Pierre-Michel "Afternoon" Jean-Louis
Dance educator and Hip Hop culture advocate, I spark
community through movement, music, and mentorship.
Upcoming events
TEACHING ONLINE
AUG 10 TO SEP 12
ONLINE
TEACHING
AUG 21
RED DEER, AB
JUDGING
AUG 22 - 23
RED DEER, AB
HOSTING
SEP 25 -27
FRANCE
BIOGRAPHY
Afternoon began his dance journey in 2004, inspired by his older sister’s involvement in the art form. He left his studies in Computer Science and college basketball to join the local dance group Dance Core Troupe, led by Paul Okeke. Immersing himself in hip hop and street dance, he travelled religiously to New York to take workshops and classes with pioneers and masters in the field. He attended major events such as House Dance Conference, Step Ur Game Up, and Kings of New York, connecting with the community and absorbing the culture. It was during this period that he discovered breaking, which ignited a new and lasting passion.In 2006, he competed at the Canadian Hip Hop National Championship with 5th Element, a team that included Leah McFly (2Marvelous), Boogieman Linx (2Marvelous), Junior Boogie (Da Gentlemen), and Nicole, earning second place. He then auditioned for and joined Urban Element’s elite troupe R.A.W., coached by Alexandra “Spicey” Lande and Angelo Ameur. With the troupe he placed second at the Hip Hop Nationals and seventh at the Internationals in 2007.Venturing beyond studio training and choreography, Afternoon co-founded two collectives: Deadly Venoms Crew in 2006 with Kevin “Sonik” Desriveaux and Namo “Namco” Chanethomvong dedicated exclusively to breaking, and Mix’d Mafia in 2008 with Doïna “LaDonna” Cocco, focused on street dance styles including Hip Hop, Popping, Campbellocking, and House. With his crews, they opened an affordable street dance studio in 2014, Sole Sessions, offering 5$ street dance classes to help build and support the street dance community.His commitment to mastering these forms led him to travel extensively to learn from renowned dancers and pioneers around the world and to compete in street dance battles. He has accumulated more than 110 national and international victories at events such as Bust A Move, Remarkable Flava, and World of Dance, among many others.Ouside of performance and competition, Afternoon is a dedicated educator and community organizer. He leads MTL Bboying and MTL Styles where over the past 20 years, he’s organized over 300 events worldwide and provided resources for Canada’s street dance community. He has served the City of Montreal as Commissioner in Residence, working to foster intercultural dialogue, introduce innovative practices, and develop inclusive programming. He has also worked as Cultural Accessibility Project Manager at Place des Arts, Canada’s premier cultural complex, where he organized hip hop and youth events.As an educator, Afternoon has taught globally—from guest residencies to programs such as “A Hip Hop Study,” which examines the cultural lineage and legacy of hip hop. He has led street dance and hip hop culture programs across America, from Alaska to Colombia, working with disenfranchised youth and Indigenous communities. His expertise has been recognized in academic settings; he has guest taught at institutions including the University of Rochester, Hsing Wu University, McGill University, the University of the Arts, Concordia University, and Champlain College of Vermont. He also contributed to the 2023 book Enacting Anti-Racist and Activist Pedagogies in Teacher Education (Canadian Scholars).Beyond dance, Afternoon is a youth worker and versatile artist whose practice extends into music production, DJing, Emceeing, visual arts, theatre, and digital media—all deeply informed by his love of hip hop culture. He has performed as a DJ across North America, Europe, and Asia, collaborated with international artists, and hosted countless events.Currently, Afternoon is focused on academic research in Afrodiasporic and Hip Hop studies while continuing to perform and expand hip hop culture’s presence in the Canadian artistic landscape through the establishment of Canada’s first Hip Hop cultural centre, Kulture MTL in Montreal.
DANCE
SERVICESPERFORMANCES
Solo and ensemble work for festivals, corporate events, theatrical productions, and cultural showcases.WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES
Technical and cultural workshops for dancers of all levels, from foundational training to professional development. Available as one-off sessions, multi-day intensives, or longer residencies.JUDGING
Experienced adjudicator for national and international street dance competitions and festivals (50+ events)CHOREOGRAPHY
Original works for companies, festivals, digital projects, and touring productions.SHOW CREATION & DIRECTION
Full evening-length pieces and multi-artist showcases that bring together movement, music, and narrative.LECTURES & TALKS
Academic and community lectures on Hip Hop culture, Afrodiasporic movement, embodied pedagogy, and the institutionalization of street dance. Delivered at universities, cultural institutions, and community settings.MENTORSHIP
You're a dancer looking to figure it out? From opportunities, to grants and goal setting I can help you set a solid foundation and roadmap to your success.STYLES
Hip Hop • House • Breaking • Popping • CampbellockingAPPROACH
My teaching and creative practice are guided by a simple question: Why do we move the way we do?
I treat technique and cultural knowledge as inseparable. Classes and residencies emphasize both rigorous foundational training and the historical, social, and improvisational contexts that give the forms their meaning. Students are encouraged to develop technical skill, personal voice, and cultural awareness in equal measure — whether they are beginners or professional dancers.
I draw from more than 20 years of professional practice, over 100 national and international competition victories, extensive judging experience, and long-term community and institutional work• Guest lecturer and curriculum author of A Hip Hop Study (15+ editions, 500+ participants)
• Workshops and masterclasses at McGill University, Concordia University, University of the Arts, and institutions across North America, Europe, and Asia
• Long-term programs with Indigenous communities and Quebec Ministry of Education youth initiatives
• Choreographic works presented in festivals and digital projects
• Artistic direction and program leadership for major street dance and cultural events.
HOST / DJ
My approach as a DJ and Host is shaped by more than two decades as a dancer, performer, and event goer. I understand how music and animation moves a crowd because I have spent years inside and in front of the crowd. That perspective lets me not only read the energy of a room in real time but also keep the momentum alive. I have DJed and hosted across a wide spectrum of events:• Corporate gatherings and brand activations
• Weddings and bar mitzvahs
• Private parties and cultural celebrations
• Club nights and guest sets
• Street dance competitions and festivals around the worldA distinctive strength of my hosting is the ability to move fluidly between French and English in the same event, keeping every guest fully engaged no matter their preferred language.My work has taken me across Canada, the United States, China, and Europe. I have had the privilege of hosting some of the largest street dance competitions and festivals internationally such as Battle Bad (France) while also creating intimate, high-energy experiences for smaller private and corporate events.Whether you need a DJ who can elevate the atmosphere, a bilingual host who can guide the night with clarity and warmth, or both working seamlessly together, my goal is the same: to make the details feel effortless for you while making the experience unforgettable for your guests.
EVENTS / COMMUNITY BUILDING
I create and produce events that bring people together around movement, culture, and shared experience. Over the past two decades I have organized more than 300 workshops, competitions, conferences, and festivals across Canada and internationally — always with the same goal: to build stronger, more connected communities through Hip Hop and street dance culture.My approach combines practical production skills with cultural sensitivity. Whether working with municipal institutions, cultural centres, Indigenous communities, or independent collectives, I focus on clear logistics, inclusive programming, and meaningful participation. I have produced everything from intimate community gatherings to large-scale multi-day festivals that draw thousands of attendees.SOME OF MY EXPERIENCE
• MTL Bboying / MTL Styles (2005–present)
Founder and lead organizer. Over 300 workshops, battles, and community events produced worldwide, providing resources and platforms for Canada’s street dance community.• Under Pressure International Festival Street Dance Battles (2008–2020)
Coordinator for North America’s longest-running graffiti festival, which includes Canada’s largest street dance gathering and competitions.• Place des Arts – Cultural Accessibility Project Manager (2019–2020)
Conceptualized and produced large-scale youth Hip Hop event at Canada’s premier cultural complex, attracting more than 3,000 participants over two days.• Commissioner in Residence – City of Montreal (2021–2025)
Collaborated with municipal art centres to develop equitable practices and inclusive cultural programming that fosters intercultural dialogue.• Hip Hop Cultural Centre (in development)
Founding Canada’s first dedicated Hip Hop cultural centre — a multidisciplinary space supporting the long-term development of the culture and its artists.WHAT I OFFER
• Full event production and coordination
• Community engagement and outreach
• Inclusive and intercultural programming
• Workshop series, competitions, and festivals
• Institutional partnerships and cultural mediationWhether you need an experienced producer for a single event or a long-term partner to help grow a community initiative, I bring both the logistical expertise and the cultural grounding required to make it successful.
