Quick Style is a Norwegian urban dance crew specializing in hip-hop and multicultural dance styles, founded in 2006 in Oslo by Pakistani-Norwegian twin brothers Suleman Malik and Bilal Malik, along with their childhood friend Nasir Sirikhan.[1] Originally known as Quick Crew, the group emerged from a shared passion for dance inspired by global urban cultures, evolving into a global creative force with a signature approach that blends diverse influences and seamless adaptability to various music genres.[1][2]The crew first gained prominence in 2009 by winning Norway's Got Talent, which propelled them onto national television and established their reputation for high-energy, synchronized performances.[3] Following this breakthrough, Quick Style expanded internationally through viral YouTube videos, such as their 2022 wedding dance routine to the Indian song "Kala Chashma," which amassed millions of views and introduced their multicultural vibe to audiences in Asia and beyond.[4] Their choreography work includes collaborations with global artists like BTS, contributing to music videos and live performances that highlight their precise, fluid movements and cultural fusion.[3]Quick Style's influence extends to workshops, tours, and media appearances across continents, from Europe and the Middle East to South Asia, where they have performed at events like India's Best Dancer and conducted tours in Pakistan.[5][2] With a focus on diversity—drawing from the founders' Pakistani heritage and Norwegian upbringing—the group promotes dance as a universal language, fostering a mindset that emphasizes creativity, community, and adaptability in urban dance culture.[6] Their ongoing projects include branded content, educational initiatives, and participation in leagues like the International Dance League, solidifying their role as innovators in the global dance scene.[7]
Formation and Members
Origins and Founding
Quick Style was founded in 2006 in Oslo, Norway, by Pakistani-Norwegian twin brothers Suleman Malik and Bilal Malik, along with their friend Nasir Sirikhan of Thai-Pakistani-Norwegian descent, initially under the name Quick Crew.[1][6][7] The group emerged from the founders' shared passion for dance, which they discovered during their teenage years in Oslo's multicultural urban environment.[6][8]The trio's inspirations drew heavily from urban cultures, particularly hip-hop and street dance, shaped by their diverse backgrounds—Suleman and Bilal's Pakistani heritage combined with Norwegian upbringing, and Nasir's Thai and partial Pakistani roots—fostering a blend of Western and global influences.[1][7][6][9] They spent much of their early time at local youth clubs in Oslo, where they honed their skills through informal sessions and group activities, building a foundation in rhythmic, expressive movement.[6] These experiences at youth clubs not only ignited their interest but also emphasized dance as a means of cultural expression and community connection.[6]By the early 2010s, the group evolved its name from Quick Crew to Quick Style (or The Quick Style), symbolizing a broader mindset and lifestyle centered on creativity, confidence, and cultural fusion in dance rather than just crew-based performance.[1][10] This rebranding reflected their growing vision of dance as an inspiring, multifaceted movement. Early practice routines involved dedicated sessions at youth clubs and informal spaces in Oslo, focusing on synchronizing hip-hop techniques with personal flair. Their first group performances took place at local events and gatherings in Oslo, where they showcased their emerging style to small audiences.[6][7]
Core Members and Evolution
Quick Style was founded in 2006 by twin brothers Suleman Malik and Bilal Malik, along with their childhood friend Nasir Sirikhan, all of whom grew up in Oslo's multicultural immigrant neighborhoods and drew from their diverse heritages to infuse their performances with a unique blend of cultural influences.[2] Suleman Malik, of Pakistani-Norwegian descent, serves as the group's primary choreographer and leader, overseeing the creative vision and direction of their routines, which often emphasize precise, innovative movements that highlight musicality and storytelling.[12] Bilal Malik, also Pakistani-Norwegian, acts as a key dancer and contributes to performance innovation, focusing on dynamic execution and audience engagement that pushes the boundaries of urban dance styles. Nasir Sirikhan, who has Thai heritage with partial Pakistani ancestry and was raised in Norway, excels as a dancer and performer, playing a crucial role in ensuring group synchronization and seamless transitions during live shows and videos.[14][9]The core trio of Suleman, Bilal, and Nasir has remained stable since the group's inception, forming the foundational creative unit that has driven Quick Style's signature style without major departures.[15] Over time, the lineup has evolved to include additional core and performing members for larger projects and tours, such as longtime collaborator Yasin Tatby, who brings expertise in hip-hop and contemporary fusion, along with others including William Gamborg and Oskar Vigren, enhancing the group's versatility and reflecting growth to a larger team of around 11 members by 2025.[14][8] This expansion reflects Quick Style's growth from a small crew into a multidisciplinary team, incorporating occasional guest dancers for specific initiatives while maintaining the original members' leadership in choreography and performance.[16] As of November 2025, no significant changes to the founding trio have been reported, allowing them to continue building on their early successes in talent competitions through refined collaboration.[7]
Career Development
Early Breakthroughs and Talent Shows
Quick Style's breakthrough came in 2009 when the then-teenage dance crew participated in the second season of Norske Talenter, Norway's version of the international talent competition Got Talent.[2] Founded by the Malik twins in Oslo, the group, consisting of members aged 17 to 18, advanced through the auditions with high-energy hip-hop routines that blended synchronized precision and cultural influences.[8] Their final performance secured the win, earning them national recognition as the season's champions and marking their first significant television exposure.[5] This victory propelled them from local Oslo dancers to household names in Norway, with their routines broadcast to a wide audience.[17]Prior to the talent show win, Quick Style had begun building an online presence through early YouTube uploads of dance covers and rehearsal footage, starting around 2008. These videos, featuring covers of popular hip-hop tracks with diverse stylistic elements, quickly gained traction among viewers in Norway and beyond, laying the groundwork for their viral potential.[8] The platform's accessibility allowed the young crew to showcase their skills outside formal stages, contributing to their growing buzz in Oslo's urban dance community even before mainstream TV. Follow-up performances on related Norwegian shows further amplified this early momentum, solidifying their reputation as emerging talents.[5]In the wake of their 2009 victory, Quick Style signed an initial management deal with Sony Music, which provided professional support and opened doors to paid opportunities.[8] By 2010, they secured their first professional gigs across Europe, including performances in Norway and neighboring countries, transitioning from amateur competitions to booked events.[17] As teenagers immersed in Oslo's vibrant dance scene, the group faced the challenge of managing increasing commitments alongside school and youth activities, often rehearsing late into the evenings while pursuing education.[2] This period tested their dedication but honed their discipline, setting the stage for sustained growth.
Expansion into International Collaborations
Quick Style's international expansion gained momentum in the early 2010s through performances at dance festivals and workshops in Europe. These appearances helped build their reputation in the urban dance scene across the continent.[18]By 2013, Quick Style extended their activities to Asia, performing at The Big Groove dance concert in Singapore, which showcased their choreography to diverse audiences and facilitated networking with Asian dance communities. This period also saw the group scouted by Asian labels for potential collaborations, leading to their entry into the K-pop scene in the mid-2010s. Their first major K-pop project came in 2016 with choreography for BTS's "Save Me," a collaboration initiated by Big Hit Entertainment that introduced them to the high-energy demands of the industry.[19]The group's YouTube channel played a pivotal role in this growth, amassing millions of views on choreography videos during the 2010s and attracting global attention through social media sharing. This online presence enabled frequent trips to Seoul in the mid-2010s for workshops and meetings with Korean labels, solidifying their network in the region. By the mid-2010s, Quick Style evolved into a full-fledged brand, securing sponsorships and partnerships with international companies such as Samsung, Red Bull, Monster, and Nike, which enhanced their market value and supported merchandise launches. They also began offering online dance courses, allowing fans worldwide to learn their signature techniques.[20][18][21]
Notable Projects and Choreography
Strawhatz Initiative
The Strawhatz Initiative emerged in 2013 as a creative sub-project of Quick Style, functioning as a collective for developing original music and dance content that integrates urban hip-hop with diverse cultural elements.[22] Founded by the group's core members, including Norwegian-Pakistani twins Suleman and Bilal Malik, it expanded Quick Style's scope from performance choreography to full production of multimedia works.[23] This initiative allowed the performers to experiment freely, involving collaborators to produce pieces that transcend conventional dance routines.At its core, Strawhatz aimed to craft multicultural hybrids by merging hip-hop rhythms and Norwegian urban aesthetics with global influences, particularly drawing from the founders' Pakistani heritage to infuse Eastern motifs into Western street styles.[24] The project emphasizes curiosity and imagination, creating a "unique universe" through synchronized visual art, performance, and sound design that highlights cultural interconnectedness without boundaries. By blending traditional attire, such as straw hats and Asian-inspired costumes, with contemporary beats, Strawhatz pieces evoke a playful yet profound dialogue between heritages, positioning dance as a bridge for cross-cultural expression.[25]Key outputs from the initiative include original dance tracks and accompanying music videos, such as "Drop the Beat" and "Ching," which exemplify the fusion of hip-hop grooves with eclectic global sounds like Asian percussion and urban flows.[26] These productions feature intricate choreography performed by masked dancers in stylized cultural garb, prioritizing fluid communication and emotional depth over mere technique.[27]The Strawhatz Initiative garnered significant online traction, with its YouTube videos collectively amassing millions of views and contributing to Quick Style's reputation as multifaceted content creators. For instance, "Drop the Beat" alone exceeded 700,000 views, underscoring the project's viral appeal and its role in elevating the group beyond commissioned work to independent artistic innovation.[27] This success highlighted Strawhatz's impact in promoting cultural fusion through accessible digital media, inspiring a new generation of performers to explore hybrid forms.[28]
Partnership with BTS and Big Hit Entertainment
Quick Style's partnership with BTS and Big Hit Entertainment began in 2016 when the label contacted the group to create choreography for the track "Save Me," marking their entry into K-pop production despite initially being unfamiliar with the septet.[19] This initial collaboration set the foundation for a series of contributions, blending Quick Style's urban dance expertise with BTS's high-energy performances. The crew, known for their Norwegian roots and global street dance influences, was hired to infuse fresh dynamics into the group's routines, starting with this emotional, lyrical piece from BTS's The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever compilation album.[20]Subsequent projects solidified the relationship, with Quick Style choreographing key hits including "Blood Sweat & Tears" (2016) in collaboration with Keone Madrid and their affiliate Team Quick Style MG, as well as "Best of Me" (2016) and the award-nominated "Boy With Luv" featuring Halsey (2019).[20][29] These efforts extended to live stage routines for BTS's world tours, where the crew adapted intricate urban movements—such as fluid isolations and synchronized formations—to the precise, group-unified demands of K-pop choreography. Behind the scenes, members traveled to Seoul for intensive rehearsals, often under tight schedules, fostering a creative exchange that highlighted Big Hit's trust in external talents to elevate BTS's visual storytelling. This hands-on involvement, including sessions with BTS members and label executives like Bang Si-hyuk, underscored the logistical commitment required for transcontinental projects.The partnership, spanning multiple iterations through the late 2010s, positioned Quick Style as trusted collaborators for Big Hit, with contributions to BTS's performances up to 2019.[30] Their credits appear in official music videos—such as "Save Me" (over 700 million views) and "Boy With Luv" (exceeding 1.5 billion views)—as well as high-profile awards show appearances like the Billboard Music Awards, where the choreography amplified BTS's theatrical flair.[20] This exposure significantly elevated Quick Style's international profile, transitioning them from European dance circuits to collaborators on one of the world's biggest acts and inspiring a wave of cross-culturaldance fusions.[31]
Other Notable Choreography Works
Quick Style has contributed choreography to various artists and events beyond their major initiatives. Notable examples include the track "The Spectre" for DJ Alan Walker, blending electronic music with urbandance elements. They also directed and choreographed Norwegian singer Astrid S's live performance at Vevo DSCVR. Additional collaborations encompass work with the Norwegian rap duo Karpe Diem and an art event for IKEA, directed by VIMO, showcasing their versatility in commercial and musical projects.[20][32]
West Meets East Project
The West Meets East project was launched in late 2016 by the Norwegian hip-hop dance crew Quick Style as a documentary-style travel series, aimed at documenting their journeys across China while highlighting cultural exchanges through dance and exploration. Created in collaboration with filmmaker Christian Bastiansen, the series marked Quick Style's first major effort to share their personal travel experiences publicly, blending their urban hip-hop roots with encounters in Eastern locales. The project emphasized themes of cultural immersion, featuring the crew's interactions with local people, food, and traditions in various Chinese cities, thereby bridging Western dance influences with Asian settings.[33][34]Consisting of five episodes released between December 2016 and early 2017, the series covered locations including Xiamen, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. Each installment combined narrative footage of the crew's travels with impromptu hip-hop performances and freestyles set against iconic backdrops, such as urban streets and historical sites, to illustrate the adaptability of their style in new environments. For instance, in the Xiamen episode, Quick Style performed energetic routines incorporating popping and b-boying elements amid coastal scenery, while later episodes in Beijing and Chengdu showcased similar dynamic freestyles to instrumental tracks, fostering a visual dialogue between their Norwegian-Pakistani heritage and Chinese culture. These sequences highlighted the project's core intent: to promote cross-cultural appreciation through movement, without explicit fusions of traditional Asian dance forms but by contextualizing hip-hop within Eastern landscapes.[35][34][36]The initiative contributed to Quick Style's growing international presence by garnering attention on platforms like YouTube, where episodes collectively amassed significant views and encouraged viewer engagement with global dance communities. By 2017-2018, elements of the project inspired related live demonstrations and cultural showcases during the crew's tours, though it remained distinct from their prior K-pop collaborations. Overall, West Meets East underscored Quick Style's commitment to diversity in urban dance, using the series as a medium to connect Western hip-hop enthusiasts with Eastern cultural nuances.[20][27]
Performance Appearances
Television and Live Shows
Quick Style first garnered international attention through competitive television appearances in the late 2010s. In 2017, the crew competed on NBC's World of Dance season 1 as part of the Upper Division, qualifying with a hip-hop routine to Dolly Parton's "Jolene" that blended synchronized precision with unexpected genre fusion.[37] They advanced to the Duels round, scoring 89.3 for their performance against Keone & Mari, but were eliminated after the opponents' higher score of 91.3.[38]The group continued showcasing their style on global platforms, including a guest performance at the 2017 Bucheon Bboy International Championship (BBIC) in South Korea, hosted by Jinjo Crew, where they delivered a high-energy showcase highlighting their urban hip-hop influences.[39] In 2020, Quick Style returned to the Got Talent franchise on *America's Got Talent: The Champions* season 2, performing a fluid contemporary piece to Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" in the preliminaries, though they were eliminated via the judges' choice despite praise for their emotional delivery and technical skill.[40]By the early 2020s, Quick Style had evolved from competitors to mentors and evaluators in the dance scene. Member Suleman Malik joined the judging panel for Norske Talenter season 7 starting in 2015, bringing expertise from their championship background to assess diverse talents.[41] This shift was evident in their guest role on India's Best Dancer season 3 in 2023, where they performed alongside contestants and offered insights during the broadcast.[42]Key highlights from these appearances include the viral World of Dance "Jolene" routine, for its bold reinterpretation and tight group synchronization, establishing Quick Style's reputation for innovative, broadcast-ready performances.[43] Their TV and live spots underscored a progression from high-stakes contests to influential platforms, emphasizing conceptual depth over mere athleticism.
Recent Competitions and Events
In 2025, Quick Style represented Oslo, Norway, in the inaugural launch of the International Dance League (IDL), a professional dancecompetitionfranchise modeled after traditional sports leagues. The event took place in Los Angeles on July 26-27, where the group competed in Round 1 and delivered an encore performance, showcasing their signature hip-hop routines to a global audience.[7][44]The group also headlined a full finale performance at the APPNA Summer Convention 2025 in Dallas, Texas, on July 11, blending high-energy choreography with cultural elements for the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America audience.[45][46]On August 3, Quick Style released a complete cultural show performance on their official YouTube channel, featuring routines that integrate hip-hop with global traditions to celebrate two decades of collaborations and skills development.[47]As of November 2025, Quick Style remains active in cross-cultural performances, with ongoing involvement in the IDL season and additional event appearances underscoring their continued relevance in the international dance scene.[48]
Style and Legacy
Signature Dance Techniques
Quick Style's signature dance techniques are characterized by a fusion of hip-hop and urban dance elements, drawing from their multicultural origins to create a distinctive style that integrates diverse cultural influences into contemporary urban movement. Founded in 2006 by Norwegian-Pakistani twins Suleman and Bilal Malik along with Nasir Sirikhan, the group emphasizes a mindset rooted in hip-hop culture while evolving it through global perspectives.[10][6] This blending allows for versatile choreography that adapts fluidly to various music genres, prioritizing smooth synchronization among performers.[7]At the core of their approach are hip-hop foundations combined with fluid urban contemporary elements that emphasize body control and expressiveness. These techniques enable rapid transitions between sharp, angular accents and wave-like, undulating motions, reflecting their ability to merge precision with organic energy. Their multicultural background infuses these methods with diverse influences, resulting in movements that highlight cultural nuances.[20][6]Training methods play a pivotal role in refining these techniques, with an emphasis on group synchronization achieved through practice at their studio. The Quick Style Studio, established in 2009, encourages performers to incorporate personal heritage into urban frameworks, fostering innovation in routine construction. These elements underscore Quick Style's commitment to evolving dance as a universal language of movement.[10][6]
Cultural Influence and Impact
Quick Style has significantly promoted multiculturalism in dance by embodying and showcasing immigrant narratives through their performances and creative projects. Comprising members with diverse backgrounds—including Norwegian-Pakistani, Thai-Norwegian, and Namibian heritage—the crew highlights stories of cultural integration and identity, drawing from their experiences growing up as immigrants in Oslo.[3][9] This approach has inspired diverse youth in Europe and Asia, encouraging young dancers from multicultural communities to express their hybrid identities via urban dance forms.[49][50]In the dance industry, Quick Style has influenced the integration of urban styles into K-pop and the broader global spread of hip-hop choreography. Their collaboration with BTS on tracks like "Boy With Luv" introduced Western hip-hop elements to K-pop audiences, blending synchronized precision with street authenticity and reaching over 600 million views.[20][7] Through their Quick Style Studio, established in 2009, they mentor emerging talents worldwide via online tutorials such as the "Dance With Us" series, which has engaged millions of learners in accessible hip-hop techniques.[1][51]The crew's legacy is marked by substantial metrics, including over 11 million followers across social media platforms and billions of views on viral content like their 2022 wedding performance.[52] Their 2009 win on Norske Talenter—Norway's Got Talent—provided long-term recognition, leading to a Sony Music contract and establishing them as pioneers in bridging East-West dance dialogues through projects like West Meets East.[1][53][34]Looking ahead, Quick Style continues to exert influence through 2025 events, such as their participation in the International Dance League Launch and collaborations like the choreography for Ed Sheeran's "Symmetry" with Karan Aujla in October 2025, solidifying their role as innovators in inclusive urban dance that fosters global cultural connectivity.[54][55][7][56]