Who is Aus

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           Ausben Strongheart, an enrolled member of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, is an internationally respected artist, educator, and cultural innovator whose influence stretches across the global dance community. Holding a BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Dance, Aus began his journey in New York City with dreams shaped by legends like Bob Fosse and Sammy Davis Jr. But between martial arts training, national tours, and the grind of the Broadway circuit, he found his true calling in the world of street and club dance.

            Guided by the originators of Popping, House, Vogue, Hip Hop, Locking, and Waacking, Aus developed a signature movement style that blends precision, character work, jazz influence, theatrical intention, and spiritual storytelling. His performance résumé includes Broadway’s Tarzan, Off-Broadway’s Bojangles the Dance Musical, and acclaimed national productions such as Ragtime, Abyssinia at Lyric Stage, Side Show at Firehouse Theatre, and multiple celebrated works with Jubilee Theatre in Texas.

A dynamic force on the world stage, Aus has performed everywhere from Lincoln Center to Eurovision, BAMF Canada, and cultural festivals across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. 

         He is a former member of the House of Ninja and Ultra Omni, and now stands as a proud member of Milan, carrying forward an intergenerational lineage of artistry and leadership. As an educator, he has taught in over 59 countries, including universities and conservatories in New York, California, Canada, Sweden, Singapore, and more—solidifying his legacy as one of the most traveled and respected American Waacking educators of his generation.

His collaborations include Kendrick Lamar, Loreen, Madonna, Wayne Brady, Tyra Banks, and other international icons. His television and film credits span HBO’s Legendary Max, ABDC, Live To Dance, Nike Convention Sweden, and the History Channel.

           Aus is also an entrepreneur, cultural preservationist, and community builder—founder of Legendary King Aus LLC, The Imperial House of Waacking, and The University of Waacking, the first structured Waacking education and certification platform of its kind. Through these entities, he has codified foundational technique, historical context, pedagogy, and cultural ethics to ensure that the legacy of Waacking is preserved, respected, and passed forward with integrity.

A mentor to dancers worldwide and a powerful advocate for cultural arts, Aus continues to teach with the belief that dance is more than movement—it is identity, memory, and spirit in motion.

“If you can move with passion, then you can dance.” — K.A