Pictorial Chronology of The Ballet of Los Angeles

A series of images chronicling the history of The Ballet of Los Angeles. This gallery of images is courtesy of Judith Aaen. This feature is currently being reworked. Please check back again in the near future. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Click…

A History with the Aman Folk Ensemble,
Part III

Michael Alexander recalls the beginnings of the Aman Folk Ensemble, which grew from its beginnings in the early 1960s at UCLA into a major company of international distinction, recognized for its exuberant, authentic recreations of a wide variety of world…

A History with the Aman Folk Ensemble,
Part II

Michael Alexander recalls the beginnings of the Aman Folk Ensemble, which grew from its beginnings in the early 1960s at UCLA into a major company of international distinction, recognized for its exuberant, authentic recreations of a wide variety of world…

A History with the Aman Folk Ensemble, Part I

Michael Alexander recalls the beginnings of the Aman Folk Ensemble, which grew from its beginnings in the early 1960s at UCLA into a major company of international distinction, recognized for its exuberant, authentic recreations of a wide variety of world…

Agnes de Mille: Particular Passions, Women of Wisdom

This chapter from Lynn Gilbert’s book, published in 1981, is reprinted here in its entirety, with permission from the author.

Love At My First Plié

In this article, Jeff Slayton writes of his life in dance. The article covers his time with the Merce Cunningham and the Viola Farber dance companies and his career in Los Angeles and Long Beach since 1978. Included is his…

Reflections on Gloria Newman (From Former Dance Company Members)

The following are recollections by various former Gloria Newman Dance Theater members. ALVIN MAYES I would hear “catch,” and turn around to see a big blonde woman flying through the air into my arms. Of course that was Joella.  She…

Agnes De Mille Said: “You Won’t Catch Me Doing That!”

Dancer Iris Pell writes of her experience performing “Lewitzky Floor Exercises” in “Conversations About the Dance”, a lecture demonstration that was created by Agnes DeMille in 1980 and was videotaped at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles for the PBS…

Dancers For Life 1991-2009

Jo Dierdorff, Professor of Dance at Riverside Community College produced a series of fifteen concerts to benefit the fight against HIV/AIDS.  In response to this pandemic, more than 150 dancers, choreographers, musicians, and designers from Southern California and other regions…

A History of the AMAN Folk Ensemble and the AVAZ International Dance Theatre

Anthony Shay is an Associate Professor of Dance at Pomona College.  He is the founder of AMAN, which became one of the largest and most influential folk dance ensembles in America.  He writes of the early history of the Los Angeles-based group, which…