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Explore our Arts Academy

Enroll in Winter Classes

Our Fall classes for ages 8 to 22 are open for registration and are available as in-person classes in Washington, DC or as virtual courses online.

Innovative Hip-hop C

urriculum

Join our creative arts classes to propel your career as a DJ, fashion designer, music producer, radio broadcaster, artist, or poet.


Academy Spotlights

Hailey M. Tran

Academy DIrector

Hailey M. Tran is a DC-based and Lowell-raised dreamer. They are a queer Asian American Latina spoken word and performance poet, who believes in the transformative power of storytelling and art. They strive to help their students better understand racial, gendered and queer identities, and connect with their community at large. They have served as the Program Manager for the 2021 Youth Spoken Word Leader cohorts. Hailey’s debut collection, "An Everyday Occurrence,” is forthcoming from Button Poetry.

 

Flex Mathews

Rao/Emcee

Flex Mathews also know Dathan L. Harbor who has spent most of his life being an rap artist/MC started working at WBL in 2010 as an MC instructor (Rap Teacher and or mentor). In 2016 he purchased his camera with money he earned from a Congo Sanchez tour and has never looked back. While rapping still remains his first love, photography is definitely creeping on the come up allowing him to create art from a different perspective.


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UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS

 

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Uncover Our Wide Range of Community Programs

Check out what we accomplished in 2024 with this rap-up video from Trus real.


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Catch the Latest from

The Counterbalance Blog

The Power of Art in Advocacy and Social Change

Sasa Aakil is a force of nature. Previously part of our extensive Youth Poet Laureate program, we’ve been honored to work alongside Aakil as she navigates her career in poetry and advocacy. In addition to mentorship, performance opportunities and skill advancement, our YPLs advance their careers by becoming published authors.

Exclusive Interview with Patrick Washington: From OG of DC's Black Broadway to Director of Poetry at the Words Beats & Life Academy

Patrick Washington, director of poetry at the Words Beats & Life Academy, shares his journey as an independent artist and activist, exploring '90's hip-hop, go-go and his vision for youth poets to fight marginalization.

AI Bionix: Exploring the Impact of AI on Music

Art? Official? Intelligence? AI is here. What does it mean for human expression? Drake rapping Ice Spice’s “Munch.” Biggie rapping Nas’ “New York State of Mind.” Timbaland making a brand new song with the Notorious B.I.G. and these are just the most recent ones. You can’t put Pandora back in the box — we are in the era of AI!

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