Lula Washington Dance Theatre is celebrating KWANZAA with four unforgettable holiday dance concerts at the Lula Washington Dance Theatre’s Intimate Studio Stage, 3773 Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016.
In the spirit of the Kwanzaa principle of Kujichagulia, (Self-Determination), the dance company will kick off its Kwanzaa celebrations with the Umoja Circle Dinner and Performance on Friday, Dec. 27 at 6 :00 p.m. at the Lula Washington Dance Theatre. This is a fundraiser to support the on-going work of the dance company and school as it closes out its 39th year and prepares for its year #40.
This event includes dinner, a candle lighting ceremony; a champagne toast to ring in the organization’s 40th anniversary in 2020; and a “special” program unique from the other weekend performances.
Our annual Kwanzaa concerts happen as usual on Saturday Dec. 28 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 :30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now at Brown Paper Tickets, 800-838-3006; or, online at www.BrownPaperTickets.com. Ticket prices range from $10 for young children to $35 for the general public. Groups of 10 or more get a 10% discount.
The shows will feature amazing West African drumming and high energy dancing by some of the most talented young artists in Los Angeles!
“We celebrate Kwanzaa every year because it is a cultural holiday that focuses on children, family, and culture,“ said Lula Washington, artistic director of the dance company. “You will see our tiniest tots to our teens, a reunion of returning college students and company alumni– all dancing with our acclaimed adult touring ensemble. It’s beautiful to see the inter-generations of dancers on the stage together, all performing at incredible levels of excellence and passion.”
“Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday based on NGUZO SABA, (Seven Principles), which encourages African Americans to know and celebrate their cultural heritage. Kwanzaa aims for people to recommit to their families and communities; and to remember to be faithful to each other as we go through life,” added Tamica Washington-Miller, associate director of the dance company.
This year, we are focusing on self-determination to craft the kind of future that we want for our next 40 years,” added Erwin Washington, co-founder and executive director. “We want to be sure that we can continue our good work for the future, and that means we have to build broader support financially so the dance and educational work can continue.”
Reviewer Tonya Plank called Lula’s Kwanzaa the “The best dance show she’s seen in Los Angeles.” The New York Times has praised Lula Washington as a “gifted original.”
The Kwanzaa performance is sponsored in part by the Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs; Kaiser Permanente; the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; and Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
