The SF Int’l Hip-Hop Dancefest is just right around the corner and we’ve got a nice interview with SFIHHDF founder, Micaya to the get the scoop on this year’s show. Hitting it’s 14th year, be sure to check out the show this coming weekend Nov 16-18th. For more info on the show or to buy tickets, go to www.sfhiphopdancefest.com

***Also check out our online contest where you can win 2 free tickets to the show!***

Micaya Interview:

SFIHHDF has come a long way since it’s beginnings. Describe the moment you decided to put that very first show together. Who was involved?

I had already been producing smaller shows at Dance Mission (Formerly Third Wave) for years and had a desire to bring them to a bigger venue. I had wondered at the time why can’t we have hip hop dance in the same theatre setting as other dance styles. Up till then , I had never witnessed it until Rennie Harris came around. My inspiration came from a desire to give hip hop dance artists the same acknowledgement, credit and respect that I had seen given to other dance artists.
The biggest person involved with me during the first years was my “sister” Sterling Larrimore. She was my friend, a dancer, graphic designer and huge inspiration to me. When we worked together, there was an element of playfulness that she incorporated into everything we did, which allowed me to stay light and joyful. She helped cultivate my abilities to produce a show of a bigger caliber even though my confidence as a business minded person was very low. I have always been a dancer, choreographer and teacher, never a producer, therefore I felt scared to do anything like this. Sterling helped me understand that I could incorporate my artistic talents as a producer! For the early years, Sterling was everything to me. I can not ever thank her enough for her love and support.

What can we expect from this year’s SFIHHDF? How different will it be from previous years?

This year we have an extraordinary line up of dance companies that cover a large range of diversity. Each company is performing a new work.
Here are 3 (of many) that I am excited about –

Ill-Abilities (Chile, Canada, Holland, USA) performing “No Limits”. This piece illustrates each dancer’s personal story of overcoming adversity through the struggles of communicational difficulties, stereotypes, life-changing decisions, civil crisis, and shattered dreams. Get inspired by how each dancer has adapted their movement to create unique choreographies exclusive to ILL-Abilities.

dEEp doWN dopEIZM (Norway) “The Biosis” This piece is about evolution of life; Nature and people, in symbiosis with each other. And the anti-biosis that has appeared between man, machine and nature.

Decadancetheatre (New York) “4” (Four Concerto) In hip-hop culture, we often think about the idea of “the loop”— a beat sample that is repeated over and over to make a full musical track. When a DJ scratches a loop or an MC rhymes over the beat, the juxtaposition of sounds shifts the loop in our ears. On a larger scale, we all live through the loop of the four seasons every year. Although the seasons remain the same, we are personally evolving and therefore feel the same seasons in new ways each time they come around.

Who are the newcomers to this year’s SFIHHDF (locally and visiting) and what are their styles?

Boy Blue Entertainment (London) are performing in both Program A “Blue Knighted Kingdom ” A piece personaifying Uk music and style. and Program B “Emancipation of Expressionism” A tribute to the true nature of B.B.E.

GoodFellas (Sacramento) performing a tribute piece to the movie GoodFellas

Physical Poets (Los Angeles) “Graffiti On a String” A theatrical expression of what “Physical Graffiti” looks like & a visual journey through musical emotions,art & physical poetry

MVP (San Jose) BOS vs. BOM” A little boy goes into a toy store and can’t decide if he should buy a Bucket of Soldiers or Barrel of Monkeys. He decides to think about it overnight and return the following day with his decision, and that’s when the war begins to be the last toy standing!

Mix’d Ingrdnts (Oakland) “We Are Every Woman” This piece is about the strength and empowerment of women, shown through a combination of street dance forms such as waacking/punking, house, hiphop, locking, popping, voguing and also including our most favorite element, freestyle dance.

IllStyle & Peace Productions (Philadelphia)” ***KINGZ***” (IMpossible,IZZpossible) This “WARRIOR DANCE” is based on the “POWER” that exist in the black man, it’s a dance for “AFRICA” & the “AFRICAN PEOPLE”! Always showing to “NEVER FORGET” that black men & black women are “STRONG, INTELLIGENT, BEAUTIFUL & SPIRITUAL ***KINGZ*** is “Spirit” & “Movement”, it’s a dance from the spirit of “GOD” & “Love” that pushes our talents and creativity through us this is the dance for LIFE, LOVE, PEACE & UNITY!

Let us know a little about Micaya’s hip-hop dance background.

My dance back round goes way back to Atlanta GA where I grew up. My father is a huge music lover and introduced me at an early age to Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Nina Simone, Bob Marley and so much more. My dance training in Atlanta ranged from jazz, modern , ballet and African styles . In Atlanta, I danced in a company that did African, jazz and modern styles primarily. In addition, I was a HUGE reggae and African music and dance fan at the time . In 1987, I moved to the Bay Area Ca with my young son and then began training in other dance styles that were more readily available there. I started training in Haitian and Brazilian dance styles. I feel that my training in African, Haitian and Brazilian dance helped me tremendously when I began learning hip hop styles in the late 80’s.

What is life like for Micaya outside of SFIHHDF?

I teach regular dance classes all year round to all levels and ages. I also produce another show every year in June called “Mission in the Mix” . This show features my dance company SoulForce Dance company , my students and up and coming local companies that need some more exposure. I rehearse my company 2 times weekly and hold an annual performance workshop for my students . In addition, I am hired to do different choreography and teaching jobs year round.

How do you feel about dance movies and dance tv shows out there today? Yay or nay? Do they represent Hip-Hop in it’s essence?

They are entertainment- that is all- I don’t expect to see ANY movie about anything and expect is to be realistic and truly representational (unless it is a documentary).

What are some of the things you like and dislike about the Bay Area dance community?

The Bay Area dance community inspired me to start the SF International Hip Hop danceFest. I have ALWAYS felt that we have a richness here that no one else has. I deeply love my community. I hope that the younger ones can cherish it as much as I do. Id like for us to be more unified, supportive and connected .

Do you have any goals to uplift or unite the Bay Area dance community closer together and how?

I feel by producing an annual International Hip Hop Dance Festival right here in our own back yard, I make a huge attempt on trying to uplift our local dance community. My arms are reached far wide and long for the community to come on with me. This Festival is a very heart based expression of my love and inspiration and I work ALL year on getting it together. I long to see the local companies representing on this International arena alongside these other phenomenal artists. I love having the press, dance critics and audiences rave over the local folks. I have way over 100 companies submit to perform each year from all over the world. Submissions in the past have come from Algeria, Turkey, Russia, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Uganda – just to name a few! Local companies are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to submit to perform in the SFIHHDF each year.

How do you feel about the music on the airwaves today?

If you are referring to new hip hop, I am not loving a lot of it.

Random question time: Last song you listened to?

I have been listening to a lot of mellow African music on Pandora lately – I’m not sure of the last one that was playing.

Favorite go-to meal after teaching a class? What is Micaya’s favorite snack at the moment?

My fav meal is salad – my snack is fresh fruit and nuts .. yes I am very healthy -How else can you look this good at 50 years old?

How important is fitness and diet for dancers? How does Micaya stay fit?

The key word is “LONGEVITY” ! I say it to my students and dancers all the time. Gotta make it last a lifetime honey! Take care of what you got. I eat very well, do Pilates AND go to the gym ( In addition to teaching dance).

What are some of your favorite local battles and competitions that you like going to?

Ive been to World of Dance and enjoyed myself. I have judged at a few other competitions as well and enjoyed them too. In all honesty however, they dont inspire me so much. I have great respect for them, I am NOT hating. Its just that they all seem to HAVE to fit the same criteria and format which leaves little room for expression, magic and artistry –in my opinion…

For groups interested in auditioning for future SFIHHDF shows, what do you look for specifically? Has it changed since the earlier years?

I look for diversity in the program. When looking at a SFIHHDF program line up, I ask myself, “Does this program have a diversity of style, gender, number of dancers, local and out of town companies” When a submission comes in and it inspires me to want to book it for the SFIHHDF, it is usually because it has one or more of these things: extraordinary skill, imagination, a voice, passion, power, artistry, joy, depth, or thought provoking.. to name a few.
Yes, I feel as if my taste has refined over the years ,BUT I do think about what All audience members would like to see on the stage not just what I want to see .

Top 3 favorite SFIHHDF moments of all time?

Pro Phenomen (France) — I have never seen anything quite like them.
Footworkingz (Chicago) – they make me want to weep when I watch them dance…so effin’ beautiful!
Live in Color (Miami) They set SF on fire! – fun! fun! fun!

What is your ultimate vision for SFIHHDF?
To be able to financially afford all of this without stressing!

Thank you for doing this interview with us! Any last words or shout outs?

Thank you to my board- to the volunteers, to all the SFIHHDF dancers past and present. Thank you Dennis for all you do

Much Love and Respect to you all
Micaya