Meaway Kevin Kallon

This interview with Meaway Kevin Kallon, a breakdancer and teacher based in Milton Keynes, explores his journey into hip-hop culture, his experiences across Europe, and his commitment to passing the art form on to younger generations. Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, he spent part of his childhood in the Netherlands, where he first discovered breaking at around nine years old after seeing other children practising moves in a playground and watching Run-DMC videos. That early exposure sparked a lasting passion, and the vibrant Dutch hip-hop scene—rich with dancers, skateboarders and free-runners—helped him develop his skills. With encouragement from teachers and local dancers, he formed his first crew, United Styles, and began training seriously.

He moved to Milton Keynes in 2008 as a teenager and quickly connected with the local breaking community. Public spaces such as The Point and the former Food Centre became regular training spots, allowing dancers to practise, meet one another and share ideas. Through figures like B-boy JMC, he became embedded in the city’s scene and began performing widely at venues including Milton Keynes Theatre, Stantonbury Campus, Xscape, Campbell Park festivals and local clubs. Over time he became part of the crew Payback Season, an association of dancers who had trained together for years before formally adopting the name around 2018, reflecting a shared commitment to honouring the time and effort they had invested in their craft.

Kallon describes breaking as a dynamic art form built around top rock, footwork, freezes and power moves, with competitions operating as “battles” where dancers respond creatively to each other and to the music. He has competed across the UK and internationally, travelling throughout Europe and meeting other dancers, which he sees as one of the most rewarding aspects of the culture. For him, breaking builds confidence, connection and a sense of belonging across borders.

Alongside performing, he has explored other elements of hip-hop, including DJing and music production in his youth, but breaking remained his main focus. In recent years, teaching has become central to his work. After first leading workshops as a teenager, he now runs regular classes in Milton Keynes, aiming to give younger people the guidance and structure he sometimes lacked when he arrived in the UK. He emphasises the importance of safe, supportive spaces for creativity and sees education as key to keeping the culture alive.

Reflecting on Milton Keynes, he values the city’s openness and public space, which allows creative communities to form, though he believes more dedicated venues are needed. Ultimately, he views hip-hop and music more broadly as powerful forces for bringing people together, sharing knowledge and building community across generations.