Navigation Menu
Gabriel “KWIKSTEP” Dionisio
he/him
Bronx, NY | Munsee Lenape
Executive Producer and Artistic Director, Full Circle Productions
DJ KS 360 Founder, Curator and Producer, Behind The Groove
Hip-Hop Dancer/Choreographer/Actor/DJ/Artistic Director/Events Producer Gabriel “KWIKSTEP” Dionisio was born and raised in New York City. Kwikstep started dancing as a young child and was inspired by Soul Train, the Jackson 5 and the Duo “Shields and Yarnell, and later danced at local block parties, roller skating rinks and clubs, and breaking and up rocking with friends. His first tour was a 12-city tour in China with the “New York Express” at the age of nineteen. By 1992 he had received a Bessie award for collective choreography with the Rhythm Technicians and founded the internationally recognized Full Circle in 1992. In 1996 Kwikstep and his wife Rokafella established Full Circle as a non-profit and internationally acclaimed Hip-hop collective known as Full Circle Productions aka Full Circle Souljahs.
“It’s not about the moves – it’s about the movement of a people. When you move with the people, it helps you move through and- not just survive through life – but live your life.”
Kwikstep, a Bessie award winner, is an international icon in breaking and is best known for his smooth style, versatility and signature head spins. He has performed in multiple award-winning projects like PBS’ Peabody Award-winning “Everybody Dance Now, and Emmy-nominated Kurt Weill’s “September Songs.” He was a principal dancer in companies such as Rhythm Technicians and GhettOriginal who were the creators of “Jam on the Groove” nominated in 1996 for a Drama Desk Award for outstanding choreography. In addition to commercial work with – among others – Spike Lee and film, TV and video work which included Brown Sugar, VH1 Hip Hop Honors, Kwikstep was also featured in the Netflix series “The Get Down” directed by Baz Lehrmann. To support Rokafella’s Bgirl documentary, All the Ladies Say, Kwikstep co-directed as well as created and produced music for the score. Kwikstep danced with the Philharmonic Orchestra at Lincoln Center in a Hip-hop dance rendition of “The Firebird, “and choreographed and created music for the premiere of “Dragon Cipher” for the Nai Ni Chen Dance Company. Most recently, Kwikstep choreographed and danced at Jacob’s Pillow, The MET as well as the Guggenheim Museum’s Works and Process. Kwikstep also worked internationally with the US State Department as a Hip-Hop Cultural Ambassador.
“Good music always has the answer to your questions with those feel-good-“soul-utions” to your problems, and in return, we celebrate those gifts with the expression of dance.”
Kwikstep saw the decline of the NYC club scene and in 2009, he began Behind The Groove, an open music dance party for the underground street and club dance community to connect and flourish. For over 15 years with Behind The Groove, Kwikstep aka DJ-KS 360 has put bodies in motion, healing souls and helping dancers forget their troubles on the dance floor. Recently the gathering has offered nourishing food to further support the community. DJ KS-360 has spun at popular events and NYC hot spots such as Le Poisson Rouge, Delux Flux in Downtown Manhattan, House of Yes in Brooklyn, Dance is Life on Pier 76 in Manhattan, The MainStage in Central Park for Central Park Summer Stage, The Guggenheim Museum, and the Times Square Edition in collaboration with Danspace and Time Square Arts.
As a sought-after teacher and mentor, Kwikstep teaches Hip-Hop technique along with the history and meaning behind Hip Hop as a culture. He has judged multiple Red Bull dance events as well as The Battle of the Year in Germany. Stateside, Kwikstep provides options to at-risk teens of today who, like Kwikstep, survive through and despite the challenges of street life.
