But what’s weird is that dance, in this year’s festival, is on the verge of being overshadowed by other art forms. Tonight’s big kickoff event, “Simply Marvin: Live at the Sugar Shack,” held at the Warner Theatre, is a tribute to soul musician Marvin Gaye and his contributions to hip-hop music, and features two serious out-of-town musicians, as well as a handful of local dance groups. On Saturday, the festival—which goes all weekend, and is free to the public—moves to the Atlas Performing Arts Center for a series of free workshops, including a tutorial on DJing, and ends that night with a screening of the seminal movie Style Wars, which documents the rise of hip-hop culture in New York City.

It’s particularly odd given the fact that the much acclaimed and very popular Hip Hop Theater Festival—which strives to highlight the variety of disciplines that exist under the broad banner of hip hop—wrapped up last weekend. This city’s got a pretty strong hip-hop dance scene, so why include all the other stuff in what’s supposed to be a D.C.-specific festival?

But never mind. Look closely and there’s several ways to see serious dancing this weekend. The most interesting-sounding one is "Downtown Battleground," which takes place Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on F Street NW between 7th and 9th streets. There’s music by Doug E. Fresh, EU, and Mambo Sauce, and dancing from Urban Artistry, Future Shock, and Da Originalz. If it doesn’t rain, there should be a lot to take in.

Afterwards, head over to Eighteenth Street Lounge, where longtime house DJ Sam "The Man" Burns spins tunes till 2 a.m., or check out "Community Service" at Patty Boom Boom. They aren’t part of the festival, but those are some of the best places in town to see serious hip-hop dancers in informal settings and learn about what hip-hop dance is really about right now.

MUSIC

The Hip-Hop Theater Festival continues with the 6th Annual J. Dilla Tribute and Fundraiser at the 9:30 Club. Since producer J. Dilla died of a rare blood disease in 2006, Jon Laine and The Players have been carrying the torch by reproducing his tracks live. Tonight, the band is joined by The Pharcyde, Gods'Illa, Wes Felton, Maimouna Youssef (after she wraps up her performance at the Kennedy Center), and many others, in a tribute to the artist and a fundraiser for the J. Dilla and Lupus foundations. The promoters advise guests to arrive early. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. $20.

Fiery Furnaces guitarist Eleanor Friedberger shows up at the Black Cat Backstage to play some songs from her solo album Last Summer. Romania (Roman from The Oranges Band) opens. Doors 8:30 p.m. $10.

Soundgarden recently released a (live) album (recorded in 1996), reunited, and booked a tour. Now that Chris Cornell is trying to forget his terrible Timbaland-produced solo album, he's forcing us to remember the '90s. The Mars Volta opens. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Tickets still available at $59.50 plus the usual fees.

Jen Shyu, Violet, and Safe Fast and Effective play Bella Cafe as part of the Dave Mann/Sonic Circuits-curated concert series at the restaurant. 8 p.m. $5.

The U Street Music Hall hosts a tribute to Kristen Bell (Kristen Renee Wolcott Bell), a local woman who was tragically killed in a motorcycle crash on the Capital Beltway June 8. DJs Gavin Holland, Jackie O, Keenan, The Nobis, and a bunch of others will DJ and play live to raise proceeds for a trust fund set up for Bell's two-year-old son Conan. 8 p.m. $5 minimum donation.

DANCE

The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet's master class ends at noon today, but you can still catch their performance at Wolf Trap's Filene Center tonight at 8:30 p.m. The company is presenting a Wolf Trap commission by contemporary choreographer Jorma Elo. 8:30 p.m. $4 lawn tickets, $40 in-house.

BOOKS

Musician and jazz historian Ricky Riccardi stops by Politics & Prose to talk about What A Wonderful World, his book about the latter career of Louis Armstrong. 7 p.m. Free.

THE ONLY PLACE YOU WILL HEAR ERIK WØLLO TONIGHT

Washington Post music critic (disclosure: my former colleague) Chris Richards DJs his monthly new age night, Glide, at Café Saint-Ex tonight. It's the best place in this town to hear tranquil hums, warm synth waves, and other pleasing sounds of the universe while cramming sweet potato fries into your face. 9 p.m. Free.

Lupe Fiasco has just been added to the line-up of D.C.'s Hip-Hop Theater Festival, as part of the Voices Remix event on July 7.  Phife from A Tribe Called Quest will be in town, too, to participate in the J. Dilla tribute/fundraiser on July 8. Note to event organizers: keep them away from each other.

The festival runs July 6-11. Check out the complete schedule of events after the jump.

All events are free and open to the public.

MONDAY, JULY 6

AM Radio Live Art & Performance, in association with ART UNPLUGGED

The Library Saloon, 3514 12th Street, NE, 7 p.m.

Art Unplugged features the visual artists team AM Radio. The creative collective is made up of Aniekan, PJ Herring, Wes Clark, Jamaul Smith, Perry Sweeper, Tyler Luck, BUCK! and DJ Two-Tone Jones. The artists and DJ work in collaboration to create painted 7'x5' compositions in front of a live audience. Using the environment and the African aesthetic as inspiration, AM Radio breaks canvas and concepts down to
their root.

HHTF Opening Night Party, in association with Lil Soso Productions

Marvin, 2007 14th Street, NW, 9 p.m.

Join us for "The Main Ingredient" and share in a global Hip-Hop experience that includes music from DC to West London. Featuring resident DJs, Jahsonic and DJ Stylus of The Soul Controllers, with special guests from the London?based collective Uprock Recordings.

TUESDAY, JULY 7

Youth Panel: Parallels between Graffiti Art and Fine Art

Ballou Senior High School, 3401 4th Street, SE, 12 p.m.

What was considered radical art at the turn of the 20th Century today is now hanging proudly across the worlds finest contemporary art museums. Where does that leave Graffiti Art, arguably one of the most influential and popular visual art forms from the last quarter century and of the new millennium? This panel will engage youth and pioneers alike on the subject.

Voices Remix:A People's History of the United States

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Terrace Theater, 2700 F Street, NW, 6 p.m.

Narrated by Dave Zirin and featuring Lupe Fiasco, Michael Ealy, Walter Moseley, Stacyann Chin, Reggie Cabico, Elizabeth Acevedo, W. Ellington Felton and other special guests. Music by DJ Earth 1ne

The Voices Remix: A People's History of the United States (National Project of Howard Zinn) is a unique collaboration set to ignite and honor the activists, dissenters and progressives from America's vibrant history as read by today's hottest talent. Fashioned as a night of theater, it will fuse multi-generational artists and performers to celebrate the courageous agents of change who gave birth to the most powerful generation yet. Seating limited. First come, first served.

Voices Post-Show Reception

Eye Bar, 1716 Eye Street, NW, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8

Panel Discussion: A Conversation on the Power of Hip-Hop Arts and Culture
to Create Change

Flashpoint Mead Theater Lab, 916 G Street, NW, 12 p.m.

This conversation will address how hip-hop arts and culture can be a primary vehicle used to build communities and create social change. It will explore the amazing organizing power of community arts by looking at the existing efforts and organizations within the cultural and social justice movements that are building on these ideas. Additionally it will touch on how hip-hop arts and culture might be used by the Obama administration as a tool for national change.

Teacher Training: Shakespeare Metes the Beat

American Poetry Museum, 1922 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE, 4:30 p.m.

As an educational component to the 2009 DC Hip-Hop Theater Festival, Joy Jones will provide arts-in-education training for District of Columbia teachers with techniques and dynamic activities to enliven and supplement language arts and theatre education through exploration of the exciting similarities between the poetry of William Shakespeare
and Hip-Hop music.

Film Screening: HOMEGROWN: HipLife in Ghana, by Eli Jacob Fantauzzi

Studio Theater, 1501 14th Street, NW, 9 p.m.

HOMEGROWN is a documentary about VIP (Vision in Progress), the most popular HipLife music group in Ghana. The film chronicles their journey from the ghettos of ACCRA to their first international tour.

3rd Annual J. Dilla Tribute Concert & Fundraiser

LIV/Bohemian Caverns, 2001 11th Street, NW, 10 p.m.

Hosted by Phife (ATCQ) and Grap Luva and featuring Ma Dukes Yancey, Wayna, Kev Brown, Kaimbr, Oddissee + Diamond District, Ardamus, Roddy Rod, Alison Carney, Phil Ade and more. Music by J. Laine and the
Players. Suggested Donation at the door.

THURSDAY, JULY 9

Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth, Written and Directed by Psalmayene 24
An Imagination Stage Production

THE ARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Avenue, SE, 7 p.m.

Set in our Nation's Capital, Zomo is a contemporary, high-energy take on an African tale. Zomo the Rabbit calls the Sky God (on his cell phone) requesting the ultimate prize of wisdom. The Sky God gives him three tasks and Zomo succeeds in trickster fashion, but it's only by sharing the prize that he invents Hip-Hop, leading all the characters to celebrate their culture together. Enjoyed by Ages 4+.  NOTE: For Thursday, July 9 performance, HHTF Shuttle Van running from Southern Avenue, Green Line Stop from 6 p.m.-7 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 10

Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth: special youth matinee

THE ARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Avenue, SE, 3 p.m.

Freshest of All Time

St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 1525 Newton Street, NW, 6 p.m.

Last year's Freshest of All Time attracted over 600 spectators and more than 25 breakdancing crews from across the globe. Building on the momentum created by last years' event, Freshest of All Time 2009 will bring together the b-boy/b-girl community, youth, families, and anyone interested in seeing one of the best battles of the year together under one roof. Registration for the battle will begin at 3 p.m. and closes at 6 p.m. A film screening of Beat Street will begin at 6 p.m. Battle will begin at 8 p.m. sharp. For more information, call 202-667-1192.

Nita Liem's Dance Party

Dance Place, 3225 8th Street, NE, 9 p.m.

Featuring Don't Hit Mama, Holly Bass, Step Afrika, Brandon Barnette, Meghan Bowden, Olivia Crosby (Culture Shock), Simone Jacobson, Shae Lim and many more. Curated by Holly Bass. Music by DJ RBI. Support for Nita Liem was made possible by the Dutch Consulate.

What happens when you mash-up a great dance theater venue like Dance Place and eliminate the barriers between performer and audience? You get Nita Liem's Dance Party. Featuring some of DC's hottest local dance talent, Dance Place will be transformed for two nights into the ultimate jack your body experience. Don't miss this unique, unprecedented site-specific performance.

SATURDAY, JULY 11

Step Into a World Open House

Benning Park Recreation Center :: 5100 53rd Street, SE, 12 p.m.

Each year this event welcomes families, community leaders, local artists, and young people out east of the river to enjoy some of the art and music created by the students of the DC Urban Arts Academy. This year, Words Beats & Life is inviting several local organizations, community groups, and programs to come showcase their programs. Throughout the day there will be interactive workshops in arts and crafts, Hip-Hop history, chess, a b-boy/b-girl exhibition, an interactive student art exhibition and performances, all for ages 6 and up. For more information, call 202-667-1192. All ages welcome.

Closing Night Performance: Nita Liem's Dance Party

Dance Place, 3225 8th Street, NE, 9 p.m.

Featuring Don't Hit Mama, Holly Bass, Step Afrika, Brandon Barnette, Meghan Bowden, Olivia Crosby (Culture Shock), Simone Jacobson, Shae Lim and many more. Curated by Holly Bass. Music by DJ RBI.

Closing Night Party: Shake What Your Mama Gave You with DJ Rich Medina and special surprise guests!

Warehouse, 411 New York Avenue, NE, 10 p.m.- 3 a.m.