Born and raised in the Bay Area as the second of two first-generation Iranian-American children, Paymaneh “Bibi” Khalili (she/her) grew an appreciation for the arts at a young age. Growing up in a household full of dance, culture, and discipline, combining her passions seemed like the only natural progression. A mostly self taught dancer (remember the days where you watched music videos and memorized the steps?), Bibi’s connection to dance and the arts is at the core of her being. While studying Business Management at SJSU, Bibi had the opportunity to learn and grow next to Bay Area dance veterans like Ricky Tripp, Allan Frias, and Greg Chapkis, to name a few. She went on to dance with Mind Over Matter before joining Funkanometry SF, and eventually Directed her own team, delafemme. DAM Events has given Bibi the opportunity to connect the many talented artists and friends she has met over the years who may not otherwise easily get or take the opportunity. Outside of DAM, Bibi continues to teach dance, judge showcases, and produce events throughout the Bay Area via DAM Events and Creative Transit Agency. 

Official Co-Founders of DAMsf! The idea for DAM was birthed from a conversation between Bibi and Tawnya Kuzia of NCDA, inspired by the professional showcases offered to artists in Southern California. For more information about NCDA, check out their website.

Originally from Los Angeles, Lauren Schnapper (she/her) is a professional dancer, choreographer, and production coordinator in the arts & entertainment industry. Credits include Gwen Stefani, Nick Cannon, Millennium Dance Complex, the Teen Nick network, and The Walt Disney

Company, to name a few. She got her start while living in San Francisco and received her Bachelor of Arts from SF State. During her time in the Bay, Lauren was very involved in the local dance community. She was a part of teams such as De La Femme, Groove Against the Machine, and others. Lauren then joined Bibi to work on DAM Events. In late 2012, she moved back to LA to pursue her dance and production career and has been working ever since. She recently received her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Project Management and now travels from LA to the Bay frequently for projects. Now, her focus is on providing leadership, organization, and guidance for artists. Lauren has been a part of DAM Events  from the very beginning and has loved watching the Bay Area talent evolve. She is truly thankful for her start in the Bay and hopes that artists continue to use DAM as an outlet for creative growth.