This program carries 2 quarter units of Pass/No Pass UC credit. Students will be officially enrolled in 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, choreographic, and 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 Popping, Locking, Hip Hop Dance, Composition, Freestyle, and House Dance

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT 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.

Harry Weston - Director

Harry “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 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 Director

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/Faculty

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.

Bianette Linares - Scholarship Admissions Coordinator

Bianette has been a mentor, teaching artist, and college workshop facilitator in multiple spaces such as Augustus Hawkins HS, C5 Youth Foundation, UCLA Summer Sessions, Inner-City Arts, i.am College Track, and UCLA Visual and Performing Arts Education Department, among others. Most recently, Bianette is honored to continue her journey with Versa-Style as the Administrative Officer for Versa-Style: Performance • Education • Community

Aubrey Mamaid - Head Program Counselor

Aubrey 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 Counselor

Leonardo 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 Schedule

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. 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).

Suggested Items to have with you

• Notebook

• Pens/Pencils

• Small Towel

• Computer or device with a front facing camera (Required to participate)

• Access to a stable wifi connection

• Screens on at all times during classes

• If any of these requirements present an issue for students, immediately contact Assistant Director Ernesto Galarza at summerdance@arts.ucla.edu

Dance Space

• We ask that every student do their best to find an appropriate space to dance in where we can see their entire body from top to bottom, so that instructors can observe and be able to provide the best experience for the student. This can be indoor or outdoor.

To apply for the Hip Hop / Street Dance Summer Institute, you must meet the following qualifications:

• Open to students 15 years of age or older that are enrolled in grades 9th - 12th in Spring 2021 or a Spring 2021 High School Graduate

Students who do not meet the minimum program requirements should not apply and should consider other summer opportunities.

To participate in the Hip Hop / Street Dance Summer Institute, students must apply and receive acceptance into the program.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete the following:

• Responses to the following essay prompts (each response 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.
• Describe a project or creative experience you have been involved in, within the past year, which has been particularly rewarding to you, discussing what you learned (or continue to learn) from it.
• Describe any awards, honors, or distinctions you have received.
• The Hip Hop/Street Dance Summer Institute requires all of its participants to present a short one-minute solo performance on the first day. This is not considered an audition as such, but more of a way to introduce yourself to the faculty and the other student participants. Please briefly describe what you would envision performing in this solo.
• A letter of recommendation, preferably from a dance instructor. Please either upload the letter after submitting your registration form OR have your recommender email the letter to info@summer.ucla.edu (PDF format with your 5-digit registration number).

Please find below a list of all fees that may apply to you to enroll in the Hip Hop / Street Dance Summer Institute.

2021 Summer Institute Fees

• Registration Fee: $350.00*
  *This registration fee is assessed one-time per each summer term for any precollege Summer Institute. If you are admitted and will be enrolled at UCLA in Fall 2021, other University fees of $132.69 will be assessed in lieu of the registration fee.
• Program Fee: $1,420*
  * If you are admitted and will be enrolled at a UC campus in Fall 2021, your program fee will be $1,250.
• IEI Fee: $61.00
• Document Fee*: $50.00
  *If you are participating in UCLA Summer Sessions for the first time or an incoming UCLA undergraduate student, this document fee will be assessed. The one-time document fee covers life-time academic and verification transcripts that do not require special delivery services.

SUBTOTAL WITH DOCUMENT FEE:

• Visiting Students (Non-UC): $1,881
• Fall 2021 UCLA Students: $1,493.69
• Fall 2021 Other UC Students: $1,511

Please note that a $350.00 nonrefundable deposit will be required in order to reserve your space in the program. This deposit is not an additional fee and will apply toward your summer balance.

Full summer fees are due no later than 5PM, May 1*. Failure to pay by the payment deadline may result in your space in the program being forfeited.

NOTE: Your bill reflects your enrollment activities. If you make any changes to your enrollments, be sure to monitor your BruinBill to verify any changes in your balance.

Your enrollment in the program is not officially confirmed until you submit full payment of the program fees and all other administrative fees.

*If you register AFTER May 1, you will be prompted to make full payment of all fees excluding any applicable document fee and IEI fees at the time of online registration. For the document and IEI fee payment, you can follow the same steps listed in PAYMENT METHODS above 1-2 business days after making payment of the full program fees.

Credit Card of Electronic Check (E-Check)

Accepted forms of payment are VISA, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX, or e-check.

A valid payment of a non-refundable registration fee is required to complete registration. This fee is not refundable under any circumstances.

Program fees and other applicable fees, excluding the non-refundable registration fee, are refundable if the program is officially dropped prior to 5PM, JUNE 15 (PDT). In the event of withdrawal prior to the refund deadline, the total refund amount will reflect the non-refundable registration fee, appearing as Processing Fee on the BruinBill account.

If the program is dropped after 5PM, June 15 (PDT), all fees are non-refundable and you will be financially liable regardless of attendance. To officially cancel your enrollment, you must access your existing registration online.

If entitled to a refund from the UCLA Summer Sessions Office, you will receive your refund one of three ways within 1-3 weeks:

• BruinDirect: BruinDirect is a free and automatic way for students to receive refunds directly to a U.S. checking or savings account. You may sign-up on BruinBill.
• Credit Card: Payments made with a credit card will be returned back to the credit card that made the original payment.
• Check Refund: If payment made using a method other than credit card and if not signed-up for BruinDirect, a refund will be issued as a paper check and mailed to the mailing address on file.

Participant Agreement

For a full overview of all terms and conditions for UCLA Summer Institutes, please review the Participant Agreement.

Qualified students attending grades 8th – 11th in Spring 2021 in the state of California are 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 an eligible Precollege Summer Institute.

For more information, visit the Summer Scholars Support page.

Other than Summer Scholars Support, no other financial aid through UCLA Summer Sessions is available to visiting high school students. Please check with your home institution regarding financial aid options.

UCLA is on the quarter system. While some schools are also on the quarter system, most colleges and universities are on the semester system. As a general guide to transferring quarter units to a semester system school, one semester unit or credit is worth 1.5 quarter units (e.g., 4 quarter units = 2.5 semester units).

UCLA courses are generally accepted for transfer credit, but all decisions on transferability rest with the home institution. Students should get advance approval of their UCLA Summer Sessions course selections from the home institution prior to registration.

The transcript is a permanent record that reflects all undergraduate and graduate work completed at UCLA. It lists courses, units, grades, cumulative grade-point average, transfer credits, total units, and work in progress in chronological order.

Ordering a transcript can be done online through MyUCLA. Those requiring expedited or special delivery can submit a Transcript Request Form.

Requests are not processed if students have outstanding financial, academic, or administrative obligations to the University.

NOTE: Current or newly admitted UCLA students will have their grades appear on their UCLA transcript immediately after grades are submitted by the course instructor. Current or newly admitted visiting UC students will have their grades appear on their home UC campus's transcript in October or November.