JOAT International Street Dance Festival: 10  years of passion

JOAT has been shining a spotlight on street dance in Montreal for 10 years now! While looking back over the past decade, Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director Handy Yacinthe highlights some of the “musts” of the 2024 edition of the JOAT International Street Dance Festival, taking place from August 27 to September 2 at Place des Arts and in the Quartier des Spectacles—including the North American premiere of the show GROOVE.

What, about the past 10 years, stands out for Handy Yacinthe? “A fervent community of loyal followers, inspiration, innovation, hard work, and many wonderful memories,” he answers immediately. It should be noted that the festival has evolved considerably since its beginnings, becoming one of the most important events for street dance culture in North America.

It all started in January 2014. “I organized the JOAT International Dance Battles,” says Handy Yacinthe. “It became a festival in 2016, taking a multidisciplinary approach. We added beatmaking, exhibitions, workshops…” The JOAT Battles have since made their way around the world, inspiring many communities from the United States, Europe, and Asia that regularly visit the festival.

In 2022, Danse Danse joined the party as a co-producer for the first edition of the festival held in the Quartier des Spectacles. “It’s important to remember that Place des Arts is the largest arts complex in Canada,” says the executive director. “That makes JOAT more central and festive, because it lets us put our own spin, our own culture on the outdoor space it provides. It allows us to offer a 360-degree experience of street dance culture, not only to people new to the scene, but to people who practice it too.”

It’s been a winning formula for the all-audiences event, if the ever-increasing attendance is anything to go by. “In 2022, we welcomed around 15,000 festivalgoers. In 2023, there were over 30,000. We expect there to be close to 40,000 or 45,000 this year,” says Handy Yacinthe. “We’re getting a sense of great openness and curiosity among the public. People are coming together for the festival and for street dance culture. It bears witness to Montreal’s cosmopolitan and intercultural nature.”

North American premiere of GROOVE

Attention funk, soul, hip-hop, and house fans! JOAT’s executive and co-artistic director is excited to tell you about the North American premiere of GROOVE, on August 31 and September 1 in Théâtre Maisonneuve.

“It’s a street dance work featuring two very well-known and popular dance troupes from The Netherlands: The Ruggeds and Ghetto Funk Collective. It’s got dancing, live music… The musicians become dancers, and vice versa” in this show inspired by the era of Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown.

It’s a new playing field for JOAT. “This is the first time we’re presenting a work on stage. It’s something we’ve always wanted to do,” says Handy Yacinthe. “Between the battles, the after-parties, the exhibitions, and the festive side of things outside, we thought it would be great to get inside the venues to truly offer a 360-degree experience.”

A solid program for the 10^th anniversary

What can people expect from the mostly free program, which brings together more than 250 artists from home and abroad? Between breaking, hip-hop, and popping battles, festivalgoers of all ages can attend introductory workshops on street dance, vocal freestyling, beatmaking, turfing, and more.

There are concerts on the program too. “We have local artists like Modlee from 7ième Ciel Records, excellent rapper JoDolo, exceptional R&B, soul and rap artist Mimo, and the incredible improv group The Shed...” says Handy Yacinthe.

JOAT has also been presenting performances in the windows of the 2-22 building since 2022. This year, Natasha Jean-Bart—“called the mother of street dance in Montreal”—will pay tribute to the late Don “Campbellock” Campbell, creator of the locking dance style.

Handy Yacinthe also drew our attention to the film JOAT.EXE, which will be screened on August 27 in Théâtre Maisonneuve. “Director Do Phan Hoi, who has recorded most JOAT events since its inception, dug into our archives from the first year to the present day, adding testimonials from people who have influenced and inspired the festival’s journey,” explains an emotional Handy Yacinthe.

It all sounds very promising!