Renovate is a House dance education program founded in response to a growing gap between movement and meaning. During the pandemic, interest in street and club dance surged—but the rapid shift toward online learning often separated students from the cultural, social, and historical contexts that give the dance its purpose. Many dancers learned steps without understanding the spaces they came from, the communities that shaped them, or the practices that sustain them.

Renovate was founded by Toji to address this disconnect. What began as an effort to create more informed, respectful participation in club spaces quickly grew into a broader educational mission: to support dancers in understanding not only how to move, but why they move.

Joined by longtime collaborator Jess Smith, Renovate expanded into a program rooted in cultural literacy, embodied research, and community accountability. Together, they developed an approach centered on scaffolded instruction, clear historical framing, and a learning environment that balances rigor with care. Renovate meets students where they are—offering gentle assurance while encouraging curiosity, responsibility, and growth.

This philosophy culminated in Renovate’s flagship Travel Study Program, which invites students to learn withcommunities, not just about them. Through immersive travel experiences, participants build relationships, deepen their practice, and engage directly with local dancers and cultural spaces. To date, Renovate has led two interstate travel studies and one international program in Mexico City.

Renovate is currently planning its next Travel Study experience for Summer 2026, continuing its commitment to education that is experiential, culturally grounded, and community-centered.

At its core, Renovate believes that dance education should be contextual, embodied, and human—preparing dancers not only for performance, but for meaningful participation in the cultures they enter.