'HERstory 2026' Celebrates Women's Achievements in LA
A performance and celebration called "HERstory 2026" was held today at the Rhimes Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. The event, focused on women's achievements in arts and culture, offered a chance for tech students to connect with leaders outside traditional engineering circles.
The "HERstory" event is an annual celebration for Women's History Month organized by the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA). Proceeds from the event support scholarships and outreach programs for DADA, where over 70% of students receive financial aid. The 2026 celebration includes panel discussions with female artists and entrepreneurs, live performances, and showcases from students and local vendors. The venue is the Rhimes Performing Arts Center, a 25,000-square-foot facility gifted to the Debbie Allen Dance Academy by television producer and USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate Shonda Rhimes. Rhimes, the CEO of Shondaland, is a major supporter of arts and education and serves on the board of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. The center, designed by the firm Gensler, tripled the academy's previous space and includes five dance studios and a 200-seat theater. The event's focus on connecting students with leaders from outside traditional tech circles reflects a growing trend in Los Angeles of the convergence between the arts, entertainment, and technology sectors. This intersection creates opportunities for tech professionals in areas like generative AI for content creation, virtual production, and data analytics for audience engagement. For students and professionals, organizations like Women in Tech Hollywood, The WICT Network, and LA Women in Tech provide networking and mentorship opportunities to bridge the gap between the creative and tech industries. Los Angeles also hosts numerous events and summits focused on this intersection, such as the Women in Entertainment Summit and discussions on creative tech at institutions like ArtCenter College of Design.
