Originating in Chicago in the early ‘90s, the footwork movement has spread from the Windy City to countless urban denizens of Detroit, New Jersey, and Baltimore, among others. In footwork, dancers contort and strain, stomping up to 160 bpm to maintain a congruous and almost spiritual rhythm in cadence with a beat that finds its roots in African dance tradition, combining the influences of hip hop with new house music—history in motion. “Footwork is our form of resistance against oppressive living conditions,” Christopher “Maddog” Thomas, who has spent years schooling students in Chicago’s Southside in the style of footwork dance, recently told San Francisco’s KQED Arts. “This is a tool for young folks. An artistic expression through social liberation.” Ahmad da Dancer is one of the emerging stars of the modern footwork movement. The 21-year-old, who hails from Newark, New Jersey, has gained national notoriety and a wave of online clout for his frenetic footwork in the Jersey Club scene, the Garden State’s footwork offshoot. Like so many before him who have engaged in the practice of footwork, Ahmad has danced his way to stardom. Moving to tracks from legendary footwork DJ and producer RP Boo, Ahmad shows off his fast-paced feet, modeling the Moncler 1017 Alyx 9SM Genius collection.

Groomer Kiyonori Sudo. Director of Photography Jimmy Nyeango. Editor Theo Le Sourd. 1st AC Govinda Angulo. Gaffer Zane Shaffer. Grip Vita Burn. Sound Operator Matthew Bunker. Sound Designer Mihir Chitale. Colorist Samuel Gursky at Irving Harvey. Post Production wtpo88.9. Casting Angus Munro and Alice Jackson at AMC Casting. Producer Paige Viti.