In a dark room, there is a crowd of people. On a projector, it reads
Shot of the crowd at ‘OH THAT’S TIGHT!’ dance battle on Oct. 12, 2024. [Photo by Peter Kyadondo]

Roughly 75 street dancers came together to put Ottawa’s hip-hop scene on the map with the new OH THAT’S TIGHT! dance battle on Oct. 12.

Hailing from Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Paris, dancers battled as crews of three, or in individual hip-hop and popping battles at the Ottawa Art Gallery.

The event was organized by dancers Gregory Andelson and Kemuel Jean-Pierre, as well as creative director Michel Ndikumasabo. 

Ndikumasabo said OH THAT’S TIGHT! aims to become “something central” to the Canadian dance community and to seek international recognition. 

“We want to make sure that Ottawa recognizes our great dancers and puts them on the map,” Ndikumasabo said. 

After starting planning in April, the event was supposed to take place earlier in the year, but Ndikumasabo said organizers had issues finding a suitable venue. 

Not only did they need space that could accommodate the dancers and crowd, but also one that “matches the vibe” of the event, Ndikumasabo said.  

“There have been many other collectives doing dance battles in the city, but never at this scale,” he said. 

Ottawa’s geographic location added to the scale of the dance battle, with dancers from Toronto and Montreal making the trip. 

“When Ottawa tends to throw things, they’re able to loop in all the neighbouring cities. It’s a bit of [a] reunion amongst friends,” said hip-hop category winner Kevin Birung.   

Hip-hop battle judge Vanessa Lovell said event organizers and dancers have been “really involved in the community over many years.”

In a gymnasium, a black man wearing a black shirt holds a mic and speaks to the crowd.
MC host Darqk Sangwn speaking at the ‘OH THAT’S TIGHT!’ dance battle on Oct. 12, 2024. [Photo by Peter Kyadondo]

As soon as the event was announced, Ndikumasabo said people began contacting organizers to volunteer their help.  

Nonetheless, Ndikumasabo said he wished the event could have reached a bigger crowd outside of the dance community. 

“There were definitely avenues I wish I could’ve used more of,” he said, noting the people who wouldn’t have seen the event’s Instagram page. 

Organizers also wanted the battle to put a spotlight on dancers to help them reach new heights. Ndikumasabo published professionally shot videos of the final battles on YouTube.

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OH THAT’S TIGHT! plans to be back bigger than ever next year. 

“This is a statement,” Ndikumasabo said. “That event is there to stay.”

Featured image by Peter Kyadondo.