what a year. What a year! 2022 was full of amazing accomplishments for Ladies of Hip-Hop. We started the year with a special feature on A&E Network, the LOHH Studio opening in partnership with SNIPES USA, LOHH Dance Collective performances at Jacob's Pillow, Lincoln Center, and the prestigious Guggenheim theater and more! Check out our busy year below.
January    

• January 28th: A&E Voices Magnified  National Television Broadcast

February

• February 1-6: The Harvest @ UWM presents Ladies of Hip-Hop
• February 16-27: Jacob’s Pillow Residency LAB

March 

• Dance Advancement Fund Grant Award
• March 15-25: Works & Process at the Guggenheim LaunchPAD “Process as Destination” Residency
• March 25: Works & Process at the Guggenheim Performance Presents ‘LOHH Black Dancing Bodies’
• March 27: Works & Process at the Guggenheim - The Dance Floor: Fresh, Bold & So Def Women @ Lincoln Center 

April

• April 1-2: USC Kaufman Cypher Summit presents Ladies of Hip-Hop

May 

• May 23 Festival of New York Launch with Lincoln Center Performance
• May 26 LOHH x SNIPES Studio Launch 
• May 29 & 30 Ladies of Hip-Hop LA in Partnership with Versastyle 

June

• June 29: LOHH x SNIPES hosted: Vogue Pride Battle with House of Oricci 

July

• July 13-17: 18th Annual Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival
• July 26: Rock The Bells X LOHH brand Collaboration 
• Masterwork Foundation Grant Award

August

• August 8: NIKE Teen Collaboration @ The Shed 
• August 8: Summer Sway at The Shed Performance

• August 18: The Mainstage at Herbert Von King Park Performance
• August 31: LOHH x SNIPES hosted Simmer Room w/ DJ Mari Ella + DJ Coflo Ferreira

September 

• VS PEC Grant Award 
• Mertz Gilmore Foundation Grand Award via ABC

October 

• October 8: Hudson Valley Dance Festival
• October 6: The Interludes at Battery Park City

November 

• November 3: Works & Process Underground Uptown Dance Festival  Presents SpeakMyMind
• November 4:  LOHH x SNIPES hosted Breaking Battle hosted by Kid Glyde 
• November 20: LOHH x SNIPES hosted Footwork Frenzy Battle with Creation Global

December 

• December 1: LOHH x SNIPES hosted Luz Remigio-Frias
• December 10: Philadelphia Mural Arts Dedication

now time to relax!

• Tell us who you are & what you do. Hola, hola, hola! I go by "Chi-Chi" I'm originally from the Bx and I am a lot of things. Dance and other creative things (dancer, actor, choreographer) is what I do, but I am a performer. In whatever way a story needs to be told, I am willing and able to tell it. That's it. For now.

• When did you start dancing? Why?I don't know when I started dancing. I was born dancing in a way. It's my superpower and when you have a gift, you have to use it. Even if you end up doing something else with your time/life, your gift will always draw you in to where you are supposed to be. It won't let you leave it. I started dancing professionally after finishing at Rutgers University. I was molded in my teenage years to forget about my superpower and keep it as a hobby. My freshman year in college, my best friend Tom (just a teacher at the time), reminded me that I had something special. I wanted to wait until I was finished with my  degree because that meant a lot to me, so that's what I did. I started professionally in 2005, why? because I had to. My superpowers made me.  

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• Do you feel like black women are represented in mainstream and underground dance culture?  Yes and no. I feel like Black women in mainstream dance culture are turned into something/someone else. Throughout history, "our" history, we've been turned into "things to look at". Our bodies, our shapes, our range of skin, eye colors and hair textures are very special because there is no other being on the planet made like us. We are a wonder of the world. But we're turned into a sort of spectacle that takes us so far from who we really are that I feel we are PRESENT in mainstream dance culture, but as something or someone else. For example: I used to wear my hair in a ponytail piece for every audition and job mainly because I knew my hair wouldn't mess up that way and I look cute in a ponytail (smacks gum, flips hair). Anytime I wanted to wear my hair out (curly fro, frizzy curls, curly puffs, etc), people thought it wasn't appealing enough. I needed "extra" hair: a half-wig (knew nothing about that until the dance industry). "You would like nice with a long weave" they'd say. "Make sure you wear the long pony" they'd say. "You should straighten your hair again, it looks nice like that"... they'd say. So I and women like me (in mainstream dance industry) have to look a little less Black while the white girl with the cornrows dancing next to me is Poppin! I see black women in their full and true essence more often in underground dance culture, and while I have been removed from both for a few years now, what I see most in the underground are women from Japan, Sweden, Italy, Germany (insert European and Asian Country here) looking like black women, more than I see actual black women.  

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• What are the typical beauty/image standards synonyms with black women dancers?Are there any? I don't know. 

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• Does social media take away from the authenticity of dance? umm YES, next question.

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• What do you want people to know about black dancing bodies? The black dancing body is directly connected to the psyche of that black dancer. Whatever anyone has ever said about the black dancing body ends up a notch etched in that dancer's subconscious and dictates everything he/she wears, how he/she dresses, moves, etc. They (Black Dancing Bodies) represent strength, power and resilience no matter what they look like, because the Black dancing body is very different from one woman to the next. 

 

• Has motherhood changed your relationship to dance? If so, how.Motherhood changes the body, period. It changes not only your relationship, but also your understanding of your body and what it can and won't do. With respect to dance, I think the relationship just changes. Something as simple as jumping is just completely different. For a long time, I had to just find ways to do things differently with this "new body" of mine-whatever that means, I haven't reached the point where I fully understand it. I can't afford (in time or money) for dance to be a top priority any more (unless it's worth the time and worth the money). I have had to change who I am to dance, even though what dance is to me has not changed (it's still my superpower, but now breastfeeding and being awesome to Kane is on my supershero list too). Which just means I won't go too far, but even if I do, dance is going to bring me back when the time is right. ​

Who's That Girl

LOHH : Tell Us about yourself? 
I'm French Canadian with Haitian & Native roots. I'm a lover of life seeking the beauty in all things and beings. 

MEL: Where and when did you first discover dance?
In my mothers belly. Later trained in the kitchen with my father blasting some Latin music while cooking my favorite meal (sweet plantains, rice & beans, red snapper)... 

LOHH: Did anybody help guide you along the way? 
MEL: Of course. My parents, my crew, my tribe, the youth I teach, the random people I meet around the world... Being an artist allows me to connect with a community of creative divine beings that assist and elevate me throughout my journey.  I always say that I would most likely be a beach bum if it wasn't for them. 

LOHH: What do you enjoy most about dance?
​MEL: It allows me to taste the ecstasy of my light.

LOHHF: What do you connect with/love most about Hip-Hop culture?
MEL: This will sound super cheesy but Hip Hop saved my life! Being a little dramatic but I was bullied a lot in my youth due to being mixed race. When Hip Hop became popular I became the coolest kid on the block. 

LOHH: Do you feel any limitations being a girl/women in Hip-Hop? 
MEL: I work for a Bboying Dance Company and the Artistic Director, Crazy Smooth, has never made us feel like gender mattered. It's also been the case with my crew. We elevate each other without any room for discrimination. Although I know some women feel differently about the matter in my universe it's never been an issue.

LOHH: What are you working on right now?What do you have coming up?
MEL: I'm currently on tour in the UK working with a Swedish/Canadian Dance Company called Tentacle Tribe. After this I go back on tour with Bboyizm Dance Company then I plan to work on various projects with my movement called Melly Mel Inspires. My purpose is to empower youth through Dance.  

LOHH: What part of Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival are you looking forward to the most? 
MEL: I look forward to it ALL!!! I enjoy being around dope, fresh, creative woman. I feel humble and blessed to be part of this movement. Can't wait to inspire,build and play!!!!!

Tell Us about yourself?
My name is Loryane, originating from Switzerland an leaving here in New York for now 4 years.

Where and when did you first discover dance?
In my country when i was 14 year old. I wanted to start before, but couldn't afford it.

Did anybody help guide you along the way?
At the beginning, it was difficult to find a good and real hip-hop school that would teach what I was looking for. Luckily i found my way and met good people with real interest in the Hip-Hop culture! D-Say (First move) and Jess (FM/ATF) helped me a lot!

I am also grateful I've been able to move to New York because since then, I have been surrounded by amazing people such as my mentor, Tony Mcgregor, and the Dance Fusion Crew (Specially Caleaf and Sekou). These generous people have been sharing their knowledge with me without boundaries, so i can definitely say that i am being guided.

What do you enjoy most about dance?
I would say that specific moment where you become the music and you can feel you are possessed by the beat ! It is such an infinite release ! Furthermore, I really like the connection the dance can create between people. Sometimes it's more difficult to put words on a feeling rather than just dancing it out !

What do you connect with/love most about Hip-Hop culture?
I would say all of it. The Hip-Hop culture is a way to be, to express, to live.. I, of course, feel in harmony with its music and it's dance. The fact that the Hip-Hop culture can gather so many different beautiful souls around a shared love and passion is a blessing to me !

Do you feel any limitations being a girl/women in Hip-Hop?
Probably when i was younger, looking at other male dancers doing incredible things and moves with their body, but the older i get, the better i can see myself in this culture without any inferiority. Women are powerful.. in each sens of it and we should use it and embrace it !

What are you working on right now? What do you have coming up?
I am working on ... myself !! hahaha! I try to get better and increase my knowledge. I have several ideas that I want to carry out such as little performances and sharing my passion with others.

What part of Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival are you looking forward to the most?
The entire Festival !! From the workshop via the battle to the performances. The battle is specially inspiring and rich in energy ! Personally the most satisfying and enjoyable part of LOHH is the simple fact to be able to share, create and learn with and from other women!!

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keep up with our favorite sound engineer, party conductor, beat blender DJ Sabine as she takes her talent on the road. www.oyasound.com
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SOUL MOVING WEEKEND!
I still can't believe we pulled off our first Los Angeles festival. And when I say we I really mean WE! Our LA partnership with Versastyle Dance Company was so great. Their entire team, especially the ladies, had everything on lock down. They planned everything from airport pick-ups to our first team in person meetup.  I have never been so relaxed during a LOHHF event. I have to send extra special thanks out to Jackie "Miss-Funk" Lopez for being game for such a partnership. it's rare that folks working in the same community, with similar missions can work together. Our partnership is an example of how it should be. 
The men!!!! We had so many guys taking class and at the battle. It reaffirmed my feelings that we need their support during LOHHF. It was so impactful I am changing a line in our mission statement, "given by women for women" to "given by women for everyone". Starting this festival, it was never my desire to exclude anyone. I love sharing, celebrating and creating with our men in this community. Thank you to Moncell "IllKosby" Durden, Sebela Grimes, Showtime and all the guys of Versastyle Dance Co for taking class, sharing at your vibes at the battle and every chat that happened during LOHHF LA. It was truly eye opening. 
Every year LOHHF takes a moment to honor our female pioneers and mentors in the Hip-Hop community. It's a way to keep the present connected to our foundation. We selected two female dance pioneers living in LA, Toni Basil & Damito Jo Freeman. It was my first time meeting both of these ladies. Damito Jo Freeman, Soul Train Legend and Toni Basil, first female in The legendary Lockers.  It was great being able to take a moment and say thank you. They were so gracious! During the panel they shared some juicy history and advice. I am so happy to have met them both and look forward to continuing our new friendship. If you don't know about them you should look them up. 
Lastly, I want to share a personal note, I haven't really danced, freely, in years. For many reasons I haven't been inspired to move. DJ Kaotic Blaze, DJ Sabine Blaizin, Toyin, Tweetboogie, Chi-Chi, Ms. Vee, Kara Janelle, Melly Mel, Nubian NeNe and our entire LA community moved my soul. THANK YOU! See you next year.

-Michele