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Sol Power Deejay & Educator
DIYANNA MONET
Always keeping New Jack Swing music in her vicinity, Diyanna Monet is a live performance artist hailing from Washington, DC. From igniting dance floors, in front of and behind the decks, she has proven to energize and captivate the attention of crowds ranging from private events to massive festivals and stages with her nostalgic music curation and dance choreography. Leading with the inspiration of preserving Black culture, social dance, and timeless music, Diyanna brings a layered relationship of sound weaving that directly connects to her value of keeping and expending individuality through freestyle movement. Currently, she is a rotating instructor for the Rooting the Dance series at Dance Place in Washington, DC, and she is a part of the electronic and experimental band Future Drum Circle. Through each of her endeavors, Diyanna is sure to deliver energizing and memorable moments as a means to solidify herself as a model of excellence, innovation, and unity through music.
Sol Power Deejay
RITA SPIRIT
DJ Rita Spirit (Marharyta Barieieva) is from Ukraine. Before moving to Whitehorse she spent time working in Sweden and China. Rita has taught a DJ course for kids in "V Studio" (Nanning, China), and at Asa Folkhogskola (Sweden). She loves different kinds of music, including hip-hop, g-funk, house, afro-fusion, soul, and R&B, and delving deeper into a variety of styles.
Originally a dancer, she first started as a battle DJ for dancing events, then became a battle and party DJ. Rita has played venues in China, Ukraine, Indonesia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Finland. Recently Rita has performed in the Vancouver Street Dance Festival (one of the biggest festivals in Canada), as well as in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Calgary.
Rita has been performing and teaching internationally for more than 10 years in different countries. Dancing was always a safe outlet for expressing herself and healing. Through dancing, she was able to meet many other artists and creatives across the globe which she is grateful for.
Sol Power Judge
KING CHARLES
King Charles, is a Chicago Footwork pioneer from the Southside of Chicago and a prominent international teaching artist for Chicago Footwork, House Dance & Hip Hop. He has been a Chicago Footwork global ambassador for over 19 years. King Charles is the founder and leader of @creationglobal , an international dance crew with over 100 members worldwide. King Charles was the Artistic Director of renowned Chicago dance company, The FootworKINGZ, who was featured on major television shows including America's Got Talent and America's Best Dance Crew. King Charles has worked professionally with many iconic artists including touring with Madonna for years and performing with artists such as Elton John, Missy Elliot, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Will I Am. King Charles continues to blow audiences away with his energy and creativity. He is also the creative director of “Creative Netwerk” a national nonprofit organization that develops the next generation of leaders, builds a vibrant network of artists, and increases access to cultural education to strengthen our multicultural movement.
Sol Power Judge & Educator
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.
Sol Power Judge
HBO
Born in Phoenix, AZ in 1982.. raised as well. I first seen breaking on the beat street film at roughly 13 years old in middle school. However I really got into it on a hardcore level in high school! I have been breakin for roughly 3 decades. In 1999 i was apart of the crew (ONE krew) that won the title at the Furious Styles crew anniversary… marking an early milestone in my lifestyle as a Bboy. All this time later I continue to stay active in my art form while balancing life as a husband, dad, and baseball dad. I continue to break and be studious to my art form and the hip hop culture. There is always something new to learn in this culture and passion we thrive in • “BREAKLIFE”
Sol Power Judge
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.
Sol Power Judge
PROF. T
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Sol Power Deejay
RAE RAE
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Sol Power Judge
VO VERA
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Sol Power Host
TOLEDO
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