard organize it,” Basil stated, noting that bringing international dancers to America creates a life-changing environment where participants dance constantly. Basil asserted that “there’s no more important crew battles in the world than HHI. Period.”

Launching Superstars and Shaping Modern Choreography

The competition’s emphasis on group choreography has translated to worldwide success, producing top-tier choreographers and artistic directors who now work with major music artists. Parris Goebel operates the Palace dance studio in Auckland, New Zealand, where her large crew, the Royal Family, won three gold medals in a row at HHI competitions. According to an email from Goebel, those wins provided international recognition for her crew and drove widespread interest in her studio. Similarly, Sienna Lalau conducts coveted masterclasses during championship week and leads the Los Angeles-based hip-hop crew the Lab. Lalau noted via email that HHI taught her that the strongest creative work stems from collaboration across culture, community, and creativity.

Television Success and the Future of Hip Hop Dance

In 2008, the Schwartzes’ success led them to produce the Emmy Award-winning MTV series “America’s Best Dance Crew,” which ran for eight seasons. The show spotlighted background performers and treated participants with respect. JC Chasez, an NSYNC member and judge on the series, noted in an email that “ABDC” successfully ensured home audiences understood the dancers were the stars. Chasez highlighted that alumni from the show and HHI competitions are now visible across various entertainment platforms, including Broadway productions like “Jellicle Ball.” Looking toward the next 25 years, supporters anticipate further evolution as hip-hop music and its rhythms continue to change. Meanwhile, Howard and Karen Schwartz remain focused on future improvements, stating that their ultimate goal is to bring “America’s Best Dance Crew” back to television.

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