This year, JOAT will host no less than three battles in three different dance styles: popping (JOAT’s specialty and the origin of the festival), hip-hop and break. The battles are one of the emblematic elements of the JOAT festival. On Friday September 2nd, 8:30 pm, the famous Hip Hop battle awaits you.
Come and see the great international street dance encounters in which dancers will come from all over the world to participate. High caliber dancers, in a fierce confrontation, will put their guts on the stage and give everything they have in front of you in this fiery evening. In a one-on-one format, dancers will take turns improvising to the music chosen live by the DJ. The whole thing will be hosted by an MC who will entertain you throughout the evening. On-site master judges will select the winners of each category.
Who will impress the audience and the masters? Come and find out!
Judges
- LINK / United States 🇺🇸
- TATIANA / Swiss and Haiti 🇨🇭🇭🇹
- KING CHARLES / United States 🇺🇸
Battle guest
- FRANKY DEE 🇩🇪
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Prelims / To participate
Inscriptions : 5:00 pm, Prelims start at 6:00 pm
Esplanade of Place des Arts
All participants must purchase a general admission ticket to the battle to participate to the prelims. Dancers will have to show their tickets to participate to the prelims.
All dancers from around the world are invited to participate in the prelims. 15 dancers will be selected to be part of the top 16.
What makes JOAT battles special?
In order to differentiate itself from the more conventional battles offered in large numbers to street dancers, JOAT created original and different concepts that allow to encompass all the different skills that a dancer must have in his own style. Thus, the dancer who participates in a JOAT battle will be given concepts related to different techniques of his or her dance style. JOAT allows the dancers to test their limits and abilities, to see the versatility of the dancers and to test their full capabilities.
THE 6 CONCEPTS
“WHERE YA GROOVE AT?”:
Exploration of all that surrounds the foundational principles of hip hop movement. Basic principles are : the bounce, rock and groove.
FREAK YOUR FOUNDATION:
This category focuses on the ability to manipulate the principle structures and fundamental dances of hip hop through use of space, dynamics, textures and levels while still maintaining clarity and quality of movement. Example of such fundamental dances include ( but are not restricted to) : Bart Simpson, pepper seed, Brooklyn bounce
FOOTWORK & LEGWORK :
This category places emphasis on the lower quadrants of the body.
BODY PARAGRAPH :
Focuses on the challenge of using the core as the basis for movement. The mobility of the dancer is put to the test. Examples : Gestures, Embodiment, Character.
BLITZ :
15 seconds short burst rounds. The challenge is to maintain the level of intensity achieved by the dancer before you much like call and response which is very important to the music history of hip hop.
GOT LAYERS? :
This category tests the musical understanding and interpretation of the dancer. Focuses on the ability of the dance to accurately present the many layers/composition ( backbeat, downbeat, baseline, lyrics, cadence, rhythmic patterns etc) of a song
