Advertise on podcast: Respect! DanceFest Weekly

Micaya and Brandy sit down with Mexican movement artist, dancer, educator, choreographer, and director Teté Hanan Fong for a powerful conversation at the intersection of urban dance, Afro-diasporic roots, and contemporary performance. A first-place winner at Hip Hop International, World of Dance, and Feel the Bounce, Teté sees dance as more than an art form—it’s a pathway to human development, self-discovery, and collective transformation. They dive into her company, Lemuria Movers, and Orgullo Latino, the powerful piece they’re bringing to the 28th Annual SF International Hip Hop DanceFest. Exploring our inner demons, our differences, and the power of love to overcome them all, Orgullo Latino is a moving reminder of what connects us. 💛✨

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.

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. Justin de Jager and Sem Deliveyne started out as breakers and found each other in a shared love for the movement concept of Threading. Since 2019, they have been exchanging, training, researching, creating and performing together. The collaboration resulted in the creation ‘Brothers’ and that premiered in The Hague, NL in ‘23. Since then, the piece has already performed over 50 times at many prestigious festivals in The Netherlands and Europe, recently winning two awards at the respected choreography competitions RIDCC and Hannover 39.

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. Guest Ibrah Silas Jackson is a dancer, director, and choreographer from Rotterdam with roots in Uganda. His creations are grounded in hip-hop culture, but he has also gained knowledge of modern, funky, and African cultural styles. Ibrah is a dancer with bands such as Ghetto Funk Collective and has danced in pieces by renowned choreographers such as Ruben Chi and Donna Chittick. He has also created several short films and music videos as a director and writer, and began choreographing theater pieces in 2021. He often bases his work on childhood experiences, and masculinity plays a significant role in his work.

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. Boogaloo Dana, co-founding member of the legendary crew Medea Sirkas, is a pioneer, historian, and activist for the Boogaloo style of dance—an art form that predates hip hop. Born in West Oakland, he began dancing in 1972, shaping a style influenced by icons such as Little Dion, James Brown, Derick Lovings, Alfred Jones, John Murphy, Tony Newsome, and the animated energy of cartoons. As co-director of Medea Sirkas, Dana has spent decades pushing the boundaries of street dance while preserving its roots, inspiring generations with his precision, creativity, and electrifying stage presence. His passion and discipline have earned him some of the culture’s highest honors, including the Minister of Culture Award (2019), a Lifetime Achievement Award for Demon of the Mind (2022), induction into the Hip-Hop Archives Hall of Fame with Medea Sirkas (2023), and a Lifetime Achievement Award for Medea Sirkas (2024). A true innovator and cultural guardian, Boogaloo Dana continues to embody the spirit of street dance—always “keeping it street.”

RESPECT Podcast – Season 5, Episode 7! Tune in now as hosts Micaya and Brandy feature Stéphanie (SP Sunny) from Paris, representing Parados-Sal and Odasy! 🌍✨ Stéphanie shares her journey, training, and insight into O.D.A.S.Y. (Legacy), a tribute to Babson. Don’t miss it!!

RESPECT PODCAST Season 5, Episode 6 is here! Tune in as hosts Micaya and Brandy connect with the talented Marie-Neika Obas, a versatile artist, choreographer, and dance teacher, and a proud member of AMS Dance Company. 🌟 Born and raised in Montreal with Haitian roots,  Marie’s diverse experience has taken her to stages and TV screens both locally and internationally. As part of AMS Dance Company, a dynamic group of over 15 dancers founded by Andy Michel Shadari, she contributes her unique artistic perspective alongside fellow dancers from diverse backgrounds across Canada, Europe, and the U.S.  In this episode, Marie shares her journey in the world of dance, the impact of her experiences working with AMS, and details about the piece they’re creating for this year’s DanceFest.  Don’t miss this inspiring conversation!