DREAM
CULTURE
IDENTITIES
JOAT was born of the dream of bringing together the great street dance community to celebrate and share street dance culture with as wide an audience as possible; the dream of true and authentic sharing, through unique concepts and unifying events that reflect the diverse identities, approaches and backgrounds of the participating artists. The dream has come true!
Dancers, DJs, visual artists … Hip hop, breaking, krump, popping … In the street, on a stage, in a gallery … Seasoned artists, young up-and-coming talents, Montrealers, Quebecers, Americans, Europeans, Asians … JOAT’s diversity shines both at home and on the international scene.
The JOAT International Street Dance Festival didn’t come out of nowhere. In fact, street dance has been bringing our community together for 50 years. Many people and events have paved the way for JOAT:
The Shaka Brothers, locking dancers in the 1970s in Montréal’s Little Burgundy neighbourhood.
The crew New Energy, who won the Break Dance ’84 competition at the Spectrum—a major, if not foundational, event for Montréal’s hip hop scene.
The War is War battles event organized by Three Times Dope Productions from 2000 to 2006.
Notably, the Bust A Move festival organized by Alexandra “Spicey” Landé from 2005 to 2015.
And many more.
JOAT is proud to uphold this rich heritage, and to keep it evolving through the JOAT Festival and other activities.
Handy Yacinthe et Elie-Anne Ross
Artistic Codirectors
SEASONED ARTISTS,
YOUNG UP-AND-COMING TALENTS
50 YEARS OF STREET DANCE IN MONTRÉAL
A RICH HERITAGE