At 25 years, Hip Hop International has big plans for future

Hip Hop International (HHI) is celebrating 25 years of fostering global dance talent and bringing street dance cultures to the forefront. Founded by Howard and Karen Schwartz, the annual competition has served as a crucial platform for emerging dancers and choreographers, many of whom have gone on to achieve international fame.

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We grew that.

Before the rise of platforms like YouTube, HHI connected dance communities worldwide, providing a stage for artists like the Jabbawockeez and Quest Crew, and choreographers such as Parris Goebel and Sienna Lalau. These artists have since worked with global superstars like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, BTS, and Blackpink, underscoring HHI's foundational role in the dance industry.

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the aerobics championship became 'almost as big as what HHI is now. We were all over the world with it.'

The Schwartzes, previously known as pioneers of the aerobics craze in the 1980s, transitioned their expertise in organizing large-scale events to the world of hip-hop dance. Their journey included a unique experience in the late Soviet Union, where they were invited to teach fitness and aerobics, demonstrating their global reach even before HHI's inception.

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We were walking and we saw a group of dancers that were practicing in the streets, but utilizing a storefront window reflection where it became a mirror.

Inspired by witnessing street dancers in Paris and Tokyo utilize storefront reflections as mirrors, the Schwartzes established HHI to create similar communal artistic experiences. They sought credibility by collaborating with pioneers like Don Campbell, Ken Swift, and Toni Basil, who have remained integral to the organization. This year's competition in Phoenix features 3,000 dancers from 55 countries, highlighting HHI's significant growth and enduring impact on the global dance scene.

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I don’t know how Karen and Howard organize it. So many kids get to come to America.