Jazmin Conley, an Afro-Latina girl shed tears and her classmate Hasmik, of Armenian origin, rubbed her head, in shock because her team from Pinewood Avenue Elementary School, in the Tujunga/Sunland area, in the San Fernando Valley, won first place in the Conga Youth Children’s Dance Championship.
“I didn’t expect it,” said fifth grader Hasmik, surprised and overjoyed.
“I’m happy! I did believe we would win!” commented Jazmín. “It was spectacular!”
They and the other members of the 10-piece team showed joy, rhythm, cadence and a lot of flavor when dancing: Cumbia (Mexico), Salsa (Cuba/Colombia), Charleston (United States/South Carolina), Hip Hop (United States/New York Bronx) and Bollywood (India), on the dance stage of The Novo at LA Live, a space for emerging musical artists and cultural performances.
Although they shined in each of the different types of dance, it was their presentation of “Cali Pachanguero”, a salsa song performed by Colombia’s Grupo Niche and written by the group’s founder, Jairo Varela, that stole the applause.
“The children deserve the victory,” said “Omit G.,” as teacher Giulia Mancini is known. “For 20 weeks they rehearsed the dance steps and, honestly, they put in all their effort.”
The Pinewood team bested approximately 9,000 fifth graders from more than 90 schools throughout Los Angeles County and Orange County. Only 200 made it to the final competition
This year, Conga Youth, a nonprofit organization that was founded by Brad Gluckstein, celebrated its 10th anniversary. Through the Conga Youth program, students are taught to develop social and emotional skills through dance.
“We have in-school and extracurricular programs,” said Barbara Vera, executive director of Conga Youth.
“Through dances, they have connected with themselves; they have learned tools such as respect, leadership and self-esteem that dance brings them,” Vera said. “They are tools that they can use for their health and mental well-being, and also inside and outside of school. They are things that help them feel better.”
During the competition, the skill and “sensuality” in the movements of the Anglo, Asian, Afro-Latin and Hispanic dancers could be appreciated, who are interconnected in their respective schools, knowing that Los Angeles is a multicultural mosaic from all over the world.
The second place trophy was awarded to Community Magnet in Los Angeles and Los Altos Elementary School in Hacienda Heights received the honor of being recognized as third place. Fourth place went to Janson Elementary of Rosemead and Grazide Elementary in Hacienda Heights won fifth place.
“Dance and culture bring children closer to connecting and building better relationships with each other,” Vera added. “In schools we have Hula (Hawaiian dance), folk dances from Mexico and the Philippines. We now have a new flower dance from Vietnam. During the process, the students not only learned the dance styles, but also got closer to the history and culture behind each of them.”
The students’ skills were scored by judges Ali Lyle, dance teacher, choreographer and performer; Izty Martínez, Mexican who has a solid career and experience in different styles, such as jazz, contemporary dance, salsa, hip-hop and acrobatics.
Additionally, Jason Gonzalez, a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, who has not only danced for various local Philadelphia companies, went on to work as a choreographer for the NFL Eagles cheer team.
Other judges were Gabriela Bonet, actress, dancer and singer, born and raised in Puerto Rico. ; Chelsea Vick, a teacher and choreographer based in Los Angeles, and Fayad García, an experienced dancer and instructor who specialized in salsa under the tutelage of Liza Nunciella
They will dance during the 2028 Olympics
Brad Gluckstein, founder of Conga Youth, highlighted that, throughout the 10 years of the contest, he never imagined that it would grow to the magnitude of the competition it has today.
“We now have over 60,000 students participating in the programs,” he said. “It’s incredible!”
The Conga Youth school program offers social dance classes based on the so-called CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning) framework, through which socio-emotional well-being is promoted through dance and music, with lessons adapted to each school level, from pre-kindergarten and first to fifth grade of primary school.
Gluckstein, a community-minded entrepreneur, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, founder and majority owner of The Conga Room, announced that the children who competed will participate in different events during the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is essential for education and human development. SEL is the process through which all youth and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to develop healthy identities, manage their emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and demonstrate empathy toward others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.
SEL promotes educational equity and excellence through authentic school, family, and community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that are characterized by trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing assessment.
Tribute to educational visionaries
Physician James Morris of the Inglewood Unified School District was awarded Conga Youth Dance Championship Visionary.
“When I got involved in the Conga Youth program, many visionaries and I saw the impact of the programs they carry out; and we try to do everything that is beneficial for children,” he told La Opinión.
“That’s kind of our motto; that’s our classic criteria: Is it good for the kids? Then we’ll do it. And we saw the work that Conga Youth was doing, and we looked at the way students respond to education and challenge and inspiration. And we said, ‘We have to offer this to all of our kids in the district.’
Dr. Morris emphasized that when students learn the concepts of reflection, dance, community, collaboration, relationships, empathy, awareness, social skills and decision making they really get it all through fun.
“They have fun and enjoy it to the fullest, because under normal circumstances, they would never dare to get up and dance in front of other people, and yet, they danced and they did it with all their heart. They thoroughly enjoyed what they do.”
Also recognized as a visionary was Dr. Yadira Moreno, assistant superintendent of the Anaheim Elementary School District.
“The beautiful thing about Conga Youth is that it teaches cultural dances to all the children,” he said. “There is an ability to connect with other cultures through dance, and that is important, especially now, because our schools are diverse, it is California, we have children from all over the world. That is the beauty of Anaheim and the beauty of California and Los Angeles.”
Dr. Moreno recognized that different types of dance, different ways of knowing and being able to be proud of where they are from or respect other cultures are what children value.
“With that the confidence of all our children grows,” he said.
