Miss Carlena
Born and raised in Vancouver, Carlena found her first sense of freedom and identity through dance. Growing up in the foster care system, she often learned to survive by staying invisible — until, at just nine years old, an after-school hip-hop dance instructor recognized her spark and changed the course of her life forever. Through dance, Carlena discovered not only her voice, but the artist, leader, and storyteller she was destined to become.
Deeply rooted in the foundations of hip-hop and street dance culture, Carlena trained under some of the most influential pioneers in the world. Her early mentorship came from Bradley “Shooz” Rapier, founder of the legendary Groovaloos, and Moncell Durden of the iconic Brooklyn hip-hop group Mop-Top. She continued her studies with house dance pioneers Brian “Footwork” Green and Caleaf Sellers, while immersing herself in funk styles under the guidance of the original innovators themselves — including the Electric Boogaloos’ Popin’ Pete and Suga Pop, locking creator Don “Campbellock” Campbell, and original Lockers members Toni Basil and Adolfo “Shabba-Doo” Quiñones.
By her early twenties, Carlena was representing Canada at the World Locking Championships in Las Vegas and winning street dance battles internationally in Oslo, Toronto, and Los Angeles. Her artistry, versatility, and deep respect for the culture propelled her into the Top 7 on So You Think You Can Dance, launching a global performance career that would see her tour and perform alongside artists including Prince, Justin Bieber, Usher, Pharrell Williams, Chris Brown, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, and Gwen Stefani. Her dance screen credits include Lip Sync Battle, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, The Prom, Justin Bieber's Believe, and Babylon.
Today, Carlena is passionate about preserving and passing on the legacy of hip-hop and street dance culture to the next generation. Beyond movement, she educates dancers on the history, evolution, and revolutionary impact hip-hop music, fashion, and culture have had around the world.
Offstage, Carlena remains deeply committed to the foster youth community. She volunteers as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for children in foster care and works with A Sense of Home to help former foster youth create stable homes and build independent futures.