The Origin Hip Hop Performing Arts Academy

The Origin Hip Hop Performing Arts Academy offers hip-hop classes, dance crews, dance camps, after school programs, weekend teen dance party nights, and an all styles dance battle. The program includes hip-hop classes for youth, teens, and adults, as well as weekend teen dance party nights that are described as drug-free and alcohol-free. It also runs one of the first Hip Hop Programs to incorporate a dance program in a local school district during school hours called Hip Hop 4 Health.

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Class and program options are available on weekdays and weekends, with hours that include morning through evening on most days, and separate summer hours from June 19 to August 11.

The Origin Hip Hop Performing Arts Academy states that it is dedicated to supporting the cultural, social, creative, and educational values of hip hop and to educating and inspiring youth to use the genre as a tool for learning. The program has been operating since 2010, with programs described as a staple of the community for almost 15 years, and it is described as the first Hip Hop Education Studio in San Diego and the best dance school and studio since 2010. Leadership includes Cheryl Armour Frye, M.A. Ed.

The academy lists numerous awards and recognitions, including being voted Best hip hop dance studio in 2016 and 2017, and being named the Best Dance Studio in San Diego by the San Diego A-List in 2016 and again in 2017, as well as receiving multiple 5 Star Yelp Awards in 2016 and 2018. Its dance crews have earned placements such as Double Platinum First Place at Showstoppers Dance Competition Regionals in 2014, multiple first-place finishes at events like Sharp International, Kuumba Fest, Urban Street Jam, Collaboration NorCal, and Set It Off San Diego Dance Competition, and finalist and medalist results at Hip Hop International USA and World Championships, including a silver medal in the Adult Division and a bronze medal in the Mini Division in 2021. The program reports that five out of six teams advanced to USA Finals at Hip Hop International in 2019, advanced in five out of six divisions from USA to World Championships in 2022, and qualified in the Top 10 overall at Showstopper Dance Championship in 2024 as the only hip hop crew in the top 10.

Community involvement includes collaborations with businesses and private benefactors and support from organizations such as Young Artist Music Academy, Walmart, Sycuan Casino, La Mesa, Spring Valley School District, San Diego A-list, Yelp, and The Better Business Bureau. The program has held a Dancing Santa Toy Drive serving over 25 low-income children and transitioned to online and park classes during the COVID pandemic. It has been qualified to represent San Diego and the USA in New Zealand at The World Dance Crew Championships and to represent the USA at the Hip Hop International World Championships. The academy notes that it produced and directed its own feature film “OrigiNation: Return to HHI” with a Red Carpet premiere in Los Angeles, opened what it describes as the first Black Owned Haunted Hip Hop Attraction in San Diego, and was chosen to be the new host of Prelude SoCal National Dance Competition. It also reports being the first studio to produce a Mini Summer Pre-Game Concert at Petco Park before an MLB Padres game with over 5,000 in attendance and the first dance academy to perform at the NFL LA Rams Game Season Opener with over 50,000 in attendance.

Last updated March 15, 2026.