On this week’s edition of BackstagePass, Back2Besa Host Besa Gordon headed over to Langston Seattle for this year’s KuttNUp Massacre. The Massacre is an annual dance show which has been a staple in the community for over a decade, showcasing crews from all over the city. This year, Gordon enjoyed the show and headed backstage to chat with KuttNUp Massacres Founder Koach T.

“I think what I loved most about this event is that it wasn't a competition; it was truly a showcase. Sometimes, when you do an event like this, people are so focused on winning rather than just focusing on having a great time and putting on a dope show,” Gordon said. 

Koach T founded the event after filming himself dancing and posting it on YouTube. His vision included showcasing the importance of dance as well as the opportunities it presents. 

“Growing up Black, you don’t always think of dance as a career,” Koach T said. “You think dance is just a little thing, but for me it was my saving grace.”

The event’s impact extends past just the audience and the dancers. For Choreographer Kearia Keke Duncan, the dances provided inspiration and allowed her to think outside the box, as well as giving her a chance to dance in front of her students.

“It’s refreshing to see how other people hear the songs, and what those beats mean to them,” Duncan said. “This event is so important because our youth get a chance to see their choreographers be on stage.”

It was a powerful night which brought together a swath of Seattle’s dance community to celebrate the power of the art form.

This segment originally aired on Back2Besa. Make sure to tune in every Saturday at 10:30 pm on FOX 13 and Sunday at 10 am on FOX 13+ for more great stories.