Participants can check the full workshop programme on this page.
The Waackdown is a battle-jam-party concept rooted in W(h)*acking culture and community.
Since 2018, The Waackdown has been evolving alongside the community that shapes it. Rather than following a fixed format, it has organically transformed over the years into what we felt the community needed in that moment. From battles and workshops to jams, gatherings, and spaces for exchange, every edition has been guided by the people who are part of it.
For those who are new to it, W(h)*acking/Punking is a style that originated in the 1970s within the Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities of Los Angeles. But W(h)*acking was—and still is—much more than just a dance style.
W(h)*acking is love. It is home. It is family. It is fierceness, shamelessness, self-expression, knowledge of self, and so much more. These values are at the heart of everything we do.
The Waackdown strives to create a space where people within the community can feel safe, seen, and celebrated. A space where connection, exchange, and self-expression can flourish. While our roots are deeply embedded in Waacking culture, we welcome those who approach the space with respect, openness, and love. If you enter with love, you will be received with love.
At its core, The Waackdown is about creating a relaxed and joyful party atmosphere: a place where people can learn, exchange, connect, and feel free. We want our W(h)*ack- lovers to become comfortable in battles, cyphers, and jams; to celebrate themselves and each other; and to discover their beautiful selves through movement, community, and shared experiences.
This upcoming edition will lean even further into playfulness by challenging and reimagining traditional battle formats. We invite participants to step into the unknown, experiment, take risks, and challenge themselves in new ways. Competition will still be present, but the focus is on play, connection, and discovery. We hope this format encourages people to level up—not only as dancers, but also by taking themselves a little less seriously.
More than anything, we hope people leave feeling inspired, connected, and warm. We hope they go home with aching jaws from laughing and smiling, carrying with them the joy, memories, and sense of belonging that make The Waackdown what it is.
The Waackdown is more than an event. It is an evolving platform dedicated to celebrating W(h)*acking culture, fostering connection, and nurturing a community where people can grow together.
