Sagacity Communications

Palace of Fine Arts Theatre (3301 Lyon Street @ Bay, San Francisco)

Advance Tickets: $39.99 for one show or $75 for 2 shows;

All shows $40 at the door

City Box Office: (415) 392-4400 and cityboxoffice.com

(San Francisco, CA )              Micaya’s 13^th Annual San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest – the first-ever dance festival with a mission to honor, showcase and recognize the artistic range of hip hop dance – raises the bar for hip hop dance festivals everywhere with an extraordinary lineup of international dance artists. Over the course of one weekend in November, the 13^th Annual San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest will present 19 formidable hip hop dance artists and companies from around the world in two extraordinary programs, along with master classes and a VIP party for patrons 21+ on (Sunday, 8:30-11:30pm at the Palace of Fine Arts).

Launched in 1999 by Founding Artistic Director and curator Micaya, this trend-setting festival consistently earned awards, critical admiration, and popular support.  Year after year, audiences respond to Micaya’s forward-thinking curatorial focus and unwavering commitment to the art of hip hop dance with standing ovations and unbridled enthusiasm.

November 18-20, 2011, the 13^th Annual San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest adds to the DanceFest legacy with the presentation of ground-breaking hip hop dance companies from four different countries. Bay Area innovators and local favorites will share the bill with international guests on a mission to entertain and inspire audiences of all ages.

PROGRAM A* (Friday, Nov. 18 @ 8:00pm and Saturday, Nov. 19 @ 9:30pm)

 *Programs subject to change

Parking Advisory:  Due to the construction at the Palace of Fine Arts parking is extremely limited this year and Doyle Drive from northbound 19^th Avenue/Highway 1 is closed. The DanceFest strongly encourages its audience to carpool and to arrive at the theater early.  Please utilize the passenger loading zone in front of Palace for Fine Arts to drop-off and pick-up handicapped or disabled persons.  Free, limited parking is available at St. Francis Yacht Club (700 Marina Boulevard at Yacht Road).  The Yacht Club is a 12-minute walk across Marina Boulevard to Lyon Street and the Palace of Fine Arts Theater.

MASTER CLASSES

The DanceFest offers Master Classes with Plague (from London, England) and Meech Onomo (Paris, France) on Sunday, November 20, from 12noon to 3:00pm, at The Annex (1420 Harrison Street, 94107) $20 for a single class; $38 for both classes.

12noon:   Plague choreographer, Brooke, has learnt under many of the pioneers of locking and is widely regarded as the best locker coming out of the UK. Brooke’s class is a fun and informative class for all levels to gain an insight into his approach to locking where social dance, funk, technique and innovation all meet within a unique choreography.

1:30pm:   Michel “Meech” Onomo Ariste is a multi-faceted choreographer, dancer, and music producer. After discovering both Cameroonian traditional dance and Michael Jackson at a young age, he naturally turned to hip hop, though his curiosity led him to also study jazz, tap, and contemporary dance. He has worked with some of the greatest artists in hip hop, including Thony Maskott, Franck II Louise, and Brian Green. Meech has won many victories on the underground battle circuit (Juste Debout, House Dance Conference, etc.). Meech will be teaching a House Dance class demonstrating his special touch within the genre, which combines body movement and African roots.

ABOUT THE SF HIP HOP DANCEFEST (a non-profit organization)

The mission of The San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest is to encourage the evolution of hip hop dance culture, while preserving its legacy. Our annual festival features performances by international dance companies, represented by a cross-section of our diverse arts community, successfully uniting people of all races, ages, shapes and backgrounds.

When, Founder/Artistic Director Micaya, launched the San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest in 1999 at Theatre Artaud, she established the FIRST-ever festival dedicated specifically to the artistry of hip-hop dance, the DanceFest is a groundbreaking event, hosting companies from all over the globe. Micaya’s vision has, for 12 years, shined a spotlight on one of the richest and most influential dance forms to emerge from the late 20^th century.

Audiences love it! In its early years, the DanceFest quickly outgrew the intimate setting of Theater Artaud and took up residence at the 1,000 seat Palace of Fine Arts, where the DanceFest has maintained its record of sold-out performances for diverse and wildly appreciative audiences. With each new program, the DanceFest has reinforced its reputation for curatorial innovation, and the discovery of new talent.  This year, the artists were selected from a roster of submissions that came from as far away as China, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, Morocco, Korea, Chile, Uganda, and the U.K. as well as companies from throughout North America, testifying to the San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest’s influence and reach around the globe. We invite you to be a part of the celebration as the DanceFest once again, leads the hip hop nation to new ground!

Facebook: San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest (2,421 group members and counting)

YouTube channel (157 uploads)

San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest  Official website

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