Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Dance Agenda: Lula Washington Dance & Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Right here in Hollywood, across from the Bowl, is a county-owned structure that offers cultural opportunities for all Angelenos. The John Anson Ford Theater is an outdoor, multi-level stage nestled into the hills that often programs events created and produced by local arts organizations. Sometimes these shows are good and sometimes they are better than good. This weekend, for only one night, hometown hero Lula Washington Dance Theatre is bringing her company and guest artists (from New York) Complexions Contemporary Ballet to present one of the better productions in what they call the Inaugural Zev Yaroslavsky Signature Series. In the series produced by the LA County Arts Commission, this first event celebrates a twenty year anniversary of programming at the venue, where summers are often filled with dance. Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s performance will include a solo choreographed by world-renown dance maker and ex-Alvin Ailey dancer Dwight Rhoden and performed by company co-director with as many accolades as his partner, Desmond Richardson. Their company will dance another Rhoden piece featuring music by pop music's U2 while Lula Washington Dance Theatre performs pieces from their extensive repertory.
Multi-cultural Complexions, co-directed by Richardson and Dwight Rhoden, has received numerous awards including the New York Times “Critics Choice” Award and has appeared throughout the US, as well as in many European dance festivals. Promotional materials assert that "whether it be the limiting traditions of a single style, period, venue, or culture, Complexions transcends them all, creating an open, continually evolving form of dance that reflects the movement of our world—and all its constituent cultures—as an interrelated whole."
Based right here in South LA, in a sterling edifice built solely for dance, the Lula Washington Dance Theatre (LWDT) performs innovative and provocative choreography by Ms. Washington. The company tours internationally, offers instruction and interaction with its community of all ages and promotional materials stress that it is "steadfastly focused on using dance to explore social and humanitarian issues, including aspects of African-American history and culture." From the same sources, we learn that LWDT was founded in 1980 and the company "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.
Need we say more? Tickets for the Saturday, August 10 show at 8:00 pm range from $40-$80.
Support for LAist comes from
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist