Students from Marvin Avenue Elementary, an LAUSD school located near Washing Boulevard and the 10 Freeway, participate in the Conga Kids program. (photo courtesy of Conga Kids)

The top 200 students out of 9,000 fifth graders from school districts throughout Southern California will dance their way to the coveted Conga Kids championship trophy on May 7 at The Novo.

Participating school districts include the LAUSD as well as the El Monte, Hacienda, La Puente, Inglewood, Anaheim Elementary, Claremont, Lancaster, Pomona and San Bernardino school districts. Many of the campuses are located in underserved areas.

Conga Kids teaches students social and emotional learning through dance. Students perform five partnership dances including cumbia, salsa, Charleston, hip hop and Bollywood. Through Conga Kids, students have unique access to experience music and the arts in a new way, setting a foundation for respect, teamwork, confidence, leadership and intergenerational connection.

Nearly 60,000 students from transitional kindergarten to 12th grade in 23 school districts participate in the Conga Kids program, a nonprofit founded by Brad Gluckstein in 2016. The transformative in-school curriculum plays an integral role in schools, offering cultural dance programs and sports. The Novo is located at 800 W. Olympic Blvd. For information, visit congakids.org.