VERSA-STYLE DANCE COMPANY AT FESTIVAL OF ARTS

In May of 2005, Jackie Lopez and Leigh Foaad co-created their first work together, debuting their brand new company, Versa-Style, at the world famous Los Angeles dance industry showcase, “Choreographer’s Carnival.” In the following years, they continued to showcase at prestigious hip-hop dance festivals such as The J.U.i.C.E. Hip Hop Dance Festival (2009, 2010, 2012 & 2014), San Francisco Hip-Hop Dance Festival (2009-2012), and internationally renowned hip- hop dance theater artist Rennie Harris’ Illadelph Legends Festival (2010). Also in 2010, the company performed its first full-length theater work, “Feel Our Rhythm,” at the intimate Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts in Los Angeles, achieving rave reviews from audiences, inducing an encore run later in the fall. In 2011, the company produced its second full-length work, “Positive Dose,” also premiering at the Rosenthal Theater.

The pipeline is a self- sufficient cycle of community endeavors that includes educational performances for public schools on the history of American street dance, low-cost weekly dance classes in the foundations of various street dance styles, community festivals centered around competition, as well as a larger festival that includes workshops and community hip-hop dance theater performances, and a junior company, Versa-Style Next Generation, that offers pre-professional opportunities to aspiring hip-hop dance professionals. This pipeline exemplifies the history and values of hip-hop dance culture and is pivotal for keeping the culture alive and preserved for younger generations.

For over 13 years now Versa-Style has promoted the empowerment, artistry, and value of hip- hop dance culture through full-length street dance theater productions, educational performances, and deeply rooted social justice work in the community of Los Angeles. Versa- Style will continue to uphold these values and thanks the creators of these powerful movements who continue to inspire us today.