Ariel Hyatt, a dancer from Powassan, Ontario, has gained widespread attention for her unique fusion of Ottawa Valley step dancing and heavy metal music. Since beginning to share videos of her performances online less than a year ago, she has rapidly built a large following, turning a regional dance tradition into a viral phenomenon.
At 36 years old, Hyatt's rise to prominence began in March 2026 when she posted a video of herself step dancing to Ozzy Osbourne’s "Crazy Train." The response was immediate and substantial, prompting her to create increasingly complex choreographies to hard rock and heavy metal classics from artists including AC/DC, Slayer, and Van Halen. Her Instagram account, @arielhyattstepdance, quickly grew from under 1,000 followers to over 220,000, with additional audiences developing on TikTok and YouTube.
Hyatt's dance style draws heavily on the Ottawa Valley school of step dancing, a tradition rooted in Scottish and Irish step dance but shaped by French-Canadian influence and distinguished by more aggressive and rhythmic footwork. Unlike Irish step dancing, which emphasizes a rigid upper body, Ottawa Valley step dancers maintain loose arms and incorporate both low-foot placement and rapid high flourishes.
Despite achieving national championship titles as a youth competitor, Hyatt’s passion for step dancing waned during her physically demanding construction work in her early thirties. However, the art form regained prominence in her life last year when she began posting videos online, combining her technical skill with her growing appreciation for the rhythmic complexity of metal and hard rock music.
Her efforts have drawn praise from notable figures in the music industry. Sharon Osbourne, talent manager and widow of Ozzy Osbourne, commented that Ozzy would have enjoyed Hyatt's distinctive percussive tribute to his music. Alex Lifeson, guitarist for Rush, also acknowledged her influence, humorously noting that her step dancing inspired his moves during the band’s reunion tour.
Experts within the step dance community recognize Hyatt as a vital ambassador for the Ottawa Valley style, which has seen declining participation in its traditional competition circuits across Ontario. Chad Wolfe, an Ottawa-based fiddle and dance instructor who mentored Hyatt beginning in 1999, highlighted her ability to perform complex rhythms and interpretive choreography as exceptional.
Ashley MacIsaac, a Cape Breton fiddler who gained recognition for blending Celtic music with contemporary genres, noted that Hyatt’s work could inspire younger generations unfamiliar with this distinct Canadian dance form.
While Hyatt's online following continues to grow, she has yet to monetize her videos, citing challenges around music licensing. Her ultimate goal is to establish an online school that would teach step dancing to a global audience, potentially sparking renewed interest in the Ottawa Valley tradition.
“I always wanted to bring my dance style to an international audience,” Hyatt said. “It couldn’t just stay in Ontario anymore. We had to get it out to more people, other countries.” Her online success suggests she may be well on her way to achieving that objective.