Leida "Lady Sol" Villegas
Artist Discipline: Dance
Artist Bio
Leida "Lady Sol" Villegas is a Chicago native and an internationally accomplished choreographer. She is the Founder and Director of the FootworKINGz (FWK), a professional ensemble dedicated to presenting Chicago's style of footwork. FWK members have performed with Ellen Degeneres and have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine. Lady Sol has worked with recording artists Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, and Madonna. Leida is also a co-founder and volunteer of Kuumba Lynx, a multi-disciplinary arts organization whose philosophy employs Hip-Hop's foundation of love, expression and freedom to increase social skills, physical health and cross-cultural understanding. A passionate teaching artist since 1997, her workshops introduce students to various urban dance styles and choreography that include Locking, House, and Reggae combined with Hip-Hop history and fused with basic forms in Modern, and Afro-Latin movement.
Artist Statement
In my continuous efforts to develop dance education residencies, I attest that positive Hip-Hop, (its dance, history and music) is an exciting and universal language that effectively teaches multiple-disciplines. I believe that art, reflective of youths’ experience, creates a participatory and enthusiastic learning environment.
It is my passion to share my dance history, knowledge and global experiences with young people. The opportunity to connect with youth communities that reflect my own experience growing up in Chicago is a sincere inspiration.
Educational Philosophy
My dance education goals are to help students explore and understand Hip Hop dance as a positive social dance with a connective history to other ethnic styles such as Afro-Latin movement. I wish to instill street dance vocabulary that spans from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. I want students to become more aware of their bodies: shape, body image, alignment, exercise, language, etc., with a mindful purpose of exploring student (collective and individual) voices through movement, technique, sound, and choreography.