Duran is a leading practitioner, educator and cultural figure within ‘Shway Style’, an underground street dance form she was taught directly by its creator, Adolfo ‘Shabba-Doo’ Quiñones in 2013.

For over a decade, her work has been dedicated to preserving the legacy of the form, evolving its language and building a sustained culture around it in the UK. Through her commitment to training, teaching and artistic development, she has played a central role in shaping how Shway is practised, understood and shared today.

In 2017, she founded ‘Shway Style UK’, now the largest Shway community in the world. Through classes, workshops, mentoring and performance, the platform has become a space for dancers to train at a high level, develop their artistic voice and contribute to the ongoing evolution of the form.

Shway is not simply a dance style, it is a philosophy rooted in expression, individuality and emotional truth. At its core is ‘Punking’, an expressive movement language that originated in the underground gay club scene of 1970s Los Angeles, developed by a group of dancers known as the Original Waack Dancers. Adolfo ‘Shabba-Doo’ Quiñones learned directly from this community, translating its essence through his own movement and ultimately shaping what would become Shway.

Today, the form has evolved into a complex, full-body practice that combines intricate footwork, powerful arm techniques and intricate rhythms. It draws from a wide range of influences including soul dance, locking, jazz, Latin movement, martial arts and African diasporic forms.

Through her teaching and leadership, Duran continues to nurture new generations of dancers, creating space for growth, discipline and self-expression, while ensuring the integrity, depth and future of the form.

info@itsduran.com