Back to the Style Street Dance Festival

Lucca, the capital of street dance

Every year in spring, Lucca becomes the Italian reference point for street dance culture. The Back to the Style Street Dance Festival is an event that brings hundreds of dancers from about twenty different nations—spanning from Europe and Asia to the United States—into the heart of the historic center of the Municipality of Lucca, in the province of Lucca (Tuscany). Born in 2011 in Porcari and having grown to become a permanent fixture in the city of the Walls, the festival is organized by the Emozione Danza association and is now one of the most anticipated events in the Lucca calendar, included among the major Vivi Lucca manifestations.

Four days of urban dance

The festival brings various city spaces to life, with the Real Collegio as its beating heart, joined by the new Palestra Ducale Maria Luisa, the Teatro San Girolamo, and the squares of the center. The program weaves together moments of competition and celebration open to everyone:

• Battles 1vs1 and 2vs2 in various styles: hip hop, house, waacking, popping, locking, and mixstyle, with categories also dedicated to younger dancers.
• Choreographic contests that bring together crews and companies from all over Europe.
• Workshops with international masters across three levels: OPEN (for everyone), EXCELLENCE (advanced level), and KIDS (under 14).
• Creative Zone, a space dedicated to companies and professionals.
• Walking Dance Tour, a parade and itinerant showcase through the streets and squares of the city, completely free of charge.

An international event

The international dimension is the hallmark of Back to the Style: countries represented in recent editions include Italy, France, Spain, Lithuania, Slovenia, Estonia, Romania, Cyprus, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Japan, and Korea. Over time, leading names from the global freestyle scene have appeared on stage and as judges, drawing thousands of fans and spectators to Lucca.

Between competition and urban culture

More than just a competition, Back to the Style is a true celebration of urban culture: showcases in the squares, open training sessions (jam & training), performances by emerging talents with BTS on Stage, and evening parties transform the entire city into a widespread stage. For those visiting Lucca during this period, it is the perfect opportunity to discover the Tuscan city in an unexpected light, between its famous Renaissance Walls and the contagious energy of street dance.