Transforming Lives Through Dance and Music
Since 2016, Conga Kids has been at the forefront of integrating social and emotional wellness with inclusivity through the vibrant mediums of social dance and music. This innovative program has reached thousands of students and families across Los Angeles and Orange County, creating essential pathways to arts education and emotional well-being for historically underserved communities.
In the 2022-2023 school year, Conga Kids expanded its in-school social-dance Residency Programs from 77 to over 140 elementary schools. The introduction of the "Discover the Diaspora" Assembly, a 60-minute interactive performance, has engaged students in over 50 school sites. Participants learn various Social Dances of the African Diaspora, including Lamban, Merengue, Son Cubano, Salsa, Authentic Jazz, Cumbia, and Hip-Hop. This celebration of cultural and historical contexts fosters healthy, transformative, and prosocial learning experiences, empowering young people with self-confidence, collaboration, and community-building skills.
As Conga Kids anticipates dancing in-person with over 60,000 children in 2024-2025, the program continues to evolve with new initiatives like "Bridge the Generations" and the Afterschool Social and Partner Dance & Music Programs, alongside expanded summer programming in collaboration with the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles.