Leyda "Lady Sol" Garcia
Leyda “Lady Sol” Garcia is a humble Mexican-American-XICANA, a globally recognized street dance professional, mother of Jasir, and Maria's daughter from Chicago's proudest community, Humboldt Park. She was trained within Chicago and New York City's Black Dance community among greats such as Kamikazi House Dance Crew, Mama Efé McWorter of the legendary Joseph Holmes Dance Theater, Baba Idy Ciss of Muntu Dance Theater, 90's Hip-Hop famed choreographer Leslie "Big Lez" Segar and Reggae/Dancehall giants Jessica Phoenix Fiyah and Chad “Global Bob” Torrington.
Lady Sol has passionately worked her entire life to become a globally recognized teaching artist, creative director, and a newly selected Hip-Hop Diplomat for the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy's Next Level USA Cohort 10.0 Other acknowledgements include a 2018 3Arts Chicago Award in the teaching arts. Lady Sol is also the receipient of a Chicago Music Award for her choreography contributions to Chicago's Caribbean music community.
Lady Sol's past music industry work has been featured in major media outlets including BET, MTV, NBC, and TBS, alongside super-stars Busta Rhymes, Dancehall Queen Patra, Ellen DeGeneres, Elephant Man, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Damian Marley.
Lady Sol is responsible for professionalizing, mentoring, directing, and presenting Chicago’s Footwork/Juke culture on global stages from 2006-2015 via King Charles and the FootworKINGz (FWK). FWK has performed with the Chicago Sinfonietta, IBM, Madonna, Missy Elliott, Nike, Red Bull, and Will.I.Am. Lady Sol also produced and choreographed FWK dance theater shows at New York City’s Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
While working in the mainstream has had its privileges, nothing lasts or comes easy. Since 1997, Ms. Garcia has served as an independent teaching artist and youth development worker for numerous Chicago arts education organizations including Urban Gateways, After School Matters, and Kuumba Lynx, Chicago’s first all women led Hip-Hop arts organization which she helped found.
Lady Sol has worked tirelessly to become a self-titled Professor of Practice who has taught fusions of Afro-Caribbean-Hip-Hop movement guest workshops at Harvard, Northwestern, Stanford, University of Chicago, and the Dance Center at Columbia College.
Ms Garcia is a current cohort member of Chicago's first ever arts therapy pilot program titled, Healing Arts Chicago where cohort members design and facilitate mindful and accessible arts centered wellness offeringings at local mental health clinics. Lady Sol offers free, weekly guided workshops that focus on gentle movement, stretching, and breath work through the end of 2025 in partnership with the Department of Chicago Cultural Affairs.
In 2020, Leyda edited and produced "Lady Sol’s Dance Diary" (LSDD) an autobiographical solo show that humorously explores the difficulties of navigating a cross-cultural identity, Hip-Hop industry politics, and the growing pains of uncovering self-love. LSDD was presented as a work in progress at Kennedy King College under the direction of Sandra Delgado. LSDD monologues were also commissioned into a digital format by Kuumba Lynx in 2021.
Lady Sol’s immense gratitude is endowed to her three mothers Maria Garcia, Maricela Rodriguez, and Efe McWorter, all of whom have granted Lady Sol wisdom and purpose as a teaching artist. In her own words, “I will continue advocating for street culture by teaching, presenting, and promoting it until my last breath.”
Profile caption: JOY IS THE HEARTS SOUL Profile image by: Photo: KIARA SHAW
HOUSE OF LADY SOL 2025
Photo by Kiara Shaw
Featured Artworks
"Riddims, Beats & Vibez"
Soar and Reach!
Photo by Jessica Franklin
Lady Sol was solicited by the Dance Center at Columbia College 2024 to present at “Experiencing Time/Embodying Rhythm CADENCE” performance series.
Riddims, Beats & Vibez
We Got The Keys!
Photo by Jessica Franklin
Lady Sol was solicited by the Dance Center at Columbia College 2024 to present at “Experiencing Time/Embodying Rhythm CADENCE” performance series.
Give More!
Dale Mas!
Photo by Kiara Shaw
Lady Sol at 50 years of age, ever evolving and growing gracefully
Recharge & Reset
Stretch, Breathe, Move
Photo by Rebekka Suciu
Healing Arts Chicago Artist Leyda Lady Sol Garcia leads a group of intergenerational guests City Civics Day 2024 Malcolm X College
Recharge & Reset
Stretch, Breathe, Move
Photo by Rebekka Suciu
Healing Arts Chicago Artist Leyda Lady Sol Garcia leads a group of intergenerational guests City Civics Day 2024 Malcolm X College
South Africa 1996
Our Connection to Each Other is All We Truly Have.
Photo by Collaboraction
Lady Sol presented her solo Hip Hop Theater memoir stage show at Kennedy King College Directed by Sandra Delgado 2020
Lady Sol was invited to lead a dance workshop at the legendary Silverroom Block Party 2022 on 31st Street lakefront.
One Love, One Heart, Let's Dance Together & Feel Alright.
Photo by Ozivelle