Explosive, theatrical and energetic modern dance!

Lula Washington Dance Theatre (LWDT), an award-winning African-American dance company, will perform at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m., kicking off The MACC’s 2008-09 Dance Series. Known for their explosive, energetic and theatrical work blending African and modern dance, Lula Washington Dance Theatre is sure to put on a breathtaking and uplifting show for the Maui audience!

LWDT is a 10-member modern dance company founded in 1980 by Lula Washington and her husband, Erwin. Based in South Central Los Angeles, Calif., this company has risen to become one of the largest and most admired African-American dance companies in the West—known for powerful, high-energy dancing, unique choreography and energetic, socially-conscious works that explore aspects of African-American history and culture.

Lula Washington is the main choreographer and “voice” of LWDT. She has created dances about homelessness, the 9/11 tragedy, police brutality, the civil rights movement and the Underground Railroad. But, Lula also has a lighter side. She choreographed dancing fishes in Walt Disney’s The Little Mermaid and has choreographed alien creatures for the James Cameron film, Avatar. Lula has also choreographed classical dances to Bach and Vivaldi, and high energy African dances. LWDT’s repertory unveils honesty, integrity and directness of unparalleled power.

The company is composed of young, athletic dancers, many of whom were groomed in Lula’s inner city dance studio where she works with children as young as 3 years old in a program called, “I Do Dance, Not Drugs!” While Lula encourages her dancers to be excellent performers, she also urges them to be strong teachers that are well-oriented with children and adults of the community.

Lula Washington Dance Theatre will work with a group of about 20 Maui students, grades 7 to 12, from Maui Academy of Performing Arts’ Dance program, who will then perform in Lula’s Oct. 16 Castle Theater show. This is an amazing opportunity for the Maui audience—of all ages—to see modern dance at its best!

Tickets for Lula Washington Dance Theatre are $12, $22 and $32 (half-price for kids 12 and under), with a discount available to MACC annual donors. Visit The MACC Box Office or call 242-SHOW (7469) to charge by phone Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For patron convenience 24 hours a day, purchase tickets online at www.mauiarts.org.