Meet Whacking Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Whacking Los Angeles.

Can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Whacking Los Angeles (WLA) was founded in 2022 in response to the isolation of the pandemic and the ongoing erasure of Punking and Whacking and their cultural roots within larger institutions and commercial dance. Established by a collective of queer dance artists deeply impacted by the transformative power of these forms, Whacking LA centers a dance lineage born from the underground gay club scene of 1970s Los Angeles—where Punking and Whacking emerged as practices of liberation and resistance. Historically, both these art forms and the LGBTQ+ communities that created them have lacked safe, affirming spaces to grow, be recognized, and thrive. What began as a small, community-centered effort to reconnect dancers and preserve this history has since evolved into a vibrant and affirming space for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists. In 2024, WLA became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Through accessible classes, mentorship, performances, and cultural programming, WLA has supported over 100 artists while remaining rooted in its mission of preservation, education, and community care. Today, WLA continues to expand its impact—creating opportunities for emerging dancers, uplifting queer artistry, and fostering spaces where people can train, express, and belong.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. Whacking Los Angeles began as a grassroots organization, learning everything from scratch while facing low organizational capacity and limited access to resources. The pandemic added additional challenges—making it difficult for our community to gather safely, navigate social distancing, and maintain connection. High costs of rental spaces in Los Angeles made hosting programming and larger events a constant struggle, and we have worked hard to remain accessible while also creating sustainable funding to continue our work. Building partnerships and establishing our place within the broader dance industry and existing LGBTQ organizations took time, and we are deeply grateful to grassroots organizations such as Queer LiberAsian and street dance community organizations like Versastyle LA and the Gr818ers, as well as advocates who provided opportunities to help us grow. Since our founding, we have also collaborated with The Music Center LA, DTLA Proud, USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, and One Institute.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Whacking Los Angeles?
Whacking Los Angeles (WLA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, teaching, and celebrating the dance forms Punking and Whacking. We specialize in creating safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC dancers to explore these art forms, build community, and grow as artists. WLA is known for blending historical context with practical training, giving participants both the roots and the tools to fully embody the dance.

What sets us apart is that we are an organization founded fully by queer artists for queer artists. We are committed to accessibility and cultural preservation while amplifying queer joy, cultural inclusion, and play. Beyond dance classes, we produce training programs such as our Punk, Pose, Whack! program, running since 2022, which offers multiple levels for new movers and experienced dancers alike. We also produce performances like Liminality: Queer Arts Showcase, which premiered at Highways Performance Space in 2024, community events including the Colors Whacking Festival, a full weekend celebrating this dance with world-renowned practitioners and community collaboration, and mentorship opportunities that connect emerging artists to the broader arts ecosystem.

We are most proud of cultivating a multicultural, queer-centered community while maintaining high-quality programming that is both approachable and challenging. WLA is more than a dance organization – it’s a space for creativity, self-expression, connection, and cultural celebration, where participants can learn, perform, and be immersed in a community of play and care.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
At Whacking Los Angeles, risk-taking has been an integral part of our journey. From the very beginning, founding a queer-centered dance organization during the pandemic was a risk in itself – stepping into uncharted territory with low resources, limited organizational infrastructure, and a commitment to accessibility that often conflicted with financial sustainability. Choosing to prioritize community, inclusivity, and cultural preservation over guaranteed revenue was a deliberate risk, one that required trust in our vision.

Major risks have included producing large-scale events such as our cultural community events including which demanded financial, logistical, and emotional investment without a guaranteed audience or funding. We view risk as necessary for growth: it’s about stepping boldly into possibilities while holding space for experimentation and learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://whackingla.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/whackinglosangeles
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@whackinglosangeles

Image Credits
George Simian, Glenalyn Ann Mabilangan