DAMsf on 3.1.25

15 YEARS of dance.art.music.

Saturday 3.1.25 at DNA Lounge in SF

Open to all ages + genres of the arts

MAIN Event 5-9pm

The GET DOWN AFTERPARTY + BATTLE with 1up Crew 9pm-1am

Main Event Tickets HERE

Afterparty Tickets HERE

Meet the DAM Hosts

Durell aka DCisChillin

DJ x Event Host x Entrepreneur

Fatena aka FaeFae

Founder/Owner/Artistic Director of @blissurbanartscenter ,
Bliss Dance Company & BlissLife Holistic

Meet the DAM DJs

DJ Jon Reyes

DJ William Stokes

DJ Mark Maiden

AND INTRODUCING The DAM Talent

1up Crew

1Up Crew seeks to build the Northern California dance community by bridging the gap between freestyle and choreography through event planning, providing opportunities for performing artists, using media to capture events from an artist’s perspective, and providing streetwear for comfortability and style.

Nico O'Connor

A California "Bay Area" native, with over 20 years of dancing, teaching, and choreography experience, and now working professionally in Los Angeles, Nico’s dance credits include:
companies like Culture Shock Oakland, Mischief Makers, Breed OCLA
Ads for Wal-Mart/Latin Grammys, Sean T's Rockin Body Fitness, and MC hammer's reality show.
And has danced for artists like Kat Graham, Prima J, former Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta, and for Pink at the AMA’s.
He has been an associate choreographer for MTVs best Dance Crew, Britney Spears Femme Fatale tour, and for KPOP group Girls Generation. Other choreography credits include, House of Lies, Todrick Hall, Keala Settle, Brian Justin Crum, David Hernandez, John Duff and Katya from Rupauls Drag Race.
An internationally known dance instructor, Nico is currently on faculty at Millennium Dance Complex, educating youth on the principles of dance and promoting active lifestyles. Creatively he’s known for his dynamics, visual concepts, and staging. As a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor, Nico's passion for dance has allowed him to follow his dreams and achieve many goals, now able to share his experience and knowledge with others who share the same passion.

Groove Against the Machine

"We are a competitive dance team from In The Groove Studios, located in Oakland ca. directed by Daniel kang and Leslie panitchpakdi. We are a group of people that love dance and each other :)"

Michelle Nakayoshi

Michelle Nakayoshi was a part of the first DAMsf all ages and since then has continued continued to choreograph and teach in the Bay Area and San Diego. After dancing with Choreo Cookies for six years, Michelle has found her way back to San Francisco and is currently teaching weekly at City Dance SF.

Str8jacket

Founded in 2012 and established in the Bay Area, Str8jacket practices creativity, grit, and growth. We develop economic, social, and philosophical change for our communities through dance, collaboration, and collectivism.

Jay Chris Moore

Jay Chris Moore has 20 yrs of experience in the dance community as a Director, Choreographer, Dancer and Judge and 15 yrs working in the LA Industry. He has worked with artists such as Usher, MC Hammer, Kanye West, Missy Elliot, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Anderson Paak, B2K, Keke Palmer, E40 and LMFAO. He has choreographed for acts on Americas Got Talent as well as other TV/MV projects.

Sac Dance Co

Sac Dance Company is the city’s hottest commercial performance team! Established in 2017, SDC is determined to put Sacramento dancers on the map by appearing at the city’s top events including Prelue Norcal, Crocker ARTMIX, Sac Pride, Best of Sacramento, Our Street Night Market and more. The company also donates over 20 performances per year for community events. Check out our Team Calendar below to see upcoming shows!

Derrick Nealy

Derrick Nealy is a highly gifted R&B artist originally from the Westside of Atlanta, with a compelling life journey. His musical influences include iconic figures such as Sam Cooke, Michael Jackson, Usher, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Pharrell, among others, which have motivated him to tap into his creative abilities. From a young age, Derrick was engaged in various activities like talent shows, Black History programs, dance teams, gymnastics, stage plays, and modeling campaigns. Music played a significant role in his upbringing, with his family offering strong encouragement. Although Derrick moved from Atlanta to the Bay Area, this transition has not slowed his progress; instead, it has opened up new avenues for growth. He has had the opportunity to open for artists like Derek King and Gene Noble, perform at Oakland's HeiroDay Festival, and participate in The Bay Area’s The Next Big Thing Showcase, all of which underscore his potential and continuous evolution as an artist.

The J² Project

The J² [“J-Squared”] Project, founded and directed by Hawai’i-born, Jasmine Kaiulani and Sac-native, Jasen Valdez, is a new collective dedicated to advocacy and unity. From training with Groove Against the Machine (In The Groove Studios, Oakland) to investing their learnings as dance educators, Jasen and Jasmine have experienced the value of unity and community, thus realizing that its true root begins in seeing one another. The J² Project’s purpose is to connect people through reciprocity; exchange; and advocacy, in seeing and hearing each other despite our different backgrounds. Our drive is in embracing the individuality offered in each other whilst acknowledging its coexistence with recognizing our own worth. The J² Project is more than a group of movers; it is a space cultivating community by bridging various grounds in shared passion and aspirations.

Dakini

Dakini is a visual artist, rapper, and educator. Rooted in their Pasifika heritage, Sahn's work advocates for land back movements and the decolonization of Indigenous lands. Their art serves as a medium for personal reflections, grief work, and resistance against global settler colonialism, with a particular focus on the experiences of Indigenous people from the Pacific to Palestine.

Groove Theory

Groove Theory was founded in 2018 by current director, Leslie Panitchpakdi. They are the resident training team of In The Groove Studios, located in Oakland CA. Their love and passion for dance radiates through their great performances and dance videos. Even throughout the pandemic they continued to train over zoom and tutorials, turning a group of individuals that love to dance, into a dance family.

Trill

" I’m a dancer from Oakland who has trained all throughout The Bay and LA. Now a respected dancer and choreographer Im just trying different ways to get my choreo to the world. For the most part my choreo speaks for itself; very deliberate and entertaining. Hope yall enjoy and thank you for having me DAM."

Collective POV

Collective POV is a movement group curated for the exploration of sensuality through various styles of movement and building community through collaborative growth.
We were founded in April 2023 and have had the opportunity to perform on multiple stages.

Revenge Fantasy by June

Iconic, eye catching outfits for music artists and dancers. Everything sparkles and shines under stage lights or candles. Revenge Fantasy has you looking good whether you are performing for an audience or on a vacation in Vegas. Revenge never looked so good!

$AINT

$AINT’s work as an artist is a boundary-pushing exploration of chaos, love, and emotional rawness. Through a genre blend of indie, soul, r&b, and jazz sound, paired with soft, colorful visuals, $AINT creates an immersive experience that confronts an existential point of view of a sometimes misunderstood human. Their music and artwork are marked by tender unrelenting energy, challenging conventions and embracing dissonance as a means of expression. Both introspective, $AINT’s art resonates with those seeking a playful rebellious, unfiltered reflection of a free contemporary life.

King K.C.

King K.C, born in the vibrant Enugu state of Nigeria, began his incredible musical journey at the age of 2 when he moved to America. His early years were spent in the Highbridge section of the South Bronx, and by the time he turned 14, he had relocated to Jamaica, Queens. This was where his love for music truly took root.

At the tender age of 8, King K.C began his singing journey in his community choir in HighBridge. However, due to limited resources, he couldn't record his first song until almost 15 years later in 2017. But that was just the beginning of his remarkable story.

King K.C's music transcends borders and cultures, as it beautifully blends his American and Nigerian background. His sound is an alluring fusion of Afrobeats, AfroHouse, AfroPop, Hip Hop, Soul, and RnB. What sets him apart is his ability to bridge the gaps between different musical genres, showcasing his extraordinary creativity and distinctive sound.

Paradise Dance Co

Aaron Warren Drums

"My Name is Aaron I’m from Oakland, Ca. You may have seen me around the bay playing drums in locations such as Lake Merritt, First Fridays, and Ocean Beach. 3 years ago I had $7k in my equipment stolen from me at a gig. I do have a go fund me if u would like to help me get new gear --please DM me on my instagram or ask me for the link I’ll gladly share it thank soo much."