Grantee Database
Versa-Style Dance Company
Grant Year
2024-25
Grant Program
Creative Youth Development
Award Amount
$16,203.00
Project Description
With support from the California Arts Council, Versa-Style Street Dance Company (VSDC) will provide high quality Hip Hop and street dance education to the Black and Brown youth of Los Angeles County (LAC) through our flagship youth program, Versa-Style Next Generation (VSNG). Students will engage in hands-on, culturally responsive arts learning in street dance styles coming from Black and Brown communities such as Hip Hop, popping, locking, house dance and whacking to develop the creativity, skills and knowledge necessary to become self-realized artists. The VSNG program provides a social-emotional creative experience in a safe and nurturing environment that fosters the creative abilities of the youth participants, utilizing the cultural assets of the local LAC community to reclaim the cultural practices of Hip Hop and street dance culture.
Organization Summary
VSDC supports 5,000 young, aspiring Hip Hop and Street Dance artists of color, as well as their families:
Versa Style Next Generation (VSNG): Since 2009, VSNG provides personalized instruction in Street Dance technique, history and creative industry knowledge for local young artists, ages 15-22. Participants receive consistent mentorship and train twice weekly at VSDC’s public Friday Night Dance Classes and a private weekly rehearsal. VSNG reflects our commitment to cultivating local talent from within and building futures grounded in movement, community, and care. During the 2024-25 programmatic year, 38 aspiring young artists gained new skills in Hip Hop and Street Dance and a greater understanding of career development opportunities in the creative industry.
Youth Education:We provide Street Dance instruction during and after school, while our collaboration with Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN) brings residencies to systems impacted youth across the county. VSDC teaching artists offer instruction in Hip Hop and Street Dance technique, history and community building. During the 2024-25 school year, these programs reached nine K-12 schools and three juvenile detention facilities.
Dance Companies: We operate two professional dance ensembles: the original Versa-Style Street Dance Company (VSDC) and Versa-Style Legacy, composed of VSNG graduates. While VSDC tours nationally with full-length productions, Versa-Style Legacy performs interactive educational shows across LA. In 2025, both companies presented 42 live performances to almost 10,300 audience members nationwide and reached more than 4,100 K-12 students through 11 educational school show performances.
Community Programs: VSDC holds community events for skill building and visibility. Friday Night Dance Classes have been held weekly since 2005. We also host Let the Music Move You events and our Anniversary Hip Hop Dance Festival. In 2025, VSDC’s 20 Year Anniversary Hip Hop Dance Festival attracted almost 1,000 community members through workshops, battles, and performances.
Organization
Versa-Style Dance Company
Address
7300 CASE AVE
SUN VALLEY
91352-5034
County
Los Angeles
Region
South – Los Angeles & Orange
Website
Congressional District
CA-29
State Assembly District
AD-43
State Senate District
SD-20
