The lights went out, the music turned up, and for several hours on Saturday night, Supremacy Lounge in Nakulabye became a stage for one of Kampala's most energetic dance competitions.
The Tusker Lite Neon Raves Kampala edition delivered a night of colour, creativity and fierce competition as dance crews battled for a place in the national finale.
Having already made stops in Hoima, Masaka, Mbarara, Arua and Gulu, the competition arrived in Kampala with anticipation running high.
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Ten crews eventually took to the stage after one of the qualified groups failed to turn up, competing through several rounds before judges Dance Mamweta and DVD Afroking.
The opening rounds were relatively cautious as contestants appeared keen to conserve energy for the later stages of the competition.
"It's slightly a hard round, you literally improvising in the moment," said a member of Soweto Kids.
However, the atmosphere intensified during the African and Caribbean rounds as dancers unleashed more daring routines.
Shirtless performers with oiled bodies, amapiano choreography, kwaito footwork, popping, locking and twerking combined in a display that was both chaotic and captivating.
Army Dancers stood out with their Jabbawockeez-inspired masks and polished execution, while Mostif Girls, the competition's only all-female crew, struggled to recreate the excitement they generated during the audition stage.
American Height impressed with confidence and stage presence.
"Kampala crowds are difficult because they have seen everything before, so you cannot just come with energy alone," one member of the group said.
DVB also left a lasting impression. Dressed like characters from a horror film, the crew incorporated zombies, cages, rugged costumes and strong storytelling into their performance, blending electronic dance with smooth transitions and crowd-pleasing routines.
"Everyone dances, so we asked ourselves how people would remember us after tonight," said a member of DVB.
Yet it was The Way that emerged as the biggest surprise of the evening. Without relying on elaborate props or theatrical effects, the group delivered clean, confident and technically polished routines.
Their consistency paid off.
At the end of the competition, The Way were crowned Kampala champions, with DVB finishing as first runners-up and American Height taking third place.
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Speaking after the event, 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 have now secured places in the Tusker Lite Neon Raves national finale at Coco Beach, with the date yet to be announced.
