1,000 kids experience Versa-Style at Granada Theater in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, Calif. - A thousand kids showed up for the first arts adventure of the 2023-24 season at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara.

"Never been to this theater or this show and I’m excited because I get to see an amazing performance," said participant Dominik Irkhin.

Hosted by UCSB Arts & Lectures, kids got to experience Versa-Style, a non-profit dance ensemble from Los Angeles.

“Our students are here to watch awesome dance .. great to bring them to have experiences they might not have otherwise," said teacher Paige Huyck of Kellogg Elementary School.

Versa-Style performs choreography, demonstrates foundations, and unfolds the history of Hip Hop and Streetdance culture.

“Extremely educational this is not something you would normally learn in a classroom. We’re all about providing experiences that sort of create stewards throughout our community," said director of education and community engagement Jenna Hamilton-Rolle of the UCSB Arts & Lectures.

Organizers of the program hope students will gain a new perspective on Hip Hop dance culture … and the impact that arts can have in their communities.