For Immediate Release
Media Contact: John Cain
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
707.800.7513
Spanish below
Santa Rosa, Calif. October 20, 2022 – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) announced it will host a free community dialogue, featuring members of the Versa-Style Dance Company, to explore how the dance and culture of Hip Hop are infused in local historical, social, and political issues, November 9, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, in the Lytton Rancheria Grand Lobby in Santa Rosa. Students, teachers, and community members are invited to participate in a panel discussion, break-out table talks, and a Q&A session with members of the dance company, who are in town for a performance on the LBC stage the following evening.
This is the second community dialogue that LBC is hosting this year in its effort to provide welcoming opportunities to hear diverse voices from the North Bay. In April, 50 community members joined LBC’s Latino Advisory Council and musicians with Las Cafeteras, a socially conscious band from East Los Angeles, in a discussion on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cultural fabric of Sonoma County. To register for the community dialogue with Versa-Style Dance Company, visit lutherburbankcenter.org/event/versa-style-dance-community-dialogue.
“As artists, we strive to share the impact that hip hop can have with students in their own communities, how it breaks through color lines by bringing diverse people together,” said Brandon Juezan-Williams, Performance Artist and Educator, and Director of Touring and Events for Versa-Style Dance Company. “A lot of the time, we rely on the practice of art to communicate the message, yet it can be even more powerful if the artists themselves tell their stories in a way that connects directly to people.”
“As Sonoma County’s gathering place for the arts, we have a responsibility to explore the potential for how the arts can connect a community and be an equalizing force for all who live here,” said President and CEO Rick Nowlin.
In addition to the community dialogue and stage performance, which includes a post-show discussion, Versa-Style Dance Company also will perform an afternoon school show and offer a student dance clinic and a teachers’ exchange.
To purchase tickets for the Versa-Style Dance Company stage performance on November 10, visit the event webpage.
About Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
A 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts is home to world-class performances, nationally recognized education programs, contemporary visual art, and many popular events. The Arts Center is located in the heart of the Sonoma wine country and ranked among California’s top performing arts presenters. Together with its resident companies, the Center presents more than 230 performances in music, dance, theater, renowned speakers, and comedy; provides education programs serving more than 50,000 children and adults; and hosts more than 1,000 community events a year. Owned and operated by the Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation, the Center relies on charitable community donations to achieve its mission – to enrich, educate, and entertain.
About Versa-Style Dance Company
Founded in 2005 by Los Angeles natives and co-artistic directors Jackie Lopez (aka Miss Funk) and Leigh Foaad (aka Breeze-lee), Versa-Style Dance Company was created to promote, empower and celebrate the artistry of Hip Hop and street dance culture. Named “Los Angeles’ Best Dance Troupe for Hip Hop Empowerment” by LA Weekly, Versa-Style is recognized for its electrifying performances and inspiring engagement activities for schools and local communities. Consisting of committed, highly skilled street dance artists and educators representative of the diversity and beautiful complexity of Los Angeles, Versa-Style Dance Company harnesses the exhilarating energy of street dance onto the concert stage for an unforgettable evening of dance. Versa-Style Dance Company is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.
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