City Wide Programs
City Wide Programs at LA’s BEST bring students together from across Los Angeles for events that foster pride, connection, and leadership. These experiences are often a student’s first chance to travel outside their neighborhood, represent their school, or participate in large-scale sports and arts activities.
Where Opportunity Meets Experience
From basketball and flag football to soccer, softball, and kickball, students build teamwork and sportsmanship while celebrating movement and friendly competition. The annual Dance and Drill Team Showcase gives students a stage to express themselves creatively and perform for a cheering crowd.
These events create lasting memories, boost student confidence, and spark new passions. They remind students that they belong to something bigger, something full of opportunity.
Programs Include: (Grades K–6)
City Wide Programs provide seasonal offerings that build skills and excitement across sports and the arts:
Flag Football
Basketball
Futbal (Soccer)
Softball
Dance & Drill Team
& More!
Each program includes:
- Skills-based and team-focused learning
- Events that celebrate growth and achievement
- Staff development and student leadership roles
- Relationship-building through collaborative play
Our Role in LA’s BEST
The City Wide Events Department inspires exploration, engagement, and growth through high-quality sports and dance programs. We create safe, inclusive spaces where students can discover new passions, build skills, and shine in front of their communities. Rooted in the LA’s BEST mission and the core principles of expanded learning, our programs offer professional development for staff, student leadership opportunities, team-building activities, and culminating events that strengthen connections across sites. City Wide programs are where learning meets joy — empowering students to find their strengths, celebrate their successes, and move with confidence.
By the Numbers
Students Served: 6,000+
Staff Participants: 1,000+ trained
Teams: 398 sports teams and 95 dance teams
Programs Offered: Five seasonal programs — Flag Football, Basketball, Futsal, Softball, and Dance & Drill
Program Highlight
This year, participation from both students and staff reached new heights across all City Wide offerings. As a longtime grantee of the LA84 Foundation, LA’s BEST continues to expand access to inclusive, movement-based enrichment programs that promote teamwork, confidence, and fun across Los Angeles.
Signature Event: Dance and Drill Team Showcase
The Dance and Drill Team program brings movement, teamwork, and creativity to all LA’s BEST sites across Los Angeles. Each team is supported by a coach who helps students choreograph routines, choose music, and prepare for performances.
Dance categories include pom/song-leading, hip hop, military, musical theatre, character, and world dance. Uniform funds are provided to ensure every student feels like part of the team.
The season culminates in our largest student event of the year, the Dance and Drill Team Showcase at Cal State LA, now in its 31st year. This two-day celebration welcomes families, staff, and community members to cheer on students as they perform with confidence and pride.
Program Highlights
- Student-selected dance categories
- Participation from over 100 sites
- Uniform funding for every team
- Two-day annual showcase event
- Strong emphasis on creativity, identity, and teamwork
