FILM SCREENING . DANCE WORKSHOPS . LECTURES . MAMBO PARTY (CLASS&DANCE)

Official Trailer of Episode One: La Rosa Nightclub

The Rebirth of Kool Experience 2026–2027: An Interdisciplinary Film & Dance Residency for Colleges, Universities and Cultural Institutions.

Introducing a bold and immersive tour designed to support the next chapter of The Rebirth of Kool series. This 2026–2027 fundraising campaign invites campuses nationwide to host a multidimensional experience that goes far beyond a screening — combining film, lectures, exhibits, dance, and community dialogue into one unforgettable cultural event: The Rebirth of Kool Experience!

🎬 Film Screening + Discussion
💃 Dance Workshop(s)
🎤 Artist Lecture(s)
🖼 Exhibit Activation
Mambo Class & Social
🌐 Full Residency

Step into the jazz-soaked shadows of 1940s Los Angeles — a traveling celebration of rhythm, resistance, and reclamation. Built around the groundbreaking novel and award-winning pilot episode, this tour engages students, faculty, and surrounding communities in a living dialogue about race, identity, and the power of art to challenge dominant narratives.

Imagine a full week of programming that enriches campus life while raising awareness and funds for a rising television series. At its core is a screening of the pilot episode — a genre-blending film noir musical that reimagines the Zoot Suit era through the often-erased Afro-Latino lens. Featuring a cast of over 300 and deeply researched historical textures, the story revives the pulse of wartime L.A. while confronting themes of police brutality, serviceman violence, interethnic conflict, and personal dignity. Kool, the red-suited protagonist, is not just a character — he’s an icon of style, sovereignty, and sacred masculinity. The pilot's narrative unfolds around a vibrant East L.A. nightclub and is woven together with original music, dance, and spoken word.

Surrounding the film are dynamic guest lectures by the author and movement scholars, like the University of Southern California’s own, Professor Moncell Durden, who explores the connective tissue between jazz-era dances and the funk/street and Hip-Hop movements of the 1970s and '80s. Topics range from the suppressed history of the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots to the systemic erasure of Afro-Latinx identity in American media. These talks are crafted to deepen academic engagement, provoke critical inquiry, and inspire cultural pride.

The experience also includes a visual exhibit showcasing rare periodicals on the Zoot Suit Riots, replica zoot suits, and a reproduction of the 1932 Nightclub Map of Harlem — a nod to the nightlife and cultural renaissance that echoes through the series. Select campuses may also feature live performances, or community dance socials designed for all ages (a Mambo Dance Social.)

The physical language of the series blends Tap, Swing, Jazz, Mambo, Popping, Locking, Waacking, and Breaking, forging a unique choreographic bridge between eras. This is brought to life through interactive workshops and cipher sessions led by veteran dancers and historians. Students will explore the movement lineage of Black and Brown expression — tracing dance not as entertainment, but as resistance, memory, and joy in motion.

Below, Professor Moncell Durden of the University of Southern California shares a glimpse into this powerful historical thread:

🔗 Join the Movement

The Rebirth of Kool Experience is more than a tour — it’s a portal into Black and Brown memory, a cultural mirror, and a rallying cry for creative revolution. It is ideal for departments of Film, African-American Studies, Latinx Studies, Dance, History, Ethnic Studies, and Cultural Anthropology.

Packages can be tailored to your campus’s needs, from single-day intensives to full-week residencies. For booking, pricing, and custom options, please email:
📩 nuparadigmonline@gmail.com

Partner with us to help fund the next season of the series — and bring the spirit of Kool to your campus.