Thu 7/24 @ 6:30PM

Fri 7/25 @ noon-3:30PM, 5-10PM

Sat 7/26 @ 3-9PM

Sun 7/27 @1-6PM

The Cleveland-based 10K Movement describes its mission as “to preserve, present and cultivate authentic Hip Hop &street dance culture while expanding access to high-level dance executive in communities that often lack proper resources.” They offer education, community events and performances all over town. You may have seen them at a festival or other public event, sharing their impressive moves.

The group’s premiere event is its Lords of the Land (LoTL) Hip Hop & Street Dance Festival (LoTL), now in its fifth year, which will be bringing together local and national dancers for four days here in NE Ohio to showcase the skill and variety of street dance styles. It features workshops, showcases, open dance cyphers, live DJs, local vendors, parties and a big championship competition.

The highlight event takes place on Saturday July 26 at, of all places, Severance Music Center, setting up an interesting dynamic of contrasting cultures. That’s where the championship tournaments in popping and krump will take place as well as a 5×5 open styles team battle tournament.

Things get off to a start on Thursday evening, with a welcome night mixer at the Pivot Center in the Clark Fulton neighborhood, so that everyone can meet their counterparts from other areas. At 9pm the party adjourns to Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood for some bowling and more socializing.

Friday offers two “Micro Summits” with noted leaders in street dance, offering movement training, historical and cultural information on street dance, and panel discussions. “This is not just a workshop, it’s a space for dialogue, reflection, and connection beyond the movement type sh!t,” they share. There are Micro Summits for Popping and Krump, both taking place at Ingenuity Cleveland from noon-3:30pm. Then at 5pm, also at Ingenuity, the prelims start for the competition the next day, running until 10pm.

Things come to a head Saturday, as the best dancers compete to show the hungry crowd that they are THE best. Beethoven may not be rolling over—he may be joining in to give the dancers some stiff competition! There’s an afterparty on Saturday to celebrate, location to be announced.

Finally, on Sunday, dancers, dance enthusiasts, visitors and locals can join in the “Kickback,” taking place at Edgewater Park from 1-6pm, with food, music, games and socializing.

Find more information about all Lords of the Land events at 10kmovement.org/lotl.