The San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest Celebrates 20 Years

Micaya is pleased to present the 20th Anniversary of the San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest (SFIHHDF), featuring groundbreaking hip-hop performances from 14 dance companies from around the world.

In 1993, dancer, choreographer, teacher, and producer Micaya began producing grassroots hip-hop dance shows in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District. Those shows quickly sold out, and led to the creation of the first ever SFIHHDF in 1999 at Theatre Artaud. Micaya's vision was to move hip-hop dance from the street and studio onto a proscenium stage, and to create a festival that honored both the artistry and diversity of hip-hop dance in a non-competitive environment. Now presented at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, the festival attracts companies from all over the globe, and has firmly placed San Francisco on the map as a premier presenter of hip-hop dance.

Under the umbrella of hip-hop, this year's festival showcases work that draws variously from b-boying, jazz, modern, waacking, locking, krump, house, popping, and more. The 2018 festival welcomes International Artists from London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Vietnam. Stateside, SFIHDDF hosts dancers from Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Murfreesboro, TN and locally from Oakland, San Francisco, San Mateo, Vacaville, and Hayward. More than 100 individuals will take the stage at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre mixing skillfulness with artistry and storytelling.

Micaya dedicates this anniversary year to the Bay Area dance community, whom she credits with inspiring her to start the festival.

The festival culminates this year with a 20thAnniversary Bash on Sunday, November 18 at 7:30pmat the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. Guests will be treated to a champagne toast, short, performances, DJ, small bites, and more surprises. And following the Sunday matinee at 12pm, the festival welcomes kids onstage for the SFIHHDF Kids Freestyle Circle. The festival will also host master classes around the Bay Area.

Established in 1999 by Micaya, The San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest has earned an international reputation as one of the most prestigious presenters of hip-hop dance. The SFIHHDF is the first ever festival dedicated to honoring the artistry and diversity of hip-hop dance forms in a non-competitive environment. The SFIHHDF creates a convergence of global phenomena by presenting groundbreaking performances from professional dance companies from all over the globe. 2018 marks the 20th year for the SFIHHDF; presenting inspiring, electrifying and thought provoking works of art through hip hop dance forms.

The program follows (subject to change):

Program A

The Tribe (Bay Area) "The Tribe"

Bliss Dance Company (Vacaville, CA) "16 Shots"

S.I.N.E (Vietnam) "Empty"

Amenti Movemeant (Netherlands) "Akasha x Amenti"

Duwayne Taylor (London, England) "It's Time to Speak"

Loyalty Dance Company (Murfreesboro, TN) "This is Wakanda!!!!"

Versa Style Dance Company (Los Angeles, CA) "Box of Hope - Part 1"

Yeah Yellow (Paris, France) "Yeah Yellow Sunshine - Part 1"

See Through Soul (Oakland, CA) "Journey Into..."

Paradox Sal (Paris, France) "Queen Blood - Part 1"

Program B

Str8jacket (San Mateo, CA) "Hackers"

Paradox Sal (Paris, France) "Queen Blood - Part 2"

Yeah Yellow (Paris, France) "Yeah Yellow Sunshine - Part 2"

Versa Style Dance Company (Los Angeles, CA) "Box of Hope - Part 2"

S.I.N.E (Vietnam) "Bo Cau Ben Cua So"

Loyalty Dance Company (Murfreesboro, TN) "The Return of Loyalty Dance Team"

Amenti Movemeant (Netherlands) "Anima"

Kai Rapelyea (Philadelphia, PA) "The Heart of One"

Jade Hackett (London, England) "Self Love"

re:DEFINE Dance Collective (Hayward, CA) "Blenders"

To purchase visit www.sfhiphopdancefest.com.