Each year the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach offers four free concerts as part of its Arts for Life Series. On Friday, December 8, one of Los Angeles’ treasures, Versa-Style Dance Company (VSDC), was the last company in 2023 to take part in this incredible program that “provides opportunities for everyone in the Carpenter Center area to enjoy access to enriching arts experiences.” Like all those groups that are chosen to participate in the Arts for Life Series, this Hip Hop/Street Dance company spent an entire week teaching young students who do not often (if ever) get to experience the Arts. The program focuses primarily on low-income or Title 1 schools that are part of a federal program. During their residency, the company taught classes at the California State University, Long Beach Department of Dance and presented an additional performance to over 800 school students who had taken their classes. Many of these students had never set foot in a theater – especially one as grand as the Carpenter Center.
Jackie “Miss Funk” and Leigh “Breeze Lee” Foaad in “Box of Hope” – Versa-Style Dance Company at The Wallis – Photo by Lawrence K. Ho.
The program was not just an evening of amazing work choreographed by co-directors Jackie Lopez-Foaad, aka Miss Funk and Leigh Foaad, aka Breeze Lee, it opened with the debut performance of Versa-Style Legacy, VSDC’s first ever secondary company. These were very talented dancers who had just graduated from the company’s program Versa-Style Next Generation. The performance was also VSDC’s end-of-year fundraising Gala.
Versa-Style Dance Company – Ernesto “Precise” Galarza – Photo by John Nyboer/Nyboer Photography.
The Artistic Director of Versa-Style Legacy is long time VSDC member Ernesto “Precise” Galarza and although not as technically polished, these young dancers in demonstrated the same enthusiasm and high energy performing the art form as those in the main company. The Carpenter Stage is very large and they covered it like true professionals. With time I am certain that several of them will move up into the first company.
The list of dancers in Versa-Style Legacy included: Aryeal “AryLOVE” Lands, Aubrey “Siga” Mamaid, Gabriel “Magk” Avalos, Leo “Inner-G” Flores, Liz “Essence” Altamirano, Luis “Marvelous” Maravilla, Milagritos “Floetic” Godina, Nick “Surge” Barrios, Tyrese “Taktic” Starling, and Zuleny Ordoñez.
Versa-Style Legacy – Photo by John Nyboer/Nyboer Photography.
VSDC’s Act I, ORIGINS of HIP HOP – “A joyful journey of the Black and Brown communities we come from and the art we create” (Jackie Lopez), opened with a gorgeous and sensual solo performed by the extraordinary dance artist Cynthia Hernandez. Over the years, I have watched Hernandez grow as an artist and on this night she appeared in peak form. The dance quickly opened up to include the entire cast who sailed through the ever-moving geometry that is the signature of the VSDC’s two founders.
Versa-Style Dance Company – Cynthia Hernandez – Photo by John Nyboer/Nyboer Photography.
The works by Jackie Lopez and Leigh Foaad have never been just a series of Hip Hop steps thrown together in order to dazzle. Both have training in other dance forms, and each has obviously paid attention to the choreography by some of the greats. While performing stunning Hip Hop and Street Dance movement phrases, the performers soared seamlessly through complex groupings and geometric formations. They navigated all this while performing Break Dancing, Locking and Popping, Funk, Liquid Dance, and Stepping throughout Act I and never once did I see anyone’s energy level wane.
Versa-Style Dance Company – Alli Gray – Photo by John Nyboer/Nyboer Photography.
Act II, FREEMIND FREESTYLE was an opportunity for each dancer to highlight their individual Hip Hop style and their wide-ranging improvisational skills. Included also were the many talents of Poet Kane Smego whose rapid fire words spoke to the injustices reigned down upon the Black, Brown and other “minority” communities throughout history and their determination to not be disappeared. While crystal clear, Smego’s words came at us like machine gun bullets. I cannot fathom how long he had to practice speaking that fast while giving each word its full meaning.
Versa-Style Dance Company – Kane Smego – Photo by John Nyboer/Nyboer Photography.
The entire performance was greatly enhanced by the talents of Lighting Designer/Technical Director Chris Hudacs.
Versa-Style Dance Company – Photo by John Nyboer/Nyboer Photography.
The entire cast of VSDC who entertained, awed, and inspired were Harry Weston, Alli Gray, Ernesto Galaraz, Brandon Juezan, Cynthia Hernandez, Michele Baer, Brianna Gray, and Ceanne Austin. Kudos and thank you to the woman who loves her artform, her community and shares that passion with everyone in the room, Jackie “Miss Funk” Lopez; and to the ever vibrant and fearless performer Leigh “Breez Lee” Foaad.
Versa-Style Dance Company – (L-R) Brianna Grey, Ernesto Galarza – Photo by John Nyboer/Nyboer Photography.
A special thank you to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center for sharing all the arts through their Arts for Life Series. Please visit their website to learn more.
For more information about Versa-Style Dance Company, please visit their website.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Versa-Style Dance Company – Harry Weston – Photo by John Nyboer/Nyboer Photography.
