Tracey Wong 黃麗塋 (she/her) is a queer Teochew-American interdisciplinary artist that lights up and inspires spaces through her art. She was born and raised on Duwamish Land/ Seattle, WA in the Beacon Hill neighborhood and she is the co-director and co-founder of Malicious Vixens, a dance crew and sisterhood of Asian American women that perform globally.

Tracey currently teaches Waacking/Whacking and Honey n Sensualitea at The Beacon: Massive Monkees Studio, a place she considers her home. She is also an Artist Mentor and Communications Manager at Totem Star, a community-based organization that centers and empowers youth voice through accessible music mentorship & programming.

In 2022, Tracey was deemed a legend in the Pacific Northwest kiki ballroom scene to honor her years of achievements and for creating memorable moments in ballroom. In 2017, Tracey was honored at Seattle House Dance Project in recognition for her community work, and in 2020 as a Seattle Dance Crush. Tracey currently is a part-time professor for Street and Club Dance at her alma mater, the University of Washington. She would not be here today without the support of her loved ones and elders that have paved the way.

Photography: Amy Piñon

Seattle-based artist Orbitron is a true icon in the world of street dance culture. With over 25 years of experience in Hip-Hop (Breaking) and House dancing, he has left an indelible mark on the global dance scene. As a contestant, judge, and teacher at major street dance events across the world, Orbitron has been a driving force in pushing the boundaries of dance.

Orbitron proudly represents the legendary Circle Of Fire Crew from Seattle, renowned for their groundbreaking fusion of House Dancing, Hip-Hop (Breaking), and Capoeira. Their innovative approach has redefined the dance landscape and inspired countless others.

Having taken his talents to over ten different countries, Orbitron not only shares his skills but also imparts a profound understanding of the culture. He is a mentor and personal coach, emphasizing the core values of Hip-Hop & House Foundation and the importance of musicality and originality.

Anna Banana Freeze (they/them) is a community-taught, Filipino immigrant dance and teaching artist living on Duwamish land. They are a member of the Massive Monkees crew as well as the creator of Mini BREAKS. Anna Banana Freeze loves sharing the moves and ideas they learn from hip-hop and breaking, passing along the connection, empowerment and community they experience to others.

“I began learning how to break in 1998 after I saw a girl dancing with the usual group of b-boys who practiced after school. I had always ignored the dancers who blocked the hallways until I saw Lotuz that day, confident and charismatic as she executed moves I suddenly found myself curious to try. Seeing her, I thought - maybe I can do that, too.

After 20+ years of training, competing, performing and teaching, I still find myself curious. I am no longer interested in proving myself relevant to male counterparts or supreme to other b-girls. Instead, I am now curious about reclaiming the freedom I had consistently felt in the first few years of my breaking journey. I feel I continue to dance because I yearn to once again be myself, to be embodied when I move, and to rebuild the audacity to express myself honestly and without restraint. I am curious and after so long, I am hopeful... hopeful to help create safer, supportive spaces for myself and for others - to exist as artists and humans.”

Chris Kaku is a Beacon Hill native that has been a student of the Electric Boogaloo’s style of popping for the last 23 years. He firmly believes in developing knowledge of history and culture along with technique and movement to provide students context and understanding.

Naj has been an active force in the Breaking scene for many years. She has won several first place solo Bgirl Battles including Smoked in Ohio, Bboy Hodown, Outbreak Canada, and Illin Empire LA. Her love for the impact of dance keeps her very involved in events and spaces that provide an uplifting environment for the community. She is the founder of Cypher Queenz, which offers monthly workshops for Bgirls to learn and session with the focus of elevating women in the Seattle and PDX Hip Hop Breaking scene. With over 10 years of experience teaching dance, she teaches a variety of classes around Seattle.

Janu (pronounced “yahh-nuu”) is a club dancer, and the Director of Hustle & Soul. He is an avid student first, which has led him to explore multiple styles over the past decade and has had the privilege to dance and study under numerous figures during that time, including Sekou Heru, Orb, and Moncel Durden. He placed Top 16 at VSDF for House in 2023, 3rd in the 2022 LA Hustle Congress Juniors division and took the grand prize at the 2018 Seatown Getdown Vol II Jack & Jill in Hustle.

For Janu, dance is not only healing. It is free-ing. It liberates the soul and connects it to something greater. One can live a thousand lifetimes on the dance floor… and find one’s self in the process time and time again.

Janu hopes to honor this ethos, his mentors and teachers through his work and by sharing tools and knowledge with others in the hope it will promote the joys of movement, playful creativity/curiosity, respect for African/Latin American, Queer and POC cultures and authentic engagement/contributions with street & club dance communities.

Dalila Gittens, also known as Spinderella, is a passionate roller dancer and skilled dance instructor, whose dance journey began amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Finding solace in roller dancing, they became a part of a supportive community of skaters, evolving their skills and love for movement. Their dedication led them to master intricate spins, graceful dips, and captivating choreography, blending tradition with innovation. In January 2023, they formalized their roller dance instruction at the prestigious Beacon dance studio, where they share their expertise and deep love for the art, weaving stories through every glide and turn. Dalila is thrilled to bring the joy of roller dance to the dance community, creating a rhythm that resonates with hearts and souls, one glide at a time.

Slava is a bboy/breaker who has been passionate about the dance since 2010. He first learned the dance in Calgary, Alberta under mentors like Rein, TKO, Gomo, and NoLove. In 2015 his journey took him to Vancouver, BC where he continued actively training and competing until moving to Seattle in 2021. In 2023 he participated in the Northwest Sweet 16, placed Top8 at Canadian Nationals, and Top64 at IBE.

For Slava, breaking is more than just a dance.

It's a lifestyle and culture that has given him an outlet, community, and purpose. Throughout the years this passion has motivated Slava to embrace an "Always a Student" mentality. He has been fortunate to learn from dancers such as Poe One, Mr. Wiggles, Bounce, and many more.

Today, he continues to dive ever deeper into the dance, repping Business as Usual and Top Rock Conspiracy crews.

Slava is eager to share his love and knowledge of the dance.

His personal goal is to equip students with the tools to train independently and sustainably.

Justice Beitzel is a life-long, self-taught dancer. Inspired by the culture of Hip Hop, she won her first break competition at the age of nine. In 1995, she began dancing, managing, and directing for Diversity Dance Workshop, a non-profit social-justice performing arts organization based out of Seattle. She spent the next five years touring the U.S and traveling abroad to launch similar dance workshops in Africa, Philippines, Germany, and Costa Rica. In 1999, Justice joined renowned choreographer Rennie Harris as a guest dancer in his show, “The Legends of Hip Hop.” In 2001, Justice served as the artistic director for Global Motion, a United Nations-sponsored dance program in Kosovo. Justice has worked with local artists such as, Afsaana Dance, Brownbox Theater, KT Niehoff/Lingo Dance, Karin Stevens Dance, and Lucia Near's Theatrical Wonders. She also models, acts, appears in print ads, on product labels, and in television commercials. She is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of ajusticenetwork and Artistic Director of Splinter Dance Company. When not working with her own non-profit company, you might find her mentoring youth, or teaching the Hip Hop Choreo Class on Monday nights at the The Beacon in downtown Seattle. To learn more about Justice, visit ajusticenetwork.org.

Maverick has been involved in the Seattle street dance community since he was 14 years old. He has over a decade of experience and he represents Bopping & Animation wherever he goes. He always gives massive credit to his teachers and the ones who paved the path before him (MegaMan, Boppin Andre, Heavy Hittaz crew, PopnTodd, David Castro, etc).

Mavericks mission is to bring more awareness around the Animation dance style in order to make the style more appreciated around the world.

Maverick believes that when your heart speaks to your mind, you can do whatever you want.

Lydia Smith, originally from Juneau, Alaska, graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage in Fall 2022 with a BA in Theatre, maintaining a 4.0 GPA while actively serving as the Choreographer and Artistic Director for UAA's Glee Club and participating in the Dance Club. She can often be spotted crocheting or singing. Or both. In May, she relocated to Seattle with her fiancé and assumed the role of Studio Manager for The Beacon, where she continues to bring her passion for the arts to life.

Hi my names Matteo,

I’m 18, was born and raised in Seattle and my interests/passions include Music, Fashion, Videography and Art. If you ever need anything while at The Beacon, feel free to ask!

Hello! I just really love that The Beacon is back and am happy to have been invited to share the community onto social media. I started dancing in 2020 during quarantine as it's something I always wanted to do. I started online and had plans to go to The Beacon, but it closed just then. Until The Beacon reopened, I explored all over Seattle participating in different dance styles and spaces. Each style and space had a story to tell; when The Beacon reopened, I am thankful to be an appreciated person to share it's story and community with everyone!

I enjoy dancing Waacking, House, and Hip-Hop and I love finding stories of history, culture, and of myself through it all. I mainly enjoy Wednesdays at The Beacon for House and Waacking, but you'll find me occasionally in other classes too! I have two beautiful kids I love caring for, and I have been employing my skills of 11 years of professional photography and 19 years of just being on social media to present the spirit and community that you can find around The Beacon. Through this, I still also grow my craft as an artist, and am thankful to use it to help others shine. Hope to see ya around!

*Tony is also the artist who shot and edited the photos you see on this site - make sure to look at his other work and book him for your next event!

Brysen Angeles is a proud parent of 3. With his baby mama Jasmine Umagat, they raise an accomplished music student, Matteo, and his young sisters Alyssa and Gabriela.

Brysen comes from a family of public service and involved community members. His Grandfather Mariano Angeles was a founder and active leader in various organizations within the Filipino community and in the International District neighborhood. His uncle Ranesto Angeles retired from City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods after serving for over 32 years assisting residents, neighborhood groups, business organizations, and human and health services providers.

Brysen got his independent and entrepreneurial spirit in his household growing up. His dancing gene comes from his mother Mariko who helps organize dance communities in Seattle, his belief to follow his heart and gut from his father Josello, and his competitive nature from his brother Adrian. His influences have allowed Brysen to follow his dreams and achieve what he feels are great life accomplishments.

Carrying on family legacy, Brysen is a founding member of world champion breaking crew, Massive Monkees which has been recognized by the City of Seattle with various honors for their accomplishments in competition and entertainment, and for their community outreach work in Seattle. These honors include the official proclamation of Massive Monkees Day and the City of Seattle Mayors Arts Award.

In 2006 Massive Monkees established an LLC for professional work. Since its incorporation Brysen has played an integral part in creating opportunities and managing the crew’s professional endeavors. These endeavors include working with the NBA, Nike, MTV, and choreographing a multi award winning music video for Seattle artist Macklemore.

Brysen is also the visionary and founder of The Beacon. A community space that helps empower teaching artists to provide arts-based programs where thousands of students participate annually to learn, evolve, create, express, and be a part of community.

Through his work with his some of his best friends and crew, Massive Monkees, Brysen has dedicated his life to Hip Hop Culture and its positive impact on communities around the world. As well as representing Massive Monkees, Brysen also proudly represents Soul Shifters Global Collective and Seattle’s legendary BOSS crew.

Hocine is a native of Nantes (France) with Tunisian roots. He embarked on his Breaking journey in 1997 under the mentorship of French Hip Hop trailblazers HB2, namely Yasmin and Aziz. He then co-founded KLP Krew alongside his brother and childhood companions. In 2008, he joined Massive Monkees, eventually relocating to Seattle in 2010. Since becoming part of the Massive Monkees crew, he has dedicated himself to teaching Breaking at The Beacon, battling, performing, and producing Massive Monkees Day since 2021.

In 2020, when The Beacon faced displacement from its previous location, Hocine fully invested himself towards its revival. Now that The Beacon is BACK, his commitment extends to fostering the growth of The Beacon community and ensuring its continued success!

Apart from his active involvement in the community and his career in Program Management within the Tech sector, Hocine, alongside his wife Lynda, is nurturing the growth of his two lively boys, Ilyas and Rayyan :)

Rodericko Francisco is the proud dad of 2 future soccer stars, Cash and Makena, and is the lucky husband to Courtney Francisco. Time with family is what he cherishes most, especially their annual family vacations to Hawaii and other beach destinations. He's been a member of the Massive Monkees since 1999 and an original member of BOSS, a South/Central Seattle B-boy crew that multiple Massive Monkees members originated from. Breaking, music, and sports were his passions growing up. He credits the shaping of his character and many life lessons learned to finding the passion for dance with guidance from mentors and places like Jefferson Community Center providing space for teens to practice, create bonds, and grow. Rodericko became a partner of The Beacon Studio because of his desire to give back and support the community that supported him and saved his life.

Outside of music, dance and sports, Rodericko has also developed a passion for all things real estate over the last 25+ years, working in Title Insurance, Lending, and as a licensed Real Estate Agent since 2003. He is currently a Managing Broker and Team Leader of Homes Empowered, a Real Estate group at Keller Williams Realty Bellevue that specializes in real estate planning and providing broker services to buyers, sellers, and investors. He owns and operates Empowered Homes Construction, LLC, a remodeling and construction company that manages rehab/remodel projects for buyers, sellers, and investor clients.

Through The Beacon Studio Programming, Rodericko intends to combine his passions for dance, music, sports, business, and real estate to EMPOWER his community, especially young artists from all walks of life, to be their truest and best selves. His message to The Beacon community is to never let go of your passions as they make it possible for you to do all things and they give you the stick-to-it-iveness and determination to break through the inevitable resistance and adversity we all come across.