The lights went out, the music went up, and for a few hours on Saturday night, Supremacy Lounge in Nakulabye transformed into a battleground of dance. The Tusker Lite Neon Raves Kampala edition delivered exactly what many expected: energy, spectacle and plenty of surprises.
The competition, which has already travelled through Hoima, Masaka, Mbarara, Arua and Gulu, arrived in Kampala with expectations high. Ten dance crews eventually took to the floor after one of the qualified groups failed to show up, battling through multiple rounds before judges Dance Mamweta and DVD Afroking.
Because crews had to survive three rounds, many appeared to save energy early, with fewer flips and more measured routines. “It’s slightly a hard round, you literally improvise in the moment,” said one member of Soweto Kids.
But once the African and Caribbean rounds arrived, the venue came alive.
Shirtless dancers with oiled bodies, amapiano routines, kwaito footwork, popping, locking and twerking all collided into what felt like beautiful chaos.
Army Dancers impressed with their Jabbawockeez-inspired masks and neat execution, while Mostif Girls, the competition’s only all-female crew, struggled to replicate the excitement they had generated during auditions.
“Kampala crowds are difficult because they have seen everything before, so you cannot just come with energy alone,” one member of the group said.
Dressed like characters from a horror film, DVB crew brought zombies, cages, rugged costumes and strong storytelling to the stage, blending electronic dance with clean transitions and crowd-friendly routines.
“Everyone dances, so we asked ourselves how people would remember us after tonight,” said a member of DVB.
Without outrageous props or flashy theatrics, the group danced cleanly and confidently, with minimal fanfare.
At the end of the night, The Way were crowned Kampala champions, followed by DVB as first runners-up and American Height in third place.
Speaking after the competition, Sandra Againe, the Tusker Lite Brand Manager, said: “Beyond the routines, what stands out is the discipline, creativity and confidence these dancers bring. Dance has become one of the strongest forms of expression for young people today.”
The three crews now progress to the Tusker Lite Neon Raves national finale at Coco Beach on a date yet to be announced.