This is the third in a series of newsroom stories highlighting local arts and culture organizations awarded Cultural Tourism Grants.
Connection, self-expression and growth through music, dance and visual arts are cornerstones of Child of This Culture (COTC). At the heart of this foundation are twin sisters and ‘B-girls’ (young women involved in hip-hop) Candy Foelix and Cindy Foley, who channeled their love for hip-hop into a nonprofit that honors the movement’s legacy and empowers youth to find a voice through dance.
“We believe any exposure to arts and culture awakens a person’s intuitive creativity,” said Cindy Foley, co-founder of Child of This Culture, who is also a mom and a professor. “We also think self-expression, when properly nurtured, breaks down barriers and equips people of all ages with the ability and freedom to tap into their highest potential. This freedom also allows people to manifest unforeseen growth in themselves and their community.”
The sisters’ cultural dance journey started at a young age with Panamanian dance ingrained in their home life. When introduced to hip-hop culture in the 90s, everything about it resonated with the duo. Soon, they began competing and eventually formed the first local, female breaking crew in the underground scene.
Fast forward to 2011, when an idea emerged that could amplify their shared passion for hip-hop. It was while Candy was teaching a youth breaking class in Miami that she recognized that their community craved more, Cindy recalled. This led to the creation of the appropriately named Child of This Culture, guided by a board of directors made up of hip-hop artists, educators and entrepreneurs, united by a commitment to cultural enrichment.
“We have a diverse community in Central Florida we are able to help them thrive and promote self-expression,” Foley said. “We want to empower the next generation.”
COTC was recently honored as a first-time recipient of the Arts & Cultural Affairs Cultural Tourism award, funded by the Orange County Tourist Development Tax. Foley said community connection “outside of our box,” along with support from the county and guidance from other aligned arts agencies about requirements and eligibility, were motivating factors to apply for the grant.
The $23,517 in funding will help support Street Style Lab, an international event with roots in New York City. It was created to “amplify hip-hop’s image by showcasing its artistry, innovation and cultural depth beyond stereotypes,” she said.
The week-long festival is set for Oct. 27 – Nov. 2, 2025, in Orlando with competitions, workshops, youth battles, training and educational discussions, plus international talent, along with dance pioneers YNot, Storm and PopinPete. Events are open to beginners and elites of various ages who share a desire to learn and express themselves through music.
“It’s all about enhancing the dance community here and finding more visibility and legitimacy for our art form,” Foley said.
The sisters have helped deepen COTC’s roots in the very community where they grew up. They promote dance education in schools, partner with local studios for dance workshops, offer visual arts education at Arts Changes the Mind festivals, and collaborate with the Orange County Library System for summer dance and reading programs.
“It’s great when we see a transformation in our students,” said Foley. “A lot of the philosophy and what we share is about self-awareness. It’s a journey of self-awareness and how you see yourself.”
The organization has successfully expanded its impact to a national level as well. Following the pandemic, COTC created a virtual membership network supporting event producers, artists and businesses. Now serving 17 clubs nationwide, they provide a space for artistic collaboration, resources and engagement.
For more information, visit www.childofthisculture.com, or for upcoming events https://calendar.unitedartscfl.org.
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