The Lula Washington Dance Theatre has received two exceptional 30th Anniversary gifts – a 22-city performance tour in Russia; and selection as part of the new South Arts Dance Touring Initiative.
The Russian trip kicks off Nov. 8 and lasts through Dec. 13, 2010 — five weeks.
LWDT Executive Director Erwin Washington said a major Russian ballet star fell in love with Lula Washington’s choreography and arranged the tour. “The people in Russia kept telling me that Lula’s work was very unusual and very special,” said Mr. Washington. “They kept telling me that there is nothing quite like it, which is why they are bringing her.”
The tour is scheduled at State Theaters in the following cities: Sochi; Essentuki; Stavropol; Krasnodar; Rostov na Donu; Volgograd; Voroneg; Saratov; Kazan; Nijniy Novgorod; Ufa; Perm; Chelyabinsk; Orenburg; Samara; Yoshkar Ola; Sankt-Petersburg; Sakhalin; Nakhodka; Vladivostok; Habarovsk; and Blagoveshensk.
LWDT will bring two different programs composed of five works by Lula Washington: “We Wore The Mask”; “www.connections.2010”; “The Healers”; “01997-8”; and “Spontaneous Combustion.” Also on the tour will be Donald McKayle’s classic, “Angelitos Negros”; and Christopher Huggins’ new “Love Is…”.
The Russian tour follows Lula Washington Dance Theatre’s 2009 performance at the International Book Fair in Guadalajara, Mexico, where some 1,500 viewers stood for an entire two-hour concert – without intermission — and then screamed for more when the dancing ended.
Lula Washington Dance Theatre has also been chosen for the new South Arts Dance Touring Initiative. The project is designed to strengthen audiences for contempoary modern dance and contemporary ballet. LWDT will begin its tour in October, 2011 at the Cumberland Playhouse in Cumberland, Tennessee. Additional dates are being booked now, with engagements planned also in Kentucky and South Carolina.
This touring activity comes as the dance company is completing a year-long celebration of its 30th anniversary. In January, Lula Washington Dance Theatre gained attention with news that she choreographed James Cameron’s movie, Avatar. The Company premiered Lula Washington’s “WWW.CONNECTIONS.2010” at the Kasser Theatre in Montclair New Jersey, and then went on to premiere five other new works in 2010 — all in celebration of its 30th Anniversary. The new works included “Reign” by Rennie Harris; “Love Is…” by Christopher Huggins; “Ritmo” by Jordi Caballero; “In The Garden” by Tamica Washington-Miller.
This past summer, LWDT collaborated with Grammy Award winner Terence Blanchard at the Hollywood Bowl. Their “Choices” project was so successful, that plans are underway to tour “Choices” next year. (The photo included here is from “Choices” The Photographer is Sol Washington).
Recently, Lula Washington participated in the Grand Finale Women’s Conference in Long Beach, California where Oprah Winfrey received the final Minerva Award from California First Lady Maria Shriver. Lula Washington received the first Minerva Award back in 2004. The award celebrates women who make a major impact on children and families through their work. Other Minerva Award winners include former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; astronaut Sally Ride; Olympic Gold medalist Anita DeFranz; and environmental activist Jane Godall.
LWDT’s 30th Anniversary celebration kicked off in 2009 when LWDT secured a National Dance Project tour grant that allowed it to tour a special 30th program to to 17 US cities.
Lula’s company recently completed concerts in Lexington, Kentucky as part of the celebration of the World Equestrian Games. It presented season-opening shows at SUNY Geneseo and at the Hilman Performing Arts Center in Pittsburgh, PA.
Immediately following the Russian tour, the Lula Washington Dance Theatre will host the 23rd Annual Conference of the International Association of Blacks In Dance. The conference is scheduled for Jan. 27-30, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. It includes concerts; master classes; workshops; and panel discussions. For Information, check the LWDT website at www.lulawashington.org/iabd.
–Erwin Washington
