“The aim is not mastery, but creation”
-Rest in eternal peace, Adolfo “Shabba-Doo” Quinones 1955-2020-
In 2013, I had the extraordinary experience of being trained exclusively and qualified to teach by ‘Shway Style’ creator, Adolfo “Shabba-Doo” Quiñones.
Since 2014, I have been training in the art forms techniques, principles and philosophies, becoming the UK’s leading Shway Style specialist training and educating Shway dance artists all over the UK.
This art form is so integral to my artistry, my expression and discipline. This dance is not just about movement. It’s a philosophy
A key component to the essence of ‘Shway’ is known as “Punking” which became the catalyst for the birth of this dance style. It is a form of expression that was exclusive to a group of underground dancers from the early 70’s in the gay community known as the Original Waack Dancers (aka ‘Punks’ or ‘The Garbo Boys’). Shabba-Doo, was a heterosexual street dancer that learnt the ways of this expression first handed from the “punks”, which originally was a derogatory term to describe gay people. Shabba-Doo understood the powerful essence and components of what they were doing and applied it to his own expression, birthing a dance style so distinctive, and influential. He infused ‘Punking’ with his dance styles; locking and Soul dance, with influences and elements of Jazz, latin, martial arts and African movement.
Over 40 years of evolution, Shway has become an intricate and full body dance using complex footwork, unique hip and chest isolation’s with distinctive and ultra-powerful arm techniques that achieve flow, precision and power. In learning Shway, you undergo a unique experience and style of teaching , that connects you deeply to yourself and your movement. You will learn to see yourself as a true artist with a “point of view” that is powerful when shared.