Conga Kids

Since 2016, Conga Kids has integrated social and emotional wellness into social dance and music instruction, reaching thousands of Kids throughout los angeles and orange county and creating a critical pathway to arts education and emotional well-being for historically underserved communities. In 2022-2023, we grew our in-school residency programs from 77 to 147 elementary schools and piloted a "discover the diaspora" assembly, a 60-minute interactive performance in over 50 school sites. Students learn social dances of the african diaspora, such as lamban, merengue, son cubano, salsa, authentic jazz, cumbia, and hip-hop. While celebrating the cultural and historical context of dance and music, we create healthy, transformative, and prosocial learning experiences that connect young people to self-confidence, collaboration, and community-building, all with the goal of empowering them.our "Conga Kids" are taught life lessons to aid their personal growth and development while building a foundation of leadership and confidence, boosting their overall academic achievement, social engagement and community, attendance, and college and workforce readiness. These invaluable life skills contribute to their immediate well-being and help them reach their full potential, attain their dreams, and create their vision of a promising future. Conga Kids estimated community student impact was 25,000 for the school year. The program participated in 11 school districts.