ABOUT US

Reclaiming & transforming spaces to provide women a platform to be heard, seen, respected, and celebrated

OUR STORY

an international tribe of girls and women supporting each other.

Since 2004, Ladies of Hip-Hop has been a driving force in the empowerment of girls & women in Hip-Hop. Beginning as a training ground for female Hip-Hop dancers, LOHH quickly grew from one day of dance workshops to a week-long international festival including female DJs, Mcees, graffiti & visual artists from around the world. LOHH has built an international tribe of girls and women supporting one another

20 YEARS OF MEMORIES & MAKING HERSTORY

MISSION

dedicated to empowering girls and women in Hip-Hop culture

Ladies of Hip Hop (LOHH) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls and women in Hip-Hop culture. A global organization rooted in New York City, LOHH reclaims and transforms spaces to provide all women a platform to be heard, seen, respected, and celebrated within the greater Hip-Hop and arts community. By providing resources and opportunities such as dance training, performance showcasing, mentorships, educational programs, career development support, and networking, we are building the next generation of hip-hop's changemakers.

We ​recognize Hip-Hop’s culture as one of resiliency and history...

— a culture worth preserving and archiving. That's why we seek to serve as a living archive of Hip-Hop through the female lens. By highlighting these stories, we hope to ensure that girls and women have an active role in defining the future of Hip-Hop culture.

MEET THE FOUNDER

Michele Byrd-McPhee

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & FOUNDER

A 2023 Bessie Award winner for Outstanding Service to the Field, Michele Byrd-Mcphee is a street dancer, an arts activist and tireless advocate for girls and women who works re-contextualize spaces and conversations about Hip-Hop culture along gender, sex, cultural, socio-historical and racial lines. Under her direction, LOHH cultivates dance environments that honor and acknowledge the roots of Hip-Hop and the many creative pioneers who have shaped them.

REACH OUT TO MICHELE

MEET THE TEAM

THE LADIES THAT MAKE LOHH possible

CHARLENE
‘CHI-CHI’ SMITH

ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

  • Chi-Chi” is a performance artist whose career covers commercials, television, film, Broadway and global stages. Dancer: LL Cool J, Salt n Pepa, Shakira, Missy Elliot, Diddy, Janelle Monae and more. Choreographer: National Commercials, MTV’s VMAs, “Mom Genes” PSA, off-Broadway theater productions, Bacardi Rum, and more. Best Mom to Best Kid Kane Emmanuel. Chi-Chi is starring in The Hippest Trip: Soul Train the Musical.

MARINA
POUDRET

PROGRAMS DIRECTOR

  • Marina is a NYC-based dancer and organizer. Introduced to the street/club dance community as a teen in the Bay Area, Marina remains an avid student of Hip-Hop, House, and afro-diasporic influenced choreography. She believes movement starts with feeling and connection. Marina currently dances with LOHH Dance Collective, Floor Seasons Crew, and BOLD Dance Company.

Kara Jenelle
‘KJ’  Wade

ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

  • KJ is a choreographer, spoken word artist and international arts educator residing bi-coastally between Los Angeles and Atlanta. She earned her MFA from UCLA’s Dept of World Arts & Cultures/Dance where her thesis, ÌYÁguration was selected for 6 national film festivals. KJ’s credits include: Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Daddy Yankee, Wiz Kid, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Jidenna, Nike, BET Awards, Latin Grammy’s & more.

Reyna
Núñez

ASSISTANT TO ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

  • A born and bred New Yorker, Reyna is a versatile movement artist. Reyna has performed with Janet Jackson, Lizzo, Louie Vega, and also appears as a featured dancer in the film "In the Heights”. Reyna is currently a dancer in LaTasha Barnes’ Jazz Continuum, as well as the Administrative Assistant for Michele Byrd-McPhee, Melanie George and LaTasha Barnes.

LADIES OF HIP HOP DANCE COLLECTIVE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • We have multiple ways you can be involved in Ladies of Hip Hop. You can train with us through our training programs, work with us for an upcoming performance or showcase, join us at our annual Ladies of Hip Hop festival and lots more! For more information reach out to us at info@ladiesofhiphop.com.

  • HELP FUND VITAL PROGRAMMING

    Join us on a transformative journey as we come together to address the unique challenges faced by girls and women around the world. At Ladies of Hip-Hop, our mission is to empower and uplift girls and women through Hip Hop culture. Together, we are committed to fostering safe and inclusive spaces where we can collaborate, innovate, and drive meaningful change.

    With your unwavering support, we can continue our essential work. Your contributions play a pivotal role in enabling us to provide crucial resources in the form of education, nutrition, and community support to those who need it most. It's through your generosity that we can make a tangible difference in the lives of girls and women, helping them achieve their full potential and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

    By donating to Ladies of Hip-Hop, you become a vital part of our mission. Your support not only helps us sustain our existing programs but also empowers us to expand our reach and impact. Together, we can be the catalyst for positive change, ensuring that girls and women everywhere have the opportunities and resources they deserve.

    Join us in this transformative journey, and let's continue to make a lasting impact on the lives of girls and women globally. Together, we can create a brighter and more equitable future for all.

    We can only continue our work with YOUR support! We need your help to provide education, nutrition, and community resources where they're needed most.

    DONATE HERE

  • To learn more about our annual Ladies of Hip Hop festival check our event page here!

  • TO SUBMIT: Complete the GOOGLE submission form here. All submissions must be made by April 1, 2024. Selected artists & companies will be notified by April 15, 2024.

    REQUIREMENTS

    CONTACT INFORMATION: name, address, country, phone, email. Name of the company and dancers performing.

    ​A WORK SAMPLE: Place a link to your work using Youtube or Vimeo only. Please DO NOT submit a video link to a Dropbox, iCloud or We Transfer. The video must be viewable online. The video can be made private just remember to send the password in the comments section.

    Must be a good quality video that will help us clearly understand your artistic vision and your ability to perform.

    ​You must submit a video of the piece being performed. The work can be a work in progress, however your submission must be a minimum of 1:00 minute in length.

    The final piece to perform must be at least 4:00 minutes in length/maximum of 6:00 minutes in length.

    Your entire company MUST be available for tech rehearsal on July 13, 2024 between the hours of 12-6 PM.

SNIPES X LOHH STUDIO

RENT STUDIO SPACE

Studio Rental Hours: 8am-12am ET, Daily

✓ 1,542 square feet
✓ vinyl floor
✓ bathrooms located on the same floor
✓ second floor studio with access via stairs

Rental fees per hour available upon inquiry

Rental Rates (rates as of October 1, 2023)
Independent Artist/Small Dance Company rates:

  • Rehearsals: $30/hr

  • Classes/Workshops/Filming: $50/hr

Non-Profit Institutional rate for all event types: $85/hr
Corporate rate for all event types: $125/hr
Private Events: $125/hr

Rental Rules

  • Rentals must be 2 hours or more.

  • Rentals must start and end at the hour (no 30min increments)

WEEKLY SESSIONS

Wednesdays 6-8:30pm: Breaking session, $5.
Sign up on Vers'd App.

LOHH x Snipes Studio Inquiry Form

Please fill out the following form to rent at the Ladies of Hip-Hop Studio. Typical response time is between 2-3 business days.