Lil Kev

Other Interests: BMX and motorbikes
Other Profession: student

Motto: Have fun when you dance!

Titles

2004 1st place IBE French team
2005 1st place Battle of the Year, France
2005 4th place Battle of the Year international
2006 1st place B-BOY Unit South Korea, French team
2006 1st place Break on Stage, Bilbao, Spain
2006 1st place Circle Sensation, Denmark
2007 1st place Hip Hop Kemp Czech Republic
2007 1st place Battle Quest, Sweden
2008 1st place Block Party Perpignan

Profile

Kevin Staincq aka LIL KEV is the youngest competitor at this year’s RED BULL BC ONE Battle. At only 16 years old, he’s already famous because he’s been in many battles and shows all over the world with his crew Phase T. He is known for crazy tricks and power moves. His signature moves are airchairs and headspins.

KEV started breaking when he was 11 years old. When he saw B-Boys the first time, he was so inspired by the incredible moves and the energy of the dancers that he immediately wanted to start breaking. He went to a dance school in Chelles, where one of the Phase T members was giving a workshop. The workshop was more a dance and choreography workshop than a breaking class, but LIL KEV wanted more. He showed his dedication, so Phase T took him under their wing and he started practicing with them. They practiced every day and for Kevin it was a wonderful experience.

Phase T means everything to LIL KEV. His crew members are like brothers and provide his biggest inspiration. At first, when he started dancing with them, his mom was worried: “They were all so tall and so black and he is so little and white…” But when she got to know the members of Phase T, she realized they were great friends to Kevin and would always take care of him. LIL KEV also has two little sisters that sometimes practice with him. He loves to see them dance and to teach them new moves.

Kevin always liked to compete. People sometimes underestimate him because of his small size, but in a battle he is vicious! Competitors who thought it would be easy because he was just a kid were quickly enlightened. You can tell from the look in his eyes that he is a gladiator.

LIL KEV loves Hip Hop culture and breaking is everything to him. He especially enjoys the challenge of learning new moves that enable his skills to constantly evolve. There are many Hip Hop events in France. The spirit of Hip Hop is all over Paris and the suburbs and Kevin enjoys watching the evolution of the culture and the dance.

He would like to practice other forms of Hip Hop dance and other elements of Hip Hop, but he is still in school and that along with B-Boying doesn’t leave much time. Apart from Hip Hop he is into BMX and motorbikes. Whenever his limited time allows it, he goes to the countryside to practice on his BMX bike and motorbike.

Apart from winning lots of competitions Kevin doesn’t have definite plans for the future yet, but at the moment he knows that he wants to keep on B-Boying as long as his body will allow it.

LIL KEV wants to be a well rounded breaker. To him just doing power moves is not enough. “A good B-Boy has to have foundation! You have to have your basics down! Footwork, toprocks, power moves…one doesn’t work without the other!”

KEV will give his best at the Red Bull BC One in his homeland this year – “I respect my opponents, but the battle is war and I am there to win!”