With support from the California Arts Council, The San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest (SFIHHDF), a project of Micaya Presents, will produce its 28th annual festival at the Palace of Fine Arts, featuring world-class hip hop dance companies from across California, the U.S., and internationally. CAC funds will provide general operating support across all Micaya Presents programs, including artist fees, staffing, production, accessibility services, and community engagement. This support sustains the annual festival and year-round initiatives such as Mission in the Mix, the RESPECT! podcast, the Angel Program, and Know Yourself, expanding equitable access to culturally relevant arts. The festival includes performances, a youth freestyle circle, audience engagement activities, and ASL interpretation, reaching 3,000 – 4,000 attendees annually. Year-round programs serve over 250 participants, including 100+ youth, advancing meaningful engagement/public benefit.
Micaya Presents creates dynamic events where historically marginalized communities feel seen, respected, and celebrated. Our commitment to first-rate production values and community-building strategies invites artists into a professional, inclusive atmosphere that celebrates their talent and achievements. Micaya Presents realizes its mission through four programs:
1. The San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest (SFIHHDF) was founded by Micaya in 1999 with a mission to encourage the evolution of hip hop dance culture while preserving its legacy. The SFIHHDF is the first global festival to honor the artistry of hip hop dance in a non-competitive, professionally curated theatre setting. Every November, 8-10 dance companies from around the world perform at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts Theatre.
2. Mission in the Mix was founded in 1992 to highlight the talents of local emerging and established Bay Area performing artists representing different genres of performing arts. Presented every June at San Francisco’s Dance Mission Theatre in the historic Mission district, Mission in the Mix features a diverse array of performing artists, such as: hip hop, modern, ballet, bellydance, tap, and salsa dancers, youth dance companies, singers, and rappers in curated showcases.
3.The RESPECT podcast, founded in 2020, is a 6-week series that gives artists a platform for in-depth analysis of their work and the multidimensional nature of hip hop dance. The episodes are focused on education of the origins, history, and cultural impact of these dance forms.
4. Know Yourself was created in 2022 with partner AnyxMeans to introduce underserved youth and their caretakers to creative methodologies that build self-confidence and reinforce a sense of belonging. This free all-day camp includes classes in dance, music and mindfulness, along with meals, t-shirts, workbooks and artistic giveaways .
5. Angel Program subsidizes tickets annually for youth, families and communities who would not otherwise afford to attend.