The "unofficial" official list of performers for 2010

To my blog readers... you shall get the VERY first list of 2010 performers for the SF Hip Hop DanceFest. Woo hoo!
Now please remember that this is subject to change AND their a few slots that are not booked as of yet. But I thought it would be nice to give my blog folks some insider scoop.. cool?
here goes--

Program A--- Friday Nov 19 8pm AND Sunday Nov 21 2pm--
ProPhenomen (France)
FBC (San Francisco)
B-Boy Y-Not and Mr. Wiggles (Las Vegas)
DS Players (San Jose)
SoulForce Dance Company (San Francisco)
One Step Ahead (Los Angeles)
Mind Over Matter (San Francisco)
Versa Style (Los Angeles)
3 more companies TBA very soon!

Program B---- Saturday Nov 20 8pm AND Sunday Nov 21 7pm---
Funkanometry SF (San Francisco)
Motion Underground (Colorado)
Loose Change (San Francisco)
Spread Expression (London)
New Style Motherlode (Oakland)
The Jungle Jills (Los Angeles)
GroovMekanex (San Jose)
Kenichi Ebina (New York)
Academy of Villans (San Mateo)
Bliss Dance Comapny (Vacaville)
1 more company TBA very soon


love and respect
Micaya

the present

Music Im using in class this week--
Marin ---- "Might Get Lucky" by Teiarra Marie
San Francisco---- "Outta Your Mind" by Lil Jon


Things are going well with the SF Hip Hop DanceFest. I should have a pretty accurate list of the companies performing in the next week. So stay tuned ok?

Otherwise Im inspired by my life and am feeling very grateful. I absolutely love so many things about my life and am constantly in gratitude for them.

Lately, I have been pondering about "the present" , "the here and now" -- the moment that people are always telling me to be in.. Sometimes I feel as if I am there and honestly, sometimes I dont. Maybe I am overanalyzing it too much, because sometimes I get confused if I am in the moment or not.. hee hee -- for real! Not sure if that makes any sense --
I know that was not directly dance related- but i felt the need..

I am judging a talent competition after class today at John O Connel High school - The All-Stars Talent Show Network creates opportunities for urban youth - aged 5 to 25 - to produce and perform in talent shows, as an alternative to violence and as a vehicle for ongoing emotional, personal and social growth. They began 30 years ago in New York, and started 9 years ago in the Bay Area. They have been working in the Mission, reaching out to youth and signing them up for the talent show.

Thanks for reading
love and respect
Micaya

The Auditions last Sunday

photo of Fae Salfiti , director of Bliss dance Company

Last Sundays event was a huge experiment for me. It was the first time I had ever opened up the auditions for the public to watch.
I made this decision because i thought it would benefit the companies who were auditioning , the panel and the public.


Last week, right before the auditions day, about 4 companies dropped out of the line up. In addition, there were 2 companies that were no shows on the day of the event itself.


As you can imagine , It was a expense to rent the Cowell Theatre. I felt as if it would have been worth it if: 1. There were more companies that auditioned and 2. that there were more audience members who came to the show. The SFHHDF is always struggling financially to keep afloat since we are arts and donor funded. In terms of funds alone, last Sunday was not a success.


However I must share this with you,
For the past 5 or 6 years , the youth group from Vacaville, Bliss Dance company has auditioned for the SF Hip hop DanceFest . Each year they have not received and invitation to be booked for the show. The closest they got was to be an alternate company one year just in case something happened to a company that was scheduled to perform. Each year the panel gives them constructive feedback and each year they audition , the panel sees and acknowledges their growth.
In addition, each year I invite them to perform at my other annual show, Mission in the Mix, as well as support them in any other way I possibly can. The kids are sweet humble adorable and talented.

Yesterday I had the emotional honor to call them to say that they will be invited to perform this year for the 12th Annual SF Hip Hop DanceFest. It was tearful and precious and it made Sunday worthwhile!




I am obviously going to make some huge changes to how I book local companies next year. I need to think on that for a while before I make my decisions.

Love and Respect
Micaya

things on my mind

Ill start today with Music Im using in class
SF "Outta your mind" by Lil Jon
Marin "Let me C it" by Petey Pablo

Allright-- Let me begin with the fact that tomorrow is the SFHHDF Auditions. I really dont know what to expect yet. It is one big experiment. Basically my idea was that I had several things I wanted to accomplish by trying it this way---

1. to have the panel and myself see the companies audition in a theatre setting
2. to allow local dance companies stage time and public recognition
3. to allow the bay area audiences get a sneak peek into the SFHHDF audition process as well as get acquainted with local companies.

I will certainly blog after tomorrow to give you my take on how it went. I also would love your feedback as well.

HOWEVER I DO NEED TO SAY THIS NOW--
there have been SEVERAL companies that have DROPPED OUT at the last minute !!! What does that say to you people? Ill tell you what it says to me....

Im investing in you and then you can not get you S*$^ together to put one piece together to audition?
I put the notice out about these auditions in MARCH!!!!!! What the hell? Am I crazy to try to give you a chance. I have always been about helping out the hip hop dance community- so i am super confused as to why they dont take me up on what I have to offer>


Thats all i got to say right now. more to come

love and respect
Micaya

check it

email i received today- contact her if interested...
Love and Respect
micaya

Hello Micaya,



I'm contacting you from "America's Got Talent" on NBC. We are coming to San Francisco on Saturday, September 18th and we are looking for talented performers for our appointment only audition (not advertised). We are looking for amazing dancers (groups mostly but also individuals)!



We aren't advertising this audition so I was hoping you can help point me in the right direction. Please give me a call to discuss or just submit info below.



Please send info to: Audra.AGTCasting@gmail.com



I need the following information for consideration:

· Name of Act and Contact name

· Video Link of performance (youtube or vimeo, etc)

· Contact number

· Interesting biographical info on act.

Preferred audition time (between 9am & 6pm) *We will do our best to give you the time you have requested.
In subject line of email please put: "San Francisco Audition".
Thank you so much!




--
Audra Bryant
Casting Producer
"America's Got Talent"

im back!

so i got bak and had to be off to a running start. just catching my breath today although ive been back almost a week. I had to choreograph a piece in 2 rehearsals for this event last night for Remy Martin.
They were introducing a new product for Remy and the party was to let the public know about it. It took place at Mezzanine in SF.

The idea was to have the dancers wear these highly conceptualized lit up costumes and dance in them . The idea was great... but the execution of the costumes did not end up working , consequently the dancers did not end up being able to utilize them. I was disappointed because I really would have loved to have seen it work . It was so cute when the lights were on, but as soon as the dancers started moving , the lights shorted out repeatedly .
They ended up dancing my choreography in the white unitards (yuk) without the lights. BUT they still pulled it off and looked super stunning!

I am back to teaching all my regular classes now and rehearsal for Soulforce start on Tuesday. In addition, the SFHHDF local auditions are coming up next weekend and we are still in the booking process for the out of state /country companies.. I have yet toi make 100% final decisions, but it is coming along quite well

Tickets are on sale for both the SFHHDF auditions event and for the 12th Annual SF Hip Hop DanceFest

Go to www.sfhiphopdancefest.com

song I used last tuesday in class " Dynamite"
wednsday in Marin "Let me C it"


Love and Respect
Micaya
PS I put this photo up as my profile picture on facebook and i got over 50 responses! hilarious! I guess I should be sexy more often! hee hee!