Arts UC-Merced Presents Lula Washington Dance Theatre

Arts UC Merced is delighted to present the Lula Washington Dance Theatre on Saturday, September 29.

The Lula Washington Dance Theatre is a Los Angeles-based repertoire dance ensemble that performs innovative and provocative choreography by Lula Washington. The company tours internationally and has been received with acclaim and admiration by steadfastly focusing on using dance to explore social and humanitarian issues. Lula Washinton’s choregraphy mixes athleticism, performance art, acting, jazz, ballet and street dance styles to reflect the African-American experience, culture and history. The company is composed of well-trained athletic dancers, many from the inner city of Los Angeles. These dancers bring passion, charisma and interpretive power to every performance.

The Lula Washington Dance Theatre was founded in 1980 by Lula and Erwin Washington in the inner city area of South Los Angeles. Since then 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 residences.

Lula Washington attracted the attention of director James Cameron who hired Lula to choreograph the hit movie Avatar. She also choreographed Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

The Lula Washington Dance Theatre has toured more than 100 U.S. cities from big to small including the Kennedy Center; Jacob’s Pillow; the Ordway Theater in Minneapolis; the Joyce Theater in New York; and the Lincoln Center Out of Doors. The company danced in Kosovo in 2008; Guadalajara in 2009; Russia (18 cities) in 2010; China (12 cities) in 2011: and also Brazil in 2011. The company was been invited back to do 12 more cities in Russia in Spring 2012.

Arts UC Merced Presents is an arts presenting program at the University of California Merced dedicated to presenting high quality art of professional performers and fine artists who exhibit their work for students, faculty, staff and our community. Arts UC Merced Presents plays a crucial role in preserving the notion that the arts not only entertain but also educate and enrich.

This engagement is sponsored, in part, by the James Irvine Foundation.