On the busy streets of Crenshaw Boulevard sits the Lula Washington Dance Theater, which has been a pillar for both dance and expression since 1980. Inside Studio A, dancers' loud claps echo across the room, and the dancers join together in a pulse of energy. As they jump through the air, the feeling of their feet hitting the ground vibrates through the floors. On the sidelines you feel the music move through your body.
The Lula Washington Dance Theater was created by Lula Washington and Erwin Washington in Los Angeles. Co-founder and main choreographer Lula Washington is known for her powerful movements, which takes inspiration from all forms of African dance, hip-hop, jazz, and ballet. Washington creates dynamic repertoire that showcases stories of resilience, power, and inspiration.
The dancers are currently practicing for their August showcase at The Ford. This performance is the celebratory event for the dance theater's 45th anniversary and will be showcasing original works The Master Plan by Lula Washington and And We Can Fly by Tamica Washington-Miller. Alongside them, the LWDT will be bringing out historic works of American dance such as Songs of the Disinherited by Donald McKayle, Mourners Bench by Tally Beatty, and Deep Song and Satyric Festival Song by Martha Graham. Together these pieces tell stories of suffering, anguish, joy and exploration to create a performance that leaves the audience's eyes glued to the stage.
The Lula Washington Dance Theater was built on the foundation of family, the legacy still carrying on 45 years later. Tamica Washington-Miller, the named successor of the Lula Washington Dance Theater and daughter of Lula Washington has grown up with the dance company, seeing it being built from the ground up.
“I literally grew up in the studio with my mom. She was 19 or 20 when she had me. Very young but old enough to know that she had a vision and a passion,” she explains.
Together the dancers of the Lula Washington Dance Theater work together, pushing their bodies to tell a story. “I think that resilience is a common thing for us, those of us who do the art, because something is on the inside telling you to tell that story or to create that thing that nobody can see but you,” Tamica Washington-Miller explains. As you watch these stories unfold in front of your eyes, you feel the dedication and passion of the dancers radiate off of them.
Reaching far to achieve their goals has been a core part of the 45-year-old history of the Lula Washington Dance Theater. From embracing her love of dance in parks under the guidance of legendary dancer Catherine Dunham and actress Eartha Kitt, to co-founding the Lula Washington Dance Theater, Lula Washington breaks boundaries in the world of dance.
At the Lula Washington Dance Theater the dancers work together to bring to life a breathtaking repertoire. Teamwork is essential to the core of these pieces; from the sidelines you hear the other dancers count to the tempo of the music, giving their support.
About the author: Ruth Gutierrez is a queer photographer from Highland Park and discovered her love for photography in 2016. She hasn't looked back since and continues to merge her point of view with both film and digital formats.
Images by Ruth Gutierrez.
This photo essay is supported by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture.