Protecting the foundations.

Toprock preserves the history, knowledge, pedagogy, and cultural foundations of street, club, and social dance so they remain accessible to future generations. This is the archival and educational arm of the organization, centered on documenting not only what is danced, but where it came from, who built it, and how it has traditionally been taught and transmitted.

This bucket includes oral histories and artist interviews; documentation and archival projects; preservation of foundational movement and pedagogy; research and publications; educational resources and curriculum; exhibitions, screenings, talks, and historical public programming; and projects documenting elders, pioneers, and cultural lineage.

Investing in the people who created culture.

Toprock provides direct resources to the artists, educators, and practitioners whose work keeps street, club, and social dance alive. The goal is not simply to preserve these cultures historically, but to make it economically possible for people to continue practicing, teaching, creating, and transmitting them today.

This includes unrestricted cash grants to artists; scholarships and training support; teaching-artist support; professional development; career-transition support for dancers; emergency or opportunity-based artist funding; mentorship; and resources that help practitioners build sustainable careers in and beyond dance.

Creating what comes next.

Toprock supports new ideas, new work, and new ways for street, club, and social dance to live in the world. This is the outward-facing, experimental arm: creating opportunities for artists and communities to develop work, gather, collaborate, and expand the reach and possibilities of these cultural forms.

This includes artist commissions; residencies; new works and interdisciplinary projects; community events and public programs; battles, cyphers, workshops, and gatherings; experimental educational models; research and innovation in dance pedagogy; partnerships with schools and cultural institutions; and projects that bring street, club, and social dance into new spaces and conversations.