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- GUEST BIOS -

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Sol Power Host

MELISSA BRITT

As an educator, choreographer, and performer, Melissa Britt has demonstrated excellence in creativity through art projects and programming that bridge academia with community partners and serve as a catalyst for community inclusion and student leadership. 

She is beyond grateful to be working alongside such talented artists, educators, and administrators in an organization focused on youth development. Previously, she was a Professor of Dance at Arizona State University focusing on hip hop culture, performance, and movement instruction. She has worked with esteemed international artists and choreographed works on a local and national level. 

Melissa's stage work, direction, writing, dancing, teaching, and choreography have taken her from Beijing to New York, San Francisco to Princeton University, from Wisconsin to Florida. She is paying forward her experience and continues to work with many of her past students on a professional level within the organization. She is inspired daily by the artistic growth and innovation she observes in THE BE KIND CREW. One thing she has realized through her years of artistic practice is that there are multiple ways to understand and experience something. It's our job as socially engaged artists to show how multifaceted life and art can be.

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Melissa Britt has enjoyed studying movement her entire life. After acquiring her BFA in Dance Performance from Arizona State University in 2004. She has choreographed nationally and danced with Phoenix-based dance companies Nebellen, Conder Dance, WNBA Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad, NBA Phoenix Suns Dance Team, and Phoenix Suns APS Solar Squad. Melissa was also a member of Universal Dance Association (UDA) and Texas-based company Marching Auxiliaries (MA). She also served and performed/choreographed and taught with EPIK Dance Co.

Melissa received her MFA in Dance in Spring of 2010. Where she served as Clinical Professor in ASU’s School of Dance and is responsible for developing the Urban curriculum, student international travel for urban dance studies and co-founder of the Urban Sol event. Presently operates as Vice President of Education practices for the BeKind project.

Melissa Britt Bio
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Sol Power Judge

FLOMASTER

Jerry 'Flo' Randolph has been a dance/fitness instructor  for over 18years and has taught dance, fitness and conditioning to all ages and levels. After being sidelined by injury earlier in his career, in the midst of rehabilitation he found a new love in physical training. After searching for ways to stay healthy and to maintain his physique he incorporated his dance expertise and a developed a unique exercise/conditioning program for all ages. As a dancer/entertainer, martial artist Jerry has shared both the big screen, and big stage with some of the world's biggest celebrities  such as Will Smith, Christina Aguilera,  Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Nsync, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Ciara,  Nick Cannon, Wayne Brady, and Usher. Combining his background in dance and martial arts, Jerry's classes/training have a unique blend that helps his students to attain a greater connection to their physicality

Flomaster Bio
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Sol Power Judge

KING CHARLES

Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, King Charles is the founder and leader of Creation an international Chicago Footwork dance crew that celebrates its 21st year in 2022. His professional and creative experience not only stem from being part of the legendary dance company The FootworKINGz as Artistic Director, but also from his extensive A-list resume including Madonna, Will I AM & the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He is also the head of Creation Global, a professional teaching division dedicated to the proper education and growth of Chicago Footwork around the world.

King Charles Bio
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Sol Power Judge

LATASHA BARNES

Bessie-award winner and noted viral sensation, LaTasha Barnes, is an internationally awarded and celebrated dance artist, educator (Asst. Prof of Dance, ASU), decorated U.S. Army Veteran (SFC/ SATCOM Engineer), and Tradition-Bearer of Black American Social Dance. Her love of dance and music exceeds her known life, as Barnes’ parents lovingly joke she was dancing

even before she was breathing, recalling memories of LaTasha grooving in her mother’s womb as she sat next to speakers at parties and LaTasha's father DJ’d. From this early love/education her expansive artistic, competitive, and performative skills flourished and have made her a frequent collaborator to prominent artists and arts organizations around the world. She is deeply honored to be in service to her culture across social, academic, and performative spaces as shared in her March Today Show with Hoda & Jenna and July 2022 DANCE Magazine profiles. And while contributing to the success of the ground-breaking stage production SW!NG OUT with Caleb Teicher (BrainTrust), and championing the critically acclaimed intergenerational and intercommunal cultural arts experience The Jazz Continuum  and chairing organizations like the Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival and Black Lindy Hoppers Fund brings her great pride, LaTasha most cherishes the guidance, support, and empowerment bestowed by her family/framily, elders, mentors, and ancestors. Their love gives her the strength to strive for authentic expression, excellence, and fulfillment in every endeavor - for them and this work LaTasha is eternally grateful. Visit www.latashabarnes.com to learn more about her journey, achievements, and ways to support her cultural efforts.

Latasha Barnes Bio
Dj Reflekshin Bio
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Sol Power Deejay

REFLEKSHIN

Reflekshin was born and raised on the Navajo nation reservation in shiprock, nm. Currently resides in Phoenix, Az. Has been djing for 22 years. And has opened up for artists such as Dj Qbert, Jeremy Ellis, Rakim, Talib Kweli, Paul wall, Baby Bash, Gift of Gab, Kool Keith, Freddie Gibbs and more. Reflekshin has toured in Germany with his crew Shining Soul. Reflekshin is a 2x AZ scratch exchange champion, Battle Ave Cut 2 Cut Vice Champ and has made the top 16 in the Wild Cuts 2017 World portablist scratch battle, a 2x Top 20 in the IDA USA scratch battle, And was recently crowned the LA Cutfest Scratch Champion in 2018.

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DJ REFLEKSHIN (Furious Styles Crew)

 

Contact: djreflekshin@gmail.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/dj reflekshin

Instagram: @djreflekshin

Twitter: reflekshin

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Sol Power Deejay

PANIC

As an African American, Nathanial represents and allows our POC students to see themselves being represented. 

 

Nathanial "DJ Panic" will be playing live music at the MU stage area to promote the upcoming SoLPower event.

DJ Panic has over 15 years of experience and has served as a leader, practitioner and community organizer. He has become and set a standard for Arizona Dance battle deejays.

Dj Panic Bio
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Sol Power Deejay

PETE SALAZ

Pete “SuperMix” Salaz is a house music DJ and producer, club owner, restaurant owner, event

promoter, uncle, friend, Chen-style taijiquan practitioner, Peruvian plant medicine retreat

organizer, mentor and supporter of Arizona Latinx artists/culture and a third generation Phoenix

resident. His weekly house music Saturday night event, “Solstice,” kicked off in 2007, and is one

of the longest-running weekly club events in the country, showcasing local, national and

international house music artists on the rooftop of downtown Phoenix’s Bar Smith. Salaz

co-owned the venue since 2010; in 2011, he became the co-owner of downtown nightlife staple

Monarch Theatre, and in 2017, he became co-owner of Céntrico Cocina Mexicana, located on

the ground level of the historic Hotel San Carlos. Only recently did Salaz give up his shares in

all three businesses to devote more time to studio production. Salaz has an 8 song EP entitled

“SpiRituals” that was released on NY based music label, Open Bar Music, in mid 2022. Salaz is

often credited as being the godfather of Phoenix house music as his underground “Chupa” and

“Red Monkey” parties in the 1990s through 2000s were some of Arizona’s seminal electronic

music events. These flagship events and his many DJ gigs—even today—carry the reputation

among house music lovers as a source of tremendous community, positivity and unity. His

Phoenix roots run long and deep!

Pete Salaz Bio
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