Dance with purpose: L2R as a social enterprise

L2R Dance is a not-for-profit social enterprise using street dance to create opportunities for young people across Melbourne’s west.

The idea is simple: income from our commercial workshops, performances and partnerships helps fund free dance programs and paid opportunities for young artists. In 2025, 100% of L2R’s income was reinvested into this work.

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This approach has been part of L2R since we started in 2009. Founder Jacinda Richards began running free hip hop workshops at Western English Language School in Braybrook after seeing that many young people had limited access to arts opportunities that felt relevant to them.

Today, the model continues to grow. In 2025, L2R employed 44 local artists, delivered 418 free dance classes and paid $166,000 directly to young artists.

The photos in this series by JM Tubera feature some of the artists who make this work happen. They’re the people teaching classes, working on creative projects and sharing their skills with the next generation of dancers.

When you work with L2R, you’re helping keep those opportunities going.

Want to work with L2R? Bring our artists into your next workshop, event or creative project and help support free dance opportunities for young people across Melbourne’s west.

All photography by JM Tubera https://www.jmtubera.com/