JOAT International Street Dance Festival: Rising Strong for Montréal’s Street Dance Culture

JOAT has been shining a spotlight on street dance in Montreal for 11 years now! In addition to looking back over the past decade with Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director Handy Yacinthe, we are presenting some highlights of the 2025 edition of the JOAT International Street Dance Festival.

What, about the past 11 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 2024, there were over 40,000. “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” says Handy Yacinthe.

Still and always battles

Between breaking, hip-hop, and popping battles, festivalgoers of all ages will also get to see demonstrations of krump—an intense dance style born in the streets of Los Angeles—and attend workshops on dance, vocal freestyling, and introductory beatmaking.

Women and children first

On August 30 at 1 pm, the Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme will come alive to the rhythm of an all-female cypher (dance circle), a true celebration of the women of Montreal’s street dance scene. All styles will be welcome to dance, connect, and express themselves to a hip-hop, funk, and house set by DJ RitaSpirit.

Having regularly taken part in freestyling at previous editions, younger participants are making their official debut in the competition this year! Join us on the Esplanade at 2 pm to watch them shine and dazzle you with their talent.

More free concerts

A free music programming on the Place des Arts outdoor Esplanade:

On August 28 at 7 pm, Modlee—a singer with a powerful voice, blending soul, jazz, R&B, and reggae—will deliver a captivating performance, followed by a DJ set by Voyage Funktastique.

On August 29, make way for Montreal duo GeminiCrab—Malika Tirolien and Caulder Nash—who are reinventing groove with their “HighSoul” style, combining R&B, soul, jazz, and hip-hop. Local DJ collective Montreal Loves Dilla will then take over the decks.

On Saturday evening, from 6 pm to 9 pm, the concerts give way to a not-to-be-missed Block Party, a festive gathering inspired by African American street parties.

Lastly, on August 31 at 7 pm, Nino & Electric Soul will perform an exciting show, inspired by Marvin Gaye, Anderson .Paak, and Stevie Wonder, followed by a DJ set by Mr. Touré!

And that’s not all

A series of black and white photo portraits, inspired by the 1980s and 1990s, will be on display in the Place des Arts Exhibition Room. Both raw and timeless, Six Steps – The Exhibition celebrates the richness and uniqueness of Montreal’s street dance scene.

JOAT offers even more throughout the neighborhood, including the return of performances in the windows of Building 2-22 since 2022. It promises to be exciting!