MEET the team

Founders

Faculty

foundERs & artistic directORS

Alea

ALEA DE CASTRO

Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director

Alea “Didi” de Castro, RN, BScN, is an Ottawa-born Street Dancer, nurse, mom, creative, business owner and producer - plus an occasional MC and former basketball player. With 23+ years in Hip Hop, Waacking and House, her practice has grown across performance, education, events and community work.

She is the Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director and principal dancer of Moov Ottawa Dance and sister company Moov, Bouge, Danza. Alea especially loves being on stage, but is equally involved behind the scenes developing projects and running the organizations.

Her work has taken her across Canada and internationally. Highlights include creating and performing L’UNDERGROUND (2021–present), joining CreativeMornings Ottawa as the first Street Dance artist in Canada to speak at the event (2025), chosen for CanAsian Dance’s Magic Mixing Vancouver (2026), Audience Amp panelist (2026), and creating Hey Ma! (2026–present).

There’s always something new on the go for Alea, and she loves seeing an idea come to life, bringing people together and staying open to whatever comes next.

Arnaldo

ARNALDO BETANCOURT SILVA

Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director

Arnaldo “Effect” Betancourt Silva is a Cuban-born Street Dancer, choreographer, educator, creative director and MC based in Ottawa. Born in Havana and raised in Montreal, he first discovered Breaking by imitating movements he saw on television before formally training in Breaking, House, Hip Hop and Popping.

Effect joined Deadly Venoms and Mix’d Mafia (2007) and built his name through the battle scene, competing across Canada and internationally. Career highlights include Juste Debout, IBE, The Breakdown, Top Wanted, Cirque du Soleil at the Pan Am Games (2015), Cirque Éloize in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and Bboyizm.

With 100+ battle wins throughout his career, Effect continues to compete, judge, perform, teach, choreograph and MC across Canada and internationally. He is the Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director and principal dancer of Moov Ottawa Dance and Moov, Bouge, Danza.

Effect is known for his powermoves, musicality, floorwork and ability to move seamlessly between styles. His approach brings together years of battle experience, strength, control and a deep understanding of the music - all while continuing to train, compete and evolve as a dancer.

For fun, Effect enjoys spending time with his daughter, working on his powermoves, catching up on his favourite anime and cooking for his people.