Art & Water

Art & Water is a multidisciplinary organization presenting live performance through theatre, dance & music. We create an accessible immersive theatre production for families with young children, captivating their imaginations, inviting them to play, create and imagine with us. We present and host a dockside concert series with emerging artists, providing them a stage to develop their audiences. On Friday Sept 12, 2025, Art & Water and Defining Music Dance present Battle By The Centre at Supercrawl.

Defining Movement Dance

Defining Movement Dance (DMD) is Hamilton’s hip-hop and street dance focused dance studio, and community arts hub. Since 2009, DMD is where students of all ages have had the opportunity to learn about the foundations, the culture, and its history through in-person programs with encouraging, passionate and knowledgeable instructors.  With programs in breaking, popping, locking, hip-hop, all styles and freestyle, parent & tot hip-hop, and adult drop-in classes, DMD offers something for any dancer interested in the culture. On Friday Sept 12, 2025, Art & Water and Defining Music Dance present Battle By The Centre at Supercrawl.

Ensemble Topaz

Ensemble Topaz is a Hamilton and Toronto-based performance collective dedicated to the dances and music of Central Asia, South Asia and the Silk Road. They specialize in dances of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and India and have performed widely across Ontario. Their work appears in a number of international music videos and their work has been supported by Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council.

Garba Groovers

Garba Groovers is a Hamilton-based, Indian-origin folk dance group that’s on a mission to make Garba a global art form. Garba is a folk dance that originated in the state of Gujarat (a state in India). It’s highly energetic, vibrant and extremely inclusive (there are no age or gender barriers). In 2023, UNESCO has inscribed the Garba dance on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is performed in groups, with everyone moving in concentric circles, mirroring each other’s traditional Garba steps, while grooving to the drum beats and the singing in the background. The conceptual basis of Garba dance was constituted by the following elements: 1) clap 2) tap 3) snap and 4) spin. Owing to the colourful attires of the dancers and the coordinated twirling movements, clap-snap combinations, hand gestures, and rhythmic footwork, it’s a visual spectacle for the audience. As artists, Garba Groovers i have reaped the benefits of this art form in a multi-dimensional way. The obvious ones being the fact that it’s an excellent fitness regime, a stress buster, and a creative outlet for experimentation. But above all of that, they feel that Garba has the power to build communities. Come see them perform, try out a few steps, and you will go back with a smile.

Omega Dance

 

SBJ Studio Dancers

The SBJ Dance Studio has been active in Hamilton since 1962 under the direction of Sandra Bald Jones. Involved in all aspects of Highland Dance, the studio offers classes geared towards recreation and competition, as well as numerous performance opportunities. Students of the SBJ Dance Studio have gone on to win Provincial, Canadian, and World Highland Dance Championships as well as other major Championships across Canada, United States, Scotland, Australia, and South Africa.

Schiehallion Dancers

The Schiehallion Dancers were established in Hamilton in 1968 by former World Champion Highland Dancer Sandra Bald Jones and is co-directed by Chelsea Verbeek. The unique Canadian Scottish dance troupe perform all over the world to share the magic and spirit of Highland Dance. For Supercrawl 2025, the dancers present a program of traditional Scottish dancing. The company first formed in 1967, and since that time over 500 dancers have enjoyed traveling and performing at many venues around the globe, the most prestigious being the Edinburgh Tattoo in 1981, 1986, 2003 and 2008. In 2007 the dancers performed in Belgium, France, Holland and Denmark.  In 2010 and 2011 the dancers were invited back to once again perform in North America’s largest military tattoo, the Virginia International Tattoo. The Schiehallion Dancers were invited by Pipe Major Bethany Bisaillion to join the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, to perform for the late Queen Elizabeth II at a private performance at Balmoral Castle on August 17, 2022. Schiehallion performed alongside the Champagne School of Dance from Ottawa and Gabby Pealer from West Virginia, for this special occasion. To their knowledge, they were the final performance for her Majesty.

Steel City Slither

Debuted at Supercrawl in 2022, Steel City Slither are a multi-disciplinary dance troupe based out of Defining Movement Dance in Hamilton and directed by Eshe. They’ve since headlined at Pride and 905 Fest as well as Hamilton’s longest running variety show, Eshe’s Glitter (established in 2007). Steel City Slither hope to inspired dialogue, joyfulness, empowerment and hometown pride.