- GUEST BIOS -
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
PROF. T
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
Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. A b-boy for over 20 years, Panic has also grown into a local DJ staple within the Hip Hop dance. He represents: OutCrowd, Furious Styles Crew, and Supreme Selectors.
Sol Power Host
NIAMEY
Niamey Thomas is a Choreographer, Educator and Storyteller. Graduate of Arizona
State University with a BA in Communication, Minor in Dance and Certificate in
Brazilian Studies. Graduate from Elevate International Antioch Discipleship and Arts
program where she learned how to be a disciple implementing projects and
initiatives to enrich the community through Art. A graduate from AmeriCorps Public
Ally program where she strengthened community efforts and engagement.
She has curated various shows, events, and performances, “The Show”, Artists for
Change VOL 1, 2, & 3, and #LYRillestsessions.
Niamey has danced professionally for twelve years; she was a member of the WNBA
Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad, Anomalous Dance Crew, Arizona Raw Talent, and
Anonymous, and is currently the Director of “The Realist Crw” since 2023. She has
performed and taught around the valley, Atlanta, Chicago, Oregon and Puerto Rico.
Currently Niamey is in her second year as a MFA student in dance at Arizona State
University where she is researching Hip Hop culture and resistance. She is an
Assistant Adjunct Faculty at Grand Canyon University and holds a Teaching
Assistantship at Arizona State University.
Sol Power Deejay
LEAH ROMAN
Leah Roman is a Baltimore-born, Arizona-based dancer, choreographer, educator, and
co-owner of The Jukebox Grounds alongside her wife, RaeRae. Having called Arizona home
since 1997, Leah has spent nearly three decades cultivating her craft and contributing to the
dance community. The Jukebox Grounds is an all-street-styles and explorative movement
space in Mesa, Arizona, dedicated to learning, creativity, and community.
Leah teaches weekly classes, choreographs for dance teams across the nation, including
college and high school programs, and shares her knowledge at dance conventions. As a
battle dancer versed in multiple styles, she represents Deadend Fam in Krump and Creation
Global in Chicago footwork. She also teaches and competes in Campbellocking. A lifelong
student of the arts, Leah continues to evolve as an artist, educator, and student of the culture,
always pushing herself and those around her to grow.
Sol Power Judge
VO VERA
VoVera lives inside a macrocosm of creative experimentation and intentionality. Street dancer, multidisciplinary artist, college educator. VoVera creates work that explores unique concepts and movement language synthesis. He is currently dancing with Jacob Jonas The Company and artistically directs The Sacred G's
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@vospacevera​​
Sol Power Host
TOLEDO
Toledo is a dancer, educator, choreographer, community builder, and longtime host who feels
right at home with a microphone in her hand. She began hosting events in Los Angeles in 2015
with CheckOne2 Enterprises and quickly discovered that bringing people together from the
stage was another kind of performance she deeply loved. Since then, she has hosted
everything from galas and performances to community events and celebrations throughout Los
Angeles.
After making her way to Arizona, Toledo brought the mic with her! She has hosted Sol Power
and LatinSol at Arizona State University and is thrilled to return to Sol Power for a second time.
Toledo brings years of live performance experience, a love of people, plenty of humor, and just
the right amount of chaos to every event she hosts. For her, hosting is about more than keeping
the show moving—it’s about making sure everyone in the room feels like they’re part of the
party!
Sol Power Judge
PROF. HOLT
-Corcoran Holt—bassist, composer, arranger, and educator—is a son of Washington, D.C. who
began playing djembe and West African percussion at the age of four with the Wose Dance
Company under Baba Aidoo Holmes and Mahiri Fadjimba Keita. At ten, he took up the upright
bass with the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program, discovering a family connection to the instrument
through his great-grandfather, a bassist who reportedly gave lessons to a young John Coltrane.
While studying classical bass at DCYOP, Holt attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts
(1996–2000), working under Carolyn Kellock, Davey Yarborough, the late Keter Betts, and
Steve Novasel, and soon began performing widely on the D.C. jazz scene.
He earned his B.A. in Jazz Studies from Shenandoah Conservatory and his M.A. in Jazz
Studies from Queens College, studying with Buster Williams, Michael Phillip Mossman, and
Antonio Hart. Since then, Holt has performed with a remarkable roster of jazz greats including
Curtis Fuller, Wycliffe Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Kenny Garrett, Nicholas Payton,
Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller, Billy Hart, and many others, appearing at leading venues and
festivals worldwide—from the Village Vanguard to the North Sea Jazz Festival.
A 2009 Thelonious Monk Bass Competition semi-finalist and U.S. State Department Jazz
Ambassador, Holt has worked as an educator with Jazz at Lincoln Center since 2010. He
released his debut album The Mecca in 2018 and appears on three Grammy-nominated
recordings, including Kenny Garrett's Pushing the World Away. He also performs on Garrett's
Sounds from the Ancestors, which won the NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz Instrumental
Album in 2021.
In 2026, Holt released his highly anticipated sophomore album, Freedom of Art, a deeply
personal and expansive statement that explores themes of lineage, fatherhood, identity,
community, and spiritual growth. Featuring an all-star ensemble, the project blends original
compositions with intimate interludes that incorporate the voices of family, mentors, and lived
experience. The album has received critical acclaim, including a 4-star review in DownBeat, and
continues to resonate with audiences for its honesty, depth, and musical integrity.
Holt is currently Assistant Professor of Jazz Bass at Arizona State University's School of Music,
Dance and Theatre and served as Artist-in- Residence for the DC Jazz Festival (2024–2025),
where he continues to honor the jazz tradition while advancing new creative pathways.
Sol Power Deejay
FRESCOFOOJIN
‘fresco foojin.’ is a DJ, breaker, MC, & producer from Phoenix, AZ. Representing the crews
Vicious By Nature & Last Life. Breaking since he was 10years old, introduced by his father
‘Bboy Kloud9’ from Dallas, TX. He began DJing at age 14, & has since DJed across the US &
internationally for notable events such as Freestyle Session 2025, Out for Fame Japan 2026,
Enter The Graveyard ‘24/‘26, & many more. At age 16, he then started to pick up production in
Hip Hop beats, which led him into MCing at the age of 18. With over 1 million streams across all
platforms, he continues to release music that reaches a global audience.
Sol Power Artist
AWER
Adrian “AWER” Garcia is a Phoenix-born-and-raised artist, muralist, and Artist
Coordinator for the legendary Furious Styles Crew. He represents one of Hip Hop’s four
pillars: graffiti art.
AWER began his artistic journey with spray paint in the early 1990s, inspired by the
vibrant graffiti masterpieces, characters, and murals of the 1980s. These early
influences continue to shape his work, with spray paint remaining his primary medium.
Dedicated to preserving and celebrating graffiti culture, AWER leads aerosol art
workshops where he shares his knowledge, techniques, and the rich history of the graffiti
art subculture. Through these workshops, he inspires and empowers the next generation
of artists.