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About Arnel
Believing in using his talents & resources to promote community outreach, “respect for all people,” artistic expression, and education, Dr. Arnel Calvario Ripkens has dedicated himself to the dance community for over 30 years. In 1992, he founded UC Irvine’s own Kaba Modern dance company and in commemoration of it’s 10-year anniversary also founded professional exhibition dance company, Kaba Modern Legacy. Arnel also served as Executive Director from 2003-2009 and Board President from 2009-2017 of 501(c)3 non-profit dance organization Culture Shock Los Angeles before serving as Board President of the international entity Culture Shock International from 2016-2023. He also managed world-renowned dance crews Kaba Modern, Fanny Pak, the Beat Freaks, & Kinjaz during their runs on MTV’s hit show America’s Best Dance Crew and helped manage Kinjaz during their 2017 run as a finalist on NBC’s World of Dance. Arnel currently serves as a board member for Culture Shock Los Angeles and as co-director of Awesome Shock LA dance troupe (a Culture Shock LA program serving neurodivergent youth and young adults).
Arnel formerly served as the United States elite judge for the annual Hip Hop International (HHI) World Dance Crew Championships and as the Coordinator for their annual HHI World Battles for over a decade. He has served as the head judge of VIBE dance competition, advisor and judge for Body Rock Dance Competition, a speaker and dance educator for Hip Hop Dance Convention Philippines, as well as a judge for numerous dance competitions such as VIBE Philippines, Resurgence, Show Out, Fusion, Prelude, Max Out, East Coast Dance Competition, Ultimate Brawl, Battle Fest, Grandstand Dance Competition, and Hit the Floor. Arnel was one of the esteemed judges for the World of Dance 2024 World Finals as well as the 2024 North America and Asia national qualifiers for the World Dance Crew Championships (WDCC). He recently served as co-head judge for the WDCC World Finals held in New Zealand April 2025 and is slated to judge Steezy's International Dance League competition tour in 2026.
He does all this while continuing to work as a full-time Doctor of Occupational Therapy for Long Beach Unified School District Related Services.
ARNEL’s MISSION STATEMENT:
“I am a compassionate & community-minded educator, artist, & health professional dedicated to cultivating safe & supportive shared spaces where people from all walks of life feel empowered to reach their highest level of meaningful growth and fulfillment. I offer personalized, purpose-driven, and professional dance education, leadership programs, & occupational therapy services to all I serve.”
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