Hilltop Headspace: Soca Sunday at Hilltop! with Cumbe Dance

Come join us for an Afro Soca class at Hilltop Playground in partnership with Cumbe Dance! No experience needed!

Afro soca dance movements take their inspiration from various forms including: traditional West African, Congolese, Caribbean folkloric, Latin, hip hop, modern, and dancehall soca styles.

This event is part of the SPARCS initiative, bringing community-driven activities to your neighborhood. Come get creative with us—register now!

About SPARCS:
Since February 2023, 3x3, in collaboration with CUNY’s Center for Systems and Community Design (CSCD) and Partnerships for Parks, has been working to develop and launch co-designed, park-based programming in four New York City parks. This initiative explores how parks can serve as catalysts for improving residents’ physical and mental well-being.

SPARCS Goals:
At its core, SPARCS examines how community-led activations in neighborhood parks can influence health-related outcomes. The study focuses on mental health and well-being indicators— such as anxiety, stress, and loneliness—as well as social and physical well-being measures.

About Hilltop Headspace:
The Hilltop Headspace program was developed in response to community concerns about mental health and the need for spaces that foster healing and connection. Throughout the SPARCS engagement process, many residents and families emphasized the importance of having access to activities that support emotional well-being and reduce stress. This need became even more evident following a violent incident involving two children using the playground. As a result, the Local Design wanted to help create a program that would promote peace, togetherness, and help residents reclaim their park as a space for connection and healing.

Hilltop Headspace will offer a range of free, accessible, and community-centered wellness activities, including yoga, dance, art, music, sound baths, and movement-based workshops. These activities provide opportunities for self-expression, relaxation, and collective care, helping residents connect with themselves and each other in a meaningful way. By centering healing, creativity, and joy, Hilltop Headspace aims to transform the playground into a space where residents can nurture their well-being and strengthen their sense of community.