Hip Hop Dance Fest in San Francisco Was Incredible
Dance crews from all over the world came with breath taking skills and blew the crowd away. The dance performances were so well thought out and executed that they told clear, touching, stories. They also get you incredibly fired up, the 18th annual SF Int. Hip Hop Dancefest is a place you may find yourself hoarse from cheering. This isn’t your typical abstract, interpretive dancing, it’s dope modern beats, athleticism, heart, and very ‘now’. The photos bellow can’t touch what it’s like watching live, but they begin to paint a picture.
It’s been going on for 18 years for a reason. The International Hip Hop Dancefest is incredible. It began in the San Francisco Mission District in 1999 when a dance instructor (now sf legend) named Micaya began throwing hip-hop dance shows at the Artaud. Now the festival packs a thousand seat theater several times over a 3 day weekend, and attracts world class talent from all over the globe. Here are just a few highlights.
Paradox-Sal (Paris)
PARADOX-SAL : Chorgraphie : Ousmane SY – Avec : Emilie BATAILLE, Audrey BATCHILY, Allaun BLEGBO, Sarah BOUCHRITA, Mariam FOFANA, Diana IGBOKWE, Sarah NAIT HAMOUD, Linda HAYFORD, Aurle MBANI, Odile LACIDES, Stphanie PARUTA, Luxisle SIEWE, Atoesa ZARE – Photo : Benote FANTON
The all female crew from Paris mixed dance styles and beats from all over the world and worked the crowd into a frenzy. Strong, French, women of color beaming swagger and unity was just the cocktail San Francisco wanted to drink. They were awesome.
S.I.N.E Crew (Vietnam)
S.I.N.E. Crew, dope B-boys representing South Asia
The boys from Vietnam were part b-boy, part traditional Vietnamese, and completely refreshing and fascinating. Checkout there b-boy battles on YouTube Here.
TURFinc (Oakland)
www.theturfinc.com
Breaking, popping, contorting, with quintessential Oakland swagger. Using dance culture to spread positivity in the Bay Area.
Rennie Harris Grass Roots Project
One of the most brilliant pieces of choreography I’ve ever seen. This crew told a story about domestic violence and personal strength and strife that was more powerful, real, and convincing than any story I’ve read or watched on the subject. People in the crowd had their hands on their hearts during the performance. Powerful stuff.
Find Rennie Harris Grass Roots Project Here
Femme Fatale (Los Angeles)
photo BlakeTucker.com
These ladies dawned light suits and pop-locked to an amazingly choreographed light show. The music they chose was none other than “Android Porn” by Kraddy, which was both intense and surprising because the last time I heard it was at a sunrise at Burning Man. These ladies killed it, and injected a little EDM/breakbeat into the evening.
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EMBODIMENT PROJECT (San Francisco)
There were many other crews and performers at the festival, find out more about them at hiphopdancefest.com. And definitely mark your calendar for next year.
Micaya with the Paradox-Sal crew. Sf Int. Hip Hop Dancefest 2016
love. Photo: www.blaketucker.com
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