About Washington Dance Theatre (LWDT)
The Lula Washington Dance Theatre is a Los Angeles-based contemporary modern dance company that celebrated its 30th anniversary in January, 2010! The company’s 30th season included a standing room only performance in Guadalajara, Mexico that left a crowd of 2,000 people cheering and shouting for more; a 17-city national tour sponsored in part by the National Dance Project; and the premieres of three exciting new works: Lula Washington’s new work about high technology: WWW.CONNECTIONS.2010; Christopher Huggins’ passionate “LOVE IS…” and a new dynamic hip hop work, “Reign” by Philadelphia’s Rennie Harris.
The 10-member company takes the “theatre” part of its name seriously – often weaving spoken text; singing and theater techniques into its work. The repertory is usually high energy, theatrical, and accessible. But at other times it is hard hitting, edgy, and evocative with socially conscious explorations of issues related to the African-American experience.
Lula creates choreography to a range of music from Taj Mahal and BB King to Vivaldi, Bach, and Chopin; John Coltrane and Bob Marley. Some works, like Lula’s “Mahal Dances,” are full of humor and fun, while others, like “The Movement” tap into the political and emotional undercurrent of black history. Lula Washington Dance Theatre’s repertory unveils honesty, integrity, and directness of unparalleled power. The company’s repertoire also includes works by Donald Byrd, Donald McKayle, and other talented choreographers.
