Fifth-grade students and staff from Loara Elementary School in the Anaheim Elementary School District pose for a photo during the 2026 Conga Kids Dance Championship at The Novo at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on May 7. (Photo courtesy of AESD) 
Fifth-grade students from Orange Grove Elementary School in the Anaheim Elementary School District gather before competing in the 2026 Conga Kids Dance Championship at The Novo at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on May 7. (Photo courtesy of AESD) 
Students from Loara Elementary School in the Anaheim Elementary School District attend the 2026 Conga Kids Dance Championship at The Novo at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on May 7. (Photo courtesy of AESD) 
Students from Orange Grove Elementary School in the Anaheim Elementary School District perform during the 2026 Conga Kids Dance Championship at The Novo at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on May 7. (Photo courtesy of AESD) 
Anaheim Elementary School District Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Yadira Moreno, second from left, receives a Visionary Award during the 2026 Conga Kids Dance Championship at The Novo at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on May 7. (Courtesy Conga Kids)
Quick look: Two Anaheim Elementary School District campuses were named finalists in the 2026 Conga Kids Dance Championship, while AESD Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Yadira Moreno received a Visionary Award during the May 7 event at L.A. Live.
Two Anaheim Elementary School District campuses were named finalists in the 2026 Conga Kids Dance Championship, held May 7 at The Novo at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
Fifth-grade students from Loara Elementary School and Orange Grove Elementary School advanced to the championship event, which featured finalists selected from approximately 9,000 students representing nearly 100 elementary schools across Southern California.
The Conga Kids program uses dance instruction to support social-emotional learning and student engagement through styles including cumbia, salsa, Charleston, hip-hop and Bollywood.
“We are so proud of our students,” Conga Kids Executive Director Barbara Garcia Vera said in a statement. “Because of Conga Kids, students have a unique access to experience dance and the arts in a whole new way — setting a foundation for respect, teamwork, confidence, leadership and intergenerational connection.”
During the event, Anaheim Elementary School District Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Yadira Moreno received a Visionary Award recognizing her support of students and families through arts education and community engagement efforts.
According to Anaheim Elementary School District, the district’s Board of Education committed in 2014 to expanding access to music instruction for students during the school day, supporting programs that include orchestra, mariachi, general music and instrumental instruction across its campuses.
For more information about the district’s programs, visit AESD’s webpage.