Respect! DanceFest Weekly

Our special local guest is ALGIN “AALIGN” FORD (he/they), a proud native of San Francisco’s Fillmore District! In this episode, multidisciplinary artist Algin joins Micaya and Brandy for an inspiring conversation about the intersection of dance, music, and film—and how these art forms can tell powerful stories of healing, legacy, and transformation. Algin also shares the inspiration behind their special Rashad Nubian Tribute piece, which they’ll be bringing to the SFIHHDF stage, along with much more. 🎙️ Don’t miss this inspiring episode! 📺 Watch now on our YouTube channel, or listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧! 🔥 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗟𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 — 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟳, 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭! We’re kicking off Season 7 with our first guest, 𝗠𝗜𝗭𝗨𝗞𝗜 from Tokyo, Japan! 🇯🇵 Dancer, choreographer, and instructor with Good Time Company and Whiteee, MIZUKI joins Micaya and Brandy for an inspiring conversation about Hip Hop in Japan—from how dancers learn and connect with the culture and music to her experiences with her dance company and much more. 🎙️ Tune in and get to know MIZUKI, her journey, and the Hip Hop scene in Japan! 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗼! 🔥🇯🇵

Hendrickx Ntela is a Liège-based dancer and choreographer of Congolese origin, specializing in urban styles like Hip Hop, Krump, Dancehall, Kuduro, and AfroHouse. A founding member of the all-female collective One Nation and the international Krump group Gully Fusion, she is a pioneer of Belgian Krump performance and event organization, including Ch’eza Street Battle and Krump Date. Hendrickx has collaborated with artists like Camille Lellouche and Jean Dujardin, choreographed for Netflix’s La Nouvelle École, and toured internationally with her original work Blind. She is an associate artist at Théâtre National de Bruxelles and continues to shape hip hop dance culture worldwide.

Paula Dewart is the Director of the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company and a Teaching Artist at Destiny Arts Center. She is an award-winning dancer and choreographer with over 25 years of professional performance experience and 15 years of mentoring, developing, and teaching the arts to youth throughout Oakland and the Bay Area. Born and raised in the Bay, Paula uses her background in ballet, modern, and hip hop to create dynamic works that reflect both artistry and community. She has performed with Allan Frias’ Mind Over Matter, LL Cool J, Goapele, and numerous Bay Area artists, and her credits include TV appearances on Blindspotting (Starz). Paula is a proud alumna of Ruth Asawa’s San Francisco School of the Arts.

SFIHHDF Founder Micaya and Board member Brandy Beazley talk to esteemed dance artists from around the world. Topics include performances in the SFIHHDF, choreography, artistry, challenges of being a dance professional, and other dance related themes. LeDarius “Gipsi” Parker is a choreographer and street dancer from Greensboro, North Carolina. His personal dance style focuses primarily on Hip Hop Freestyle, Waacking, House, and Krump. His choreography can be versatile with elements of movement from styles such as House, Waacking, Popping, Krump, Jazz Funk, Afro Beats, and Dance hall. He is inspired by hip hop culture, visual art, and takes an influence of movement from other countries, Street dancers, and street foundational styles. He has worked in the entrainment industry for 10 years. He loves to create stories with his choreography and movement. LeDarius wants stories that speak to multiple generations. He believes art is for everyone to enjoy and take inspiration from.