Today we’d like to introduce you to Keegan Loye.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started breaking in 2005 after teaching myself from music videos and eventually finding the local scene and crew in Grand Rapids, Michigan. What began as a hobby became my life. I learned from anyone I could, joined a crew, 61Syx Teknique, started competing, performing, organizing events, and eventually began teaching at our crew’s studio 61Syx Teknique Street Dance Academy. That’s where I discovered that I really loved building community just as much as performing.
In 2010, I took over ownership of 61Syx Teknique SDA and that’s where I got my first taste of entrepreneurship, while going through all of the necessary highs and lows of business, I worked to continue sharing my love for HipHop culture through the studio hosting battles, classes, workshops, all while still traveling and competing across the country.
In 2017, I moved to Indiana to try and create something similar. A year later, we opened 31Svn Street Dance Academy, which is the state’s only studio focused completely on street dance and hip-hop culture. Since then, I’ve taught a ton of students, organized a bunch of events, coached teams for the Indiana Pacers and Fever, and tried to create more spaces for breakers in the Midwest. Breaking has taken me to places I never expected, but the most important thing has been passing on the culture the way it was given to me, not just moves, but history and community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
it’s definitely had its ups and downs. When I stepped into running a studio, I realized that being a dancer wasn’t enough. I had to learn all this other stuff. I had to build skills in business, in marketing, in event planning, finances, and even curriculum so the studio could actually run.
Another example of a more recent struggle is when COVID hit. And that challenge got 10 times harder. Indiana and Michigan had totally different rules, and I was juggling ownership in one state while building in another. Eventually, I handed over the Michigan studio to focus fully on Indiana. And that was tough, but having a supportive crew made all the difference and kept me going through all of the transition.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I’m most proud of is being able to translate the message of breaking. Fun, peace, love, and unity in a way that both a 5-year-old and a 55-year-old can feel and understand. That ability to create community through this culture is what has kept my studio alive since 2010 and what continues to set me apart. It’s not just the teaching, it’s living it, practicing, battling, traveling, and passing on the history and spirit as much as the moves, I still do this every day! Even on my days off, I’m still practicing, traveling, cyphering, battling, because I can’t not do it. It’s who I am. That passion fuels my teaching, my business, and the community we’ve built. And I think people see and feel that as soon as we meet.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Just start creating something.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://31svn.com
- Instagram: 31svnsda
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/31svnsda
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/31svnsda
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/keegan-seoul-loye
