The Maritime Centre for African Dance (MCAD), formed in 2005, is an organization dedicated to teaching, sharing and promoting African Culture though the art of dance, to youth and adults across Canada. To date, MCAD has taught well over 500,000 children and adults in schools, community centres, camps and programs. This number is ever increasing. This organization was formed out of a necessity for lack of cultural representation in the form of traditional dance in Canada. It is a collective of different individuals from Africa who have are trained in traditional dance and ranges from the South, North, West and East of Africa. MCAD also has trademarks of The Dance-off – Atlantic Canada's first hip hop competition and www.masteps.com.