LA CULTURA DANCE CO.

La Cultura is a movement-centered platform founded by Emanuel "Manny" Chacon that exists to create spaces where people can train, connect, and celebrate culture through dance. Founded in 2018, what began as a collaborative dance collective has since evolved into Manny's personal vision—bringing together education, performance, and community through high-level training experiences and cultural storytelling.

Inspired by the phrase "Pa' La Cultura" ("For the Culture"), La Cultura is rooted in the belief that movement has the power to educate, inspire, and bring people together. While deeply influenced by the history and evolution of Reggaetón, the platform embraces the broader traditions of the African and Latin diasporas, drawing from styles including Hip Hop, House, Afro Dance, Dancehall, Body Percussion, Afro-Caribbean movement, and more. Through these influences, La Cultura celebrates cultural exchange while honoring the communities and histories that continue to shape these art forms.

Today, La Cultura serves as both a creative brand and a growing training community. Through weekly classes, guest artist workshops, performances, educational residencies, and community partnerships, Manny is committed to expanding access to high-quality dance experiences while cultivating an environment where dancers of all backgrounds feel challenged, welcomed, and inspired.

At its core, La Cultura exists to elevate dance in Delaware and beyond by creating opportunities to train, grow, and move with purpose.

Previous Partnerships and Projects Include:

• La Cultura Tuesday Training – Founder & Director | Wilmington, DE (2025–Present)

• CityFest Dance Jubilee – Founder & Director | Wilmington, DE (2025)

• New Orleans Reggaetón Festival – New Orleans, LA (2018, 2019, 2022)

• Professional Workshop Series – New Jersey, Philadelphia, Virginia & Delaware (2019–Present)

• University of Delaware – Guest Artist & Professional Workshops (2021, 2026)

• Villanova University – Director of Dance Programming, Guest Artist Residencies & Cultural Programming (2022–Present)

• Philadelphia Tap Festival – Body Percussion & Step Workshops (2023–2025)

• Black History Month Educational Assemblies – Downingtown Area School District (2024–2025)

• Latino Heritage Month Educational Assemblies – Lower Merion School District (2025)

• Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP – Latino Heritage Month Lunch & Learn (2025)

• Philadelphia Museum of Art – Community Workshop Series (2020)

• Dorill Initiative – Community Partner (2020)

• I AM Phresh Studios – Philadelphia, PA (2021)

• Abundant Studios – National Harbor, MD (2021)

• Despierta América – Television Appearance (2021)

• Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders – Choreographer (2026)

Today, La Cultura continues to grow as a platform for dance education, cultural engagement, and artistic excellence. Through performances, workshops, educational residencies, festivals, and community partnerships, Manny creates spaces where people of all backgrounds can connect through movement while honoring the cultures that inspire it. Whether teaching in schools, choreographing for professional organizations, leading community classes, or performing on stage, his work is rooted in a simple mission: to build community through dance and inspire others to train, grow, and move with purpose.