Eight dance companies chosen from more than 130 applications are set to take over the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre this weekend for the 28th annual San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest, bringing performers from as far as Tokyo and Mexico City to share a San Francisco stage with Bay Area crews. The festival runs Saturday and Sunday, spanning breaking, popping, locking, waacking, krump and house styles across three performances.
According to broadwayworld.com, the festival returns to the Palace of Fine Arts on November 14 and 15. Shows are set for Saturday at 7 p.m. and twice on Sunday, at noon and 5 p.m., per events.noisepop.com. Artistic director Micaya, along with dancer and choreographer Algin Ford and dancer Tomiko Iyalla, joined host Jessica Wills to preview the celebration, as reported by KRON4.
Eight Crews, Six Cities, One Stage
Founder and artistic director Micaya chose the eight companies from more than 130 applications, according to 48hills.org. The outlet reports the chosen companies represent Tokyo, Montreal, Mexico City, Detroit, Los Angeles and the Bay Area. The lineup includes Aalign Movement from Oakland, Bliss Dance Company from Vacaville, Good Time Company from Tokyo, House of Jit from Detroit, Lemuria from Mexico City, Nu.Skin from Montreal, TanzBlack from Los Angeles and Versa-Style Street Dance Company also from Los Angeles, per the noisepop listing.
The festival's own site describes its programming as spanning a wide range of hip-hop styles, including breaking, popping, locking, waacking, krump and house. It is organized as a noncompetitive showcase on a proscenium stage, a format the festival describes as the first of its kind in the world, according to sfhiphopdancefest.com.
A Tribute Woven Into the Program
Among the eight curated pieces is a tribute by dancer and choreographer Algin “Aalign” Ford, titled “Rashad Nubian Forever (Tribute),” which honors his mentor Rashad Pridgen, the same 48hills.org report notes. The piece stands as one of the personal throughlines in a festival otherwise built around international exchange and genre range.
Audiences hoping for more than a seat in the theater have an option built into the weekend. A freestyle dance contest, done Soul Train style, is scheduled onstage after Saturday's show, and any audience member is welcome to enter, according to the noisepop event listing. The festival's website also notes that all ages are welcome to attend.
