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…

Video: Iris Pell Floor Exercises

The following video clip is an excerpt from the PBS presentation, “Conversations About the Dance”, hosted by Agnes de Mille. The clip is a demonstration of Bella Lewitzky’s technique, with Iris Pell performing solo floor exercises. This was first performed…

The DHP Image Gallery

The following photos highlight the various genres and periods of dance in Southern California. This feature is currently being reworked. Please check back again. Click an image for a full screen view.

Rudy Perez – I Could Have Gone Bowling

The following is based on an interview with Fred Strickler I videotaped, April 22, 2012, during Rudy’s class and rehearsal. For two hours he effortlessly shifted from memory to teaching to creativity, talking about his life and work while giving…

Notes on The Tap Renaissance

In January, 1979, the Jazz Tap Ensemble was created by three dancers and three musicians:  Lynn Dally, Camden Richman and Fred Strickler; Paul Arlanian, pianist, Tom Dannenberg, guitarist, and Keith Terry, percussionist.  They made their debut at Pacific Motion Dance…

A Chronology of Dance Kaleidoscope

A Chronology of Dance Kaleidoscope

 

Dancing With the UCLA Dance Faculty

In Part 1 of this article, Choreographer/Dancer/Educator Sharon Took-Zozaya recalls her studies with several members of the UCLA Dance Department Faculty from 1972 to 1975 as an undergraduate student, and during her graduate studies in Kinesiology between 1977-1978.  In Part…

A History of Mexican Folklorico in Southern California

Choreographer, artistic director, and dance advocate Gema Sandoval writes about Folklorico in the growth of this art form from its origins and how it evolved into the present day as a central expression of Mexican American culture.  One of the…

Dance Kaleidoscope: A Personal History

It was an article in the LA Times about the state of dance in1988 and a comment from post modern choreographer Rudy Perez that first made me focus on the importance of the then defunct Dance Kaleidoscope Festival. Mr. Perez…

A Brief History of My Adventures in Dance Based in Los Angeles

Dance artist/educator Linda Gold writes about creating the Dance Department at Santa Monica College, dancing and performing in Los Angeles, her international work, her long association with Dr. Alma Hawkins, and her research on the work of Jack Cole.  Ms….