Lula Washington Dance Theatre
On Tour
The Lula Washington Dance Theatre tours internationally and has been received with acclaim and admiration.
Lula Washington Dance Theatre
“Ms. Washington’s choreographic vocabulary comprises modern dance, low crouching and stamping movements inspired by African dance and, occasionally, ballet. It’s a perfectly pleasant and functional mix, and in “We Wore the Mask” Ms. Washington displays a sure theatricality that is captivating.” —The New York Times
The Company tours internationally and has been received with acclaim and admiration. Lula Washington has steadfastly focused on using dance to explore social and humanitarian issues, including aspects of African-American history and culture.
LWDT was founded in 1980 by Lula and Erwin Washington in the inner city area of South Los Angeles, California. Since then, LWDT has risen to become one of the most admired African-American contemporary dance companies in the West – known for powerful, high-energy dancing, unique choreography, and exceptional educational residencies.
The Company is composed of young, athletic dancers, many of whom were groomed in Lula Washington’s inner city dance studio. While Lula Washington encourages her dancers to be excellent performers, she also emphasizes the importance of being leaders in their communities.
LWDTe’s repertoire unveils honesty, integrity, and creativity of unparalleled power – with Lula Washington as the main choreographer and “voice” of LWDT.
Lula Washington augments her choreography with dances by master artists Donald McKayle; Katherine Dunham; Donald Byrd (“The Color Purple”); Louis Johnson (“The Wiz”); Christopher Huggins; and local icon, Rudy Perez. The Company also performs works by talented, emerging choreographers such as Tamica Washington-Miller, Associate Director of LWDT.
Lula Washington Dance Theater (LWDT) has performed at such venues as Lincoln Center Out of Doors; the Joyce Theatre; the New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Jacob’s Pillow; the Ordway Theater in Minneapolis; the Pioneer Center in Reno, Nevada; the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; and at theaters in Germany, Spain, Mexico and St. Croix, Virgin Islands. In addition to touring, LWDT dances in scores of schools each year.