Take your street dance technique and choreography to the next level
Build community and inspire social change through dance
The UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance’s Hip Hop/Street Dance Summer Institute is a seven-day program for students who love Hip Hop dance and want to take their technical abilities to the next level.
The program provides introductory level classes in Hip Hop and street dance technique, choreography and freestyle, and prepares students for a college-level dance learning environment. It is offered by The UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance (WACD), in partnership with UCLA Summer Sessions and Versa-Style: Performance • Education • Community (VS:PEC), an operating foundation dedicated to empowering young artists through Hip Hop and street dance learning.
The program is open to students who are high school sophomores and juniors at the time of the application. Offered by a combination of WACD’s acclaimed dance faculty and VS:PEC Teaching Artists, who are experienced, world-renowned professionals from the Los Angeles Hip Hop and street dance community, the curriculum at the Hip Hop/Street Dance Summer Institute includes daily technique classes ranging from forms such as Popping, Locking, Hip Hop and House, to classes dedicated to the origins of Hip Hop in West African and Latin dance. Further, students will study dance composition, a class where they will get the opportunity to create their own choreography, as well as a course dedicated to the art of freestyle. The program also offers a range of other classes in spoken word/poetry, Hip Hop history and college readiness.
After each day of dancing, training, sharing, and studying, the students return to their dorms and participate in fun and engaging evening activities hosted by Program Counselors who are all undergraduate UCLA Dance majors. This provides students with the opportunity to experience what it’s like to live in a college dormitory. At the end of the week, students will showcase what they learned in a one-hour community showcase. Open to parents and friends at no charge, this culmination celebration provides a chance for the students to share what they have learned during the seven-day program.
When determining admission, the committee evaluates students based on the following:
- Written responses to the application questions
- Overall effort put into the application process as a whole
- Level of experience and training as displayed in video submission
In addition to partnering in the program, Versa-Style: Performance • Education • Community offers a limited number of scholarships to students who demonstrate the following: a) significant financial need, b) residence in Los Angeles Supervisorial Districts 1, 2 or 3, and c) evidence of high quality Hip Hop and/or street dance training.
Hip Hop / Street Dance Summer Institute Program Overview
Students will participate in person at UCLA, experiencing all that our campus has to offer during their summer program.
For participants of the Hip Hop / Street Dance Summer Institute, living in on-campus housing is mandatory. The total cost for housing, which includes room, board (two meals per day), student supervision, and evening and weekend activities, is an additional $702.
For more information on UCLA housing precollege programs, please see the Housing for Minors page.
This program carries 2 quarter units of Pass/No Pass UC credit. Students will be officially enrolled into course number Dance 174A in UCLA’s Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance.
Students will be engaged in a learning process that assists them in taking their street dance technique and choreographic/freestyle abilities to the next level. They will not only be learning from and rehearsing with working professional dancers/artists, but they will be learning how to create their own work with new tools and approaches. We hope that this process helps students make valuable, substantial contributions to their various arts communities now and in the future.
CLASSES OFFERED: Latin Dance, West African Dance, Popping, Locking, Hip Hop Dance, House Dance, Composition and Freestyle
The Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance was created in 1995 by the merger of the World Arts and Cultures program and UCLA’s Dance Department, the first university-based dance department in the country. The department is home to a diverse faculty of artists and scholars, drawn from a range of disciplines, including anthropology, folklore, dance, theater and performance studies. The department’s lively interdisciplinary curriculum is unified around a set of shared concerns: the significance of cultural and aesthetic diversity, both locally and worldwide; the meaning of tradition in contemporary societies; and the changing roles and responsibilities of artists.
The Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance is an ideal environment for artists, scholars and activists interested in exploring the meaning of creative expression in the contemporary world and for dancers and choreographers seeking to expand and challenge the cultural, intellectual and political horizons of their own practice.
Eligibility
To apply for the Hip Hop / Street Dance Summer Institute, students must be:
- 15 years of age or older as of June 20, 2022
- Enrolled in grades 9 – 12 in Spring 2022
Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be considered and are encouraged to explore other summer opportunities.
Admission
The program has application requirements for admission. Eligible applicants who submit all requirements successfully and timely will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision shortly after the application deadline (May 6th). See Application Requirements below for more details. Early application is strongly encouraged.
*Please note, the program has an application deadline of May 6th.
Applicants are required to provide the following during the online registration process.
- Responses to the following essay prompts (each response should be 4-6 sentences):
- Describe your experience in Hip Hop and street dance. Please include the types of training, how long you’ve studied and where. What are some of your favorite street dance styles or forms, and why?
- Why do you want to participate in a Hip Hop and street dance program, and what do you want to get out of this experience?
- Do you have any other experience in the performing arts? For instance, spoken word, music or theater. If so, please explain.
- Describe your current extracurricular activities, community involvement, or service to the community.
- A letter of recommendation, preferably from a dance instructor.
- Video Audition: Please send us a short video clip of you dancing and/or performing Hip Hop. It could be a simple video of yourself dancing in a private space or a solo or small group piece on stage or at a competition. Just make sure you can be clearly seen up close from head to toe, especially if submitting group work. Solo footage is preferable. A YouTube or Vimeo link would be best, but Google Drive links are acceptable as well. If password protected, please provide. Also, please begin the video by introducing yourself with your name, age, fun fact and a short description of what we are about to see. Please note: Quality of videography/filming will not affect your application score. If you have any questions please email Assistant Director Ernesto Galarza at summerdance@arts.ucla.edu.
When determining admission, the committee evaluates students based on the following:
- Written responses to the application questions
- Level of experience and training as displayed in follow up video submissions
- Overall effort put into the application process as a whole
Clothes for Dance Class
You will be spending your days in dance classes and rehearsals, so you will want to wear clothes that you are comfortable moving in. Recommended dance attire includes sweatpants, shorts (appropriate length), t-shirts, and tank tops (appropriate length/cut). Please avoid heavy clothing such as jeans, which restrict movement and can also get hot very quickly. It is also a good idea to have a sweatshirt with you at all times since it may get cool in some of the studios/classrooms. Be sure to have a pair of comfortable shoes to move around in (regular sneakers or dance sneakers are fine, platforms, heels, and other shoes that of this nature that offer little support should be avoided). It is also recommended to bring an extra change of clothes with you to change in between classes, as classes will be physically taxing, and students will sweat. There will be no opportunities to return to the dorms during the day for a change of clothes.
Suggested Items to Bring
- Multiple face masks for casual use throughout the day in between classes (additional disposable face masks will be provided for use during dance classes if needed)
- Bathrobe, towel, washcloth, and toiletries
- A plastic caddy or Ziploc bag for carrying shampoo and soap
- Hangers (if desired)
- Flip-flops for the hallways and shower facilities
- Additional pillows or blankets (recommended) Sweater, sweatshirt or light jacket Any necessary medication (Participants are responsible for their own medication.)
Do NOT Forget to Bring
- Photo ID
- Lunch money for 5 days
Drinks and snacks are provided each day free of charge. Some students like to bring extra money for gifts or purchases at the UCLA store and at off-campus excursions. Contact Assistant Director, Ernesto Galarza (summerdance@arts.ucla.edu) if any money issues arise. NOTE: Please leave any expensive/valuable items at home, such as laptops, ipads, computers, cameras, electronics, etc.
Costumes for the Final Performance
- At least one cool color shirt: blue, green, or purple
- At least one warm color shirt: red, orange, or yellow
- White shirt NOTE: Shirts can be any casual style that is appropriate (long sleeve, short sleeve, or tank top).
- Please try to avoid shirts with excessive lettering or advertising (no logos). Bring plain solid colored t-shirts, if possible. No bare midriffs or low cut tops.
- Black pants/shorts/capris (to be worn throughout the show).
- Hip Hop Piece Costume: Any combination of shirts, jackets, vests, etc to be worn with your black bottoms that represents your personality and style
- One pair of black and/or white colored shoes (solid black, solid white, with minimal design/logos/colors, or shoes with both black and white)
NOTE: Make sure that you are able to dance comfortably in ALL of the items you bring
Please note, the Hip Hop/Street Dance Summer Institute has an application deadline of May 6th.
Applying for the Hip Hop/Street Dance Summer Institute can be done conveniently online with the following steps:
- Prepare all “Application Requirements” prior to starting the registration process.
- Access the Summer Institute Online Registration Form starting February 15 at 8am Pacific Standard Time (PST). Read all terms and conditions, then scroll to the bottom and select “Yes, Continue to Registration.”
- Provide responses to all required questions on both pages of the registration form and then “Submit”.
- Once your form is submitted, you will be directed to the Retrieve Registration page. Select “File Uploads” to upload application materials (see Application Requirements above for more information).
- Allow up to two weeks after the application deadline of May 6th for the program instructor(s) to review your application after submission. An email will be sent to you with the official decision.
- If accepted to the program, follow the steps in your acceptance email to make payment of the $350 non-refundable registration fee* to reserve your space in the program.
A space in the program is not reserved until a valid payment of the $350 non-refundable registration fee* is made. If you are not prepared to pay after submitting the registration form, you may retrieve your registration at another time to make payment; however, this risks losing a space in the program if it reaches capacity prior to payment being submitted. An email with instructions to retrieve registration with your five-digit registration number will be sent within an hour after submitting your registration.
*The registration fee is required for each program and is not refundable under any circumstances including, but not limited to, drop for non-payment and withdrawal, even if you withdraw from the program before it begins.
If the program is full, you will not be prompted to make payment. If the program offers a waitlist and your application is accepted from the waitlist, you will be notified by email with instructions for how to submit payment. Please note if the payment is not submitted within 24 hours of receiving the email, you will be moved to the end of the waitlist.
If registering after May 1, full payment of the program fee and non-refundable registration fee will be required to reserve your space in the program. Additional fees, such as the document fee and IEI fees, will be assessed after enrollment.
For questions and assistance, please contact us at info@summer.ucla.edu.
Qualified students attending grades 8th – 11th in Spring 2022 in the state of California may be eligible for Summer Scholars Support, a need- and merit-based scholarship offered by the UCLA Summer Sessions Office. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Precollege Summer Institute. Summer 2022 deadline to apply: April 1.
Program Dates: June 26, 2022 – July 2, 2022
Fees and Payment Info
The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. In addition to the program fee, students are assessed other campus and administrative fees during the summer. This is a summary of fees that commonly apply to the selected student type.
Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California. Visit the fees, payment, and financial aid section for important disclaimer, as well as more details on fees, payment instructions, and information on delinquency, refunds, and financial aid.
**MANDATORY HOUSING FEE** = $702
Students living in on-campus housing will be charged an additional housing fee.
| Program Fee | $1,560 |
| Registration Fee | $350 |
| IEI Fee | $61 |
| Document Fee (for first-time Summer Sessions students) | $50 |
Meet your instructors
Harry Weston
DirectorHarry “Fullout” Weston grew up in Santa Cruz, California, surrounded by West African dance and drumming, his first artistic inspiration. He fell in love with Hip Hop dance culture at age 15, changing his life and setting him on a path of creativity, community engagement, teaching, and mentorship. In 2008, he moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA and graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts Degree in World Arts and Cultures with a concentration in Dance, as well as a Minor in Civic Engagement. While at UCLA, he participated in a number of artistic and teaching endeavors, many of which he is still involved in today.
He was invited to dance professionally with the internationally renowned Hip Hop dance company, Versa-Style. He became a Teaching Artist for The Flourish Foundation and inherited and directed the after-school Hip Hop dance program at Abraham Lincoln High School in East LA. He also served as Head Counselor for the UCLA Dance/Performing Arts Summer Intensive each summer during his time at UCLA. Today, Harry tours as a Principal Dancer with Versa-Style, and also serves as the company’s Partnerships Manager. He continued to serve The Flourish Foundation as a Teaching Artist, Site Coordinator, and then Program Director until its rebranding as VS:P•E•C, for which he now serves as Program Supervisor. And he has Co-directed the UCLA Dance/Performing Arts Summer Intensive for the last three years, after transitioning from Head Counselor to Head of Scholarship Recruitment.
Now as Director of UCLA Hip Hop/Street Dance Summer Institute, he looks forward to continuing his passion for utilizing Hip Hop dance culture as a tool to empower the next generation of leaders throughout Los Angeles and beyond and is thankful for all the mentorship, guidance, community support, and opportunities that have led him to where he is today.
Ernesto Galarza
Assistant DirectorErnesto Galarza aka “Precise” was born and raised in Pacoima, California and first started dancing in the 6th grade during his after-school Hip Hop Dance class in 2004. Soon after, Ernesto was offered scholarships to take classes at the Jonette Swider Dance Center where he trained and learned about Hip Hop dance culture. In 2009, he was invited to be a part of the Versa-Style Next Generation program, and soon after, Ernesto was awarded a scholarship to attend the UCLA Dance Theater Summer Intensive in 2010. In 2011, he was accepted into the World Arts and Cultures/Dance Department at UCLA (as a first-generation college student) where he was able to continue his studies and pursue a career in dance.
In 2014 he ascended to the touring company, Versa-Style Dance Company, and has been a Principal Dancer ever since. He has taught after-school and in-school dance programs across Los Angeles for almost ten years, mentoring countless students in the process, and directed the Versa-Style Next Generation program for 5 years from which he came, working with the next generation of young Hip Hop dance artists.
During his college career, he was asked to be Counselor/Head Counselor for the UCLA Dance/Performing Arts Intensive for 3 years, then moved on to join faculty and be a teacher once graduating from UCLA in 2015, and now he will now move forward as the Assistant Director for the UCLA Hip Hop/Street Dance Summer Institute. Ernesto has also toured nationally and internationally as a Hip Hop/Street dance competitor, teacher, and performer to places such as Germany, Paris, Italy, Canada, Netherlands, Alaska, Scotland, El Salvador, Mexico, and more.
Jackie Lopez
Supervisor/FacultyJackie Lopez aka “Miss Funk” is a first-generation Los Angeles native. She was the first in her family to graduate high school, continue her education in Los Angeles Valley College, transfer to UCLA, and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2004 from the Department of World Arts and Cultures, with a concentration in Dance. For the last 22 years, Jackie has been working as a professional dancer, choreographer, teaching artist, and cultural educator who has worked with students and artists of all ages from LA, NYC, Philly, Utah, Chicago, and internationally in places such as Israel, United Kingdom, France, Columbia, and India.
She currently is a Lecturer at UCLA’s Dept. of World Arts and Cultures/Dance, teaching and building the Hip Hop dance curriculum, and is the Supervisor of the UCLA Hip Hop/Street Dance Summer Institute. She has also been a guest choreographer in several prestigious schools such as Columbia College in Chicago, University of Utah Dance Program, Santa Monica College’s “Synapse Dance Company” and Los Angeles Valley College’s “Dance Production.” Jackie was also a Cultural Ambassador for the United States, touring, teaching, and choreographing in Tel Aviv, Israel, for the Bridge: Choreographic Dialogues Program at the infamous Suzanne Dellal Center, which creates links between Israeli and American dance communities.
In addition, Jackie is also the Co-Founder & Co-Artistic Director of Versa-Style Dance Company, a certified 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 2005. Versa-Style is a dance ensemble that consists of young, committed, and conscientious Hip Hop artists representing the diversity and beautiful complexity of Los Angeles.
Lastly, Jackie served the organization formerly known as The Flourish Foundation since 2006, first as a Program Director and soon after flourishing as Executive Director. Today, under the guidance of Jackie, The Flourish Foundation has been re-branded as Versa-Style: Performance • Education • Community, where Jackie serves as Executive Director. Jackie is inspired to keep VS: P•E•C’s mission alive by using her upbringing in LAUSD, her background in arts education, and passion for youth and the arts.
Leigh Foaad
Advisor/FacultyLeigh Foaad aka “Breeze-Lee” was born in New Orleans, and at the age of 3 months he moved to Los Angeles with his parents. Leigh has been exposed to dance since the very beginning, leading to a wide variety of styles from classical ballet to street dance vernacular social dances. More specifically, Leigh found a love for a street dance style called “Popping” in the year 2002 & since then has competed in some of the most prestigious competitions on a national level and worldwide scale, gaining respectful worldwide recognition as a dancer, teacher, and artist.
Leigh has been training and working professionally as a Principal Dancer for Rennie Harris “Puremovement” (RHPM) since 2005. One of Leigh’s proudest moments with RHPM was in March 2012, when he was selected as a Cultural Ambassador for The Obama Administration, BAM, and DanceMotion USA, providing services in the Middle East; Egypt, Israel & Palestine. In addition, Leigh is the Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Versa-Style Dance Company (certified 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization) and has directed numerous productions that have toured nationally and internationally. One of Leigh’s favorite tours was with the Anchorage Concert Association, touring a 3-week -5 city tour with the company throughout Alaska where he had the opportunity to teach Master classes and also perform Versa-Style’s production “Box of Hope”.
Most recently, Leigh is proud to join as the Artistic Director of Versa-Style: Performance • Education • Community. As a leader and member of VS: P•E•C he is determined to express and share the knowledge & importance of Hip Hop culture, while providing high-level artistry through the Versa-Style Hip Hop/Street Dance Curriculum. Lastly, he currently is a Lecturer at UCLA’s Dept. of World Arts and Cultures/Dance teaching Hip Hop dance. Leigh takes pride in teaching the history and culture of Hip Hop.
Cynthia Hernandez
Admissions CoordinatorBorn and raised in Pacoima, California, Cynthia Hernandez aka “C-Soul” first exposure to dance was in the living room of her home, where her mother taught her Cumbia and Merengue. These living room lessons led Cynthia to discover her love for music and dance. In 2006, she met Jackie Lopez and Leigh Foaad and has been training in Hip Hop dance and other street dance styles ever since. In 2009, Cynthia was invited to join the first iteration of Versa-Style Next Generation, and in 2014, she was promoted to Principal Dancer in Versa-Style Dance Company with whom she has toured and performed over several years.
Cynthia graduated from Cal State University, Northridge with a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health. Now, as the Educational Programs Coordinator for VS:P•E•C, her work consists of exposing Los Angeles youth to Hip Hop dance culture, assessing the needs of the communities in which she works, and identifying students with the potential to flourish in the VS:P•E•C pipeline. As a Hip Hop practitioner, Cynthia is committed to using her knowledge and love for Hip Hop to help build the next generation of leaders, activists, dancers, and Hip-Hop practitioners.
Aubrey Mamaid
Head Program CounselorAubrey Mamaid aka “Siga” is a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines. She is currently a fourth-year UCLA student double majoring in Dance and Asian American Studies with a minor in Public Affairs. She is involved with VS:PEC as a teaching artist and mentor. She is currently also a member of Versa-Style Next Generation, where she serves as the program’s Co-Captain. Aubrey participated in the UCLA Dance/Performing Arts Summer Institute in 2016 and later on served as a Program Counselor in 2018 and 2019.
Leo Flores
Head Program CounselorLeonardo Flores aka “Poppin Leo” is a Los Angeles native born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He is currently in his third year of studies at UCLA, double majoring in Dance and History. He is a teaching artist with VS:P•E•C, working with students ranging from elementary, middle, and high school, as well as working with incarcerated youth in Los Angeles. He has been a member of Versa Style Next Generation for four years and currently functions as the Co-Captain. Leo participated in the UCLA Dance/Performing Arts Summer Institute in 2016, and then later went on to serve as a program counselor in 2019.
Hip Hop / Street Dance Summer Institute FAQ
Students will receive a Pass/No Pass (P/NP) upon completion. To receive a “Pass” notation, students must earn a letter grade of C or better. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.
Still have questions? Check out the general Summer Institutes FAQ.