Today we’d like to introduce you to James “SugEasy” Singleton.
Hi James “SugEasy”, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
`At Translation in Movement, I offer weekly classes rooted in authentic Hip Hop instruction. I teach Breaking, DJing using state-of-the-art turntables, mixers, and vinyl, Hip Hop dance, and visual art. I also host creative arts workshops that focus on the core elements of Graffiti Writing and Emceeing. My goal is simple I bring REAL Hip Hop to the community, grounded in peace, love, unity, and having fun while respecting the culture.
I’m James “SugEasy” Singleton a dancer, teacher, choreographer, artist, and advocate for the true, positive spirit of Hip Hop culture. I’ve invested over 20 years into the Kansas City dance community, and I’ve made it my responsibility to preserve, teach, and uplift authentic Hip Hop the right way.
I practice all the core elements—Breaking, DJing, Emceeing, Beatboxing, and Graffiti Writing. I started as a self-taught student fueled purely by passion. That passion pushed me to seek out the original pioneers of the culture so I could learn directly from those who lived it. To this day, I continue to train, grow, and sharpen my craft so I can pour more knowledge, skill, and wisdom into my students and my community.
I’ve had the opportunity to share my work across the United States with people of all ages, races, cultures, and backgrounds. My experience ranges from youth outreach programs and community initiatives to guest lecturing at colleges and even presenting for the FBI. No matter the space, I bring authenticity, history, and heart.
My mission is clear: enlighten minds, elevate the movement, and shift the narrative away from negative stereotypes toward the true, positive foundation of Hip Hop. To me, Hip Hop is more than music and dance it’s history, culture, discipline, creativity, and a way of life.
Over the years, I’ve built programs that function as an arts education center, youth outreach initiative, and global artist collective all in one. I mentor young people to be creative, confident, goal-driven, and expressive. Through both in-house programming and mobile workshops, I’ve reached thousands worldwide. Every room I step into, I show up with passion, positivity, innovation, and a deep commitment to making a real impact.
My goal is to enlighten as many minds as possible, elevate the Hip Hop movement, and change the public perception of our culture from something misunderstood to something respected and celebrated.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest challenges has been visibility—making sure the right people even know we exist. There are families in Overland Park who are looking for something different, something real, but if they’ve never been connected to hip hop culture, they may not know where to start. So part of the work is marketing, community outreach, and building trust so people can discover what we offer at Break Free Hip Hop School. Another challenge has been overcoming outdated stereotypes about hip hop itself. Hip hop is often misunderstood as just entertainment or something negative, when in reality it’s a culture rooted in discipline, creativity, history, and self-expression. We constantly work to shift that narrative by showing parents and students that what we teach is not just dance—it’s confidence, character development, teamwork, and respect for the art form. Turning those misconceptions into understanding has been a challenge, but it’s also one of our greatest opportunities.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I live Hip Hop. I love Hip Hop. I am Hip Hop. My work as a choreographer and dancer is not discrete from my Hip Hop lifestyle and my fundamental belief that my culture can motivate others to find positive ways to show the art within themselves. So I live, learn, and practice what I teach. Woven into my creative process–to live Hip Hop, study the history, grow my skills through training with the best…is the impulse to spread this knowledge to a new generation of students.
My work as a choreographer, authentic Hip Hop culture educator, dance instructor, and mentor creates a physical and mental safe haven for self-expression that’s open to young people from all walks of life in our community. I elevate minds and enrich souls by helping kids discover their own inner passions through the elements I teach–mainly Hip Hop Dance, Breaking, DeeJaying, Emceeing, and Graffiti Writing. And this generates within them a sense of self-confidence, freedom, and a desire to be actively artistic.
Authenticity is important to me, so I perform all the elements I teach. I study them extensively on my own by attending local and national workshops, competitions, and Hip Hop events–where and when I can afford them. My intention has always been to continuously grow my knowledge and bring cohesive instruction to my students and to their parents, educating all on the original missions of Hip Hop: peace, love, unity and having fun. Changing perceptions of my lifestyle from negative to positive is also very important to me since Hip Hop is who I am.
My main influence is, of course, my students. They draw the good work out of me with their energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to try new things in order to become better at these arts than they ever thought possible. I’m also inspired by the teachers and mentors I’ve been fortunate to have in my own life, many of them the original pioneers of Hip Hop culture who have been active in the movement since the beginning. From these individuals I continue to learn the right ways to live Hip Hop and educate others with authentic knowledge.
No other dance teachers or studios in our city are teaching this way, nor do they possess the drive I have to live, learn, and practice the culture and promote the history of our movement. I want students to learn to dance, to move, to have fun, and to create who they want to be–but I also want them to understand Hip Hop and be positive advocates. This is how I innovate the game, by becoming our community’s source for authentic culture, by focusing on the important history of the movement, and by educating my students to not only love music, dance, and the arts, but to also live meaningful lives that make a difference in the world.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are honestly too many people to name individually, and that in itself is a blessing. I stand on the shoulders of pioneers, mentors, elders, peers, students, family, and my own children. The original architects of Hip Hop culture deserve credit for creating something powerful enough to transform lives across generations—including mine. The mentors who took the time to correct me, challenge me, and pour knowledge into me shaped not just my skill, but my integrity.
My peers and community deserve credit for pushing me to stay sharp and authentic. My students deserve credit because they constantly remind me why this work matters. And my children deserve a special kind of gratitude—they hold me accountable to live what I teach. Being a father has refined me in ways that no stage ever could.
Every lesson I teach is a reflection of the people who invested in me. If I’ve made any impact, it’s because someone first believed in me. I carry that responsibility with humility, and I try to pass it forward every single day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.timhiphop.com
