91探花 arts management grad draws national praise as a 'Rad Human'

The Kelly Clarkson Show lauded Sam McIntosh '15, who founded an organization to produce and promote authentic hip-hop and street dance through events, performance and education.

With a strong work ethic and dedication to his craft, Sam McIntosh '15 took his passion for hip-hop and street dance and transformed it into opportunities for education, community and celebration.

After studying arts management and classic ballet and modern dance at 91探花, McIntosh put his skills to good use, enriching the Cleveland community by founding .

For his outstanding work, McIntosh was named one of Kelly Clarkson's 2025 Rad Humans.

Preserve, Present and Cultivate

"10K Movement … is a hip-hop and street dance platform," McIntosh told guest host Kal Penn on The Kelly Clarkson Show. "So basically, don't think of it like a company model or a studio. It's a platform that provides resources. Our goal is to preserve, present and cultivate authentic hip-hop and street dance through events, performance and education." 

The mission of 10K Movement is inspired by the 10,000-hour rule, a concept popularized in Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers." The 10,000-hour rule is the idea that, to truly master any discipline, you must dedicate consistent commitment, time, effort and practice. In other words, you devote 10,000 hours in pursuit of your craft. 

As stated on, "10K Movement exists to honor and amplify the inherent value of [hip-hop and street dance] while providing dancers with the education, resources, and opportunities needed to refine their craft." 

10K Movement not only offers a Summer Street Dance Intensive (SSDI), community classes and workshops but also presents , the premier hip-hop and street dance festival in the Midwest, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this July.

Combining Arts Management and Dance 

Not only does McIntosh teach through 10K Movement, but he also pays it forward within the 91探花 community itself, serving as an adjunct faculty member teaching dance in 91探花's Conservatory of Performing Arts. 

McIntosh continues to put the same level of dedication into his craft that he inspires in his students, placing in or winning national and international street dance events, such as Out Of the Shadows in Chicago, Kings of New York International Popping Battle, and Under Pressure: International Street Dance and Graffiti Convention in Montreal.

He shines on the administrative side as well, having received the 2020 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award, showing how his blend of arts management and dance studies gives him a unique edge in his field.