Meet Our Team
Michele Byrd-Mcphee, Executive Director
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Despite her impressive accomplishments, Michele never formally studied dance, preferring instead to forge her own path. Michele, originally a Philadelphia native, moved to New Jersey at the age of four. It was in New Jersey that Michele began her “dance training,” consisting of careful attention to episodes of the 1980’s television series “Fame,” mixed with occasional classes here and there. Michele continued to dance throughout her childhood and by her high school years was part of every high school dance performance possible. Growing up during the emergence of the Hip-Hop culture; Michele embraced “street dance” and began dancing with local “club” and “house” dancers in area nightclubs.
Being one of the few women dancing alongside groups of men, she became increasingly aware of the narrow opportunities for women in Hip-Hop. Her experiences as a woman in Hip-Hop dance were the catalyst for her to create an outlet for female dancers. Michele created a safe space, a neutral zone where the art does not get lost or stifled because of complexities of male/female relationships. Spaces where it is ok to be women as you define it, not as defined by others. Her work celebrates womanhood... embraces being a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend, as well as an artist and how all the things intersect. Despite her impressive accomplishments, Michele never formally studied dance, preferring instead to forge her own path. Michele, originally a Philadelphia native, moved to New Jersey at the age of four. It was in New Jersey that Michele began her “dance training,” consisting of careful attention to episodes of the 1980’s television series “Fame,” mixed with occasional classes here and there. Michele continued to dance throughout her childhood and by her high school years was part of every high school dance performance possible. Growing up during the emergence of the Hip-Hop culture; Michele embraced “street dance” and began dancing with local “club” and “house” dancers in area nightclubs. Being one of the few women dancing alongside groups of men, she became increasingly aware of the narrow opportunities for women in Hip-Hop. Her experiences as a woman in Hip-Hop dance were the catalyst for her to create an outlet for female dancers. Michele created a safe space, a neutral zone where the art does not get lost or stifled because of complexities of male/female relationships. Spaces where it is ok to be women as you define it, not as defined by others. Her work celebrates womanhood... embraces being a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend, as well as an artist and how all the things intersect. Michele is approaching the 16-years self-producing and presenting Ladies of Hip-Hop. It is now in (3) cities across the globe and growing. LOHH Los Angeles, LOHH Toronto and the week-long festival in New York City. LOHH LA and LOHH TO are both done in partnership with other female organizers. Michele earned her BS from Temple University & an MS in Nonprofit Arts Management from Drexel University. Michele has also spent the last 10-years working in production working as a production coordinator at Brooklyn Academy of Music and then as a Senior Music Coordinator at Late Night with Seth Meyers. Michele currently serves as the Program Director for It's Showtime NYC; along with her ongoing commitment as Executive Director at Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival. |
PROGRAMING TEAM
Marina Poudret, Programing Director
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Marina is a philanthropic strategy consultant, supporting philanthropic organizations with program development and partnership building. Her experience includes supporting the design of a corporate foundation’s investment strategy to address socio-economic inequality in six U.S. cities and building a multi-stakeholder partnership to drive women’s economic empowerment. Marina is also an active dancer in the New York City Hip-Hop community, dancing for the past six years.
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