Angelina Ponzio Labate

Founding Director

angelina is an east coast born, west coast fed italian american teaching and performing artist, choreographer, poet, storyteller and documentarian. she works in afro diasporic dance traditions, continually learning about and passing forward the lineages of street dance with an emphasis on house dance rhythms and hip hop social party dances

angelina has a Certificate of Continuation from the Moptop Universal Professional Program; is a Level 1 Street Dance Teaching Certificate Candidate with Rennie Harris University; an MFA in Choreography candidate with Wilson College; and holds a B.A. from the World Arts and Cultures/Dance program with a Minor in Visual and Performing Arts Education from UCLA, as well as an A.A. with a Certificate in African Heritage Dance Production from City College of San Francisco. she has lived and worked across the U.S. and abroad in lifelong learning and cross - cultural dialogue

angelina discovered her love of teaching while working with The Growing Peace Project youth. her work comes from the belief that healing and change live in the spaces where we are seen, heard and loved. she LOVES building with youth and adults in a classroom rooted in community, respect, history, technique, growth, self expression, healing, inclusivity, equity, empowerment, bravery and JOY. angelina also teaches and choreographs, learns and documents in street dance culture and house dance; her research then focuses in on the people, places and spirits of House Dance

Angelina gives many thanks e grazie mille to Rennie Harris...as well as her family, community, teachers, students, spirits and ancestors