LOS ANGELES, May 22, 2019 – Students from Serrania Charter for Enriched Studies Elementary (LAUSD) from Woodland Hills won the Conga Kids Dance Championship held at Xbox Plaza (formerly Microsoft Square) at L.A. Live on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. The 14-person student team beat out nearly 9,000 fifth graders from more than 90 schools this school year throughout Los Angeles County.
The runner up trophy was awarded to Estrella Elementary (South Los Angeles) and Gidley School (El Monte) received the honor of third place
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Conga Kids is a corporate citizenship partner of The Conga Room, Los Angeles’ renowned music and dance venue at L.A. Live whose co-owners include Jimmy Smits, Jennifer Lopez, Paul Rodriguez and will.i.am. Conga Kids teaches emotional and social learning through five partnership dances: Salsa, Merengue, Swing, Tango, and Foxtrot. With UCLA Graduate School of Education as a research and curriculum-development partner, the program consists of 20 classes over ten weeks during the school day.
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“The curriculum and the students’ response have been amazing,” said Brad Gluckstein, founder and board chair of Conga Kids and managing partner of The Conga Room. “They not only learn salsa and merengue,but Conga Kids teaches life skills including leadership, collaboration, and respect through partner dance.”
During the event, Mixed Martial Artist Brian Ortega and the Brian Ortega Foundation donated $8,700 so that two schools can receive scholarships to participate in Conga Kids during the 2019-2020 school year.
Conga Kids serves predominately Hispanic and African-American 10 and 11-year-olds in historically disadvantaged areas that often fall behind in arts curriculum and where students’ educational experience is compromised. Many of these students are immigrants or children of immigrants and are categorized as English Language Learners. Participating school districts include Los Angeles Unified, Beverly Hills Unified, Lynwood Unified, Pomona Unified, Monrovia Unified, Mountain View and El Monte City School Districts.
The school finalists are:
1. Will Rogers Elementary School (Lynwood Unified School District)
2. Washington Elementary School (Lynwood Unified School District)
3. Gidley School (El Monte City School District)
4. Rio Vista School (El Monte City School District)
5. La Primaria Elementary School (Mountain View School District)
6. Bradoaks Elementary School (Monrovia Unified School District)
7. Hawthorne School (Beverly Hills Unified School District)
8. Decker Elementary School (Pomona Unified School District)
9. San Jose Elementary School (Pomona Unified School District)
10. Community Magnet Charter School (Los Angeles Unified School District, Local District West)
11. Serrania Charter for Enriched Studies (Los Angeles Unified School District, Local District Northwest)
12. Eastman Avenue Elementary School (Los Angeles Unified School District, Local District East)
13. First Street Elementary School (Los Angeles Unified School District, Local District East)
14. Estrella Elementary School (Los Angeles Unified School District, Local District Central)
15. Dr. Owen Lloyd Knox Elementary School (Los Angeles Unified School District, Local District South)
To learn more about Conga Kids and to contribute to the organization, visit www.congakids.org.
