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The first choreographer I danced with, in 1956, was Olatunji Baba Tunji, in Harlem, NY. The next was Katherine Dunham 1964, to ’66, ending in Paris, Fr. Tally Beatty, Geoffrey Holder, Eleo Parmare, Donald McKayle, Lester Wilson & Anna Sokolow, were some of the iconic choreographers, I subsequently danced with, or in their companies.
I’ve written and presented my “BLACK DANCE HISTORY LECTURE & DEMONSTRATION” program, to 12th graders up to University students and older adults. It’s about all the 16 iconic choreographers, I’ve danced with in my lifetime!
http://www.trinaparkstribute.com
Carol Warner,one of the original dancers from Gloria Newman Dance Theater, a beautiful, incredible, and energy filled dancer died on February 12, 2018, in Maine. RIP
I recently came across a large collection of
16mm color films from the 1950′s which
features various East LA dancers known
as La Paloma Dancers, some of the people
in the films include: Lily Aguilar, Odelia,
Rose Marie, Kathy, Helen Maganya,
Gloria Gomez, Dolores Castillo, and
others. These excellent and beautiful
color images were taken by William and Myrtle
Binkley who lived in Downey.
Can you help! These are precious films
of East LA dancers in the 1950′s when
most of these girls were pre-teen and teenagers.
Debbie 562-866-4203
Don Bondi, my friend and dance partner for over 50 years, passed away on Aug. 8, 2017. It’s a personal loss to me but to the dance community. He will be missed.
I worked with Lois Ellyn for years. So happy to read her bio and see her beautiful photos
I’m 63 and had the honor of taking dance lessons with Corina Valdez and Lily Aguilar. Such fond memories. I also took private lessons with Miss Aguilars daughters, Rosemarie and Blanca.
is Lily Aguilar still alive?
do you have any contact for her?
debbie
I’m 67 and danced with Lily Aguilar and her daughter from 5 to 15. It all started in the Belvedere Park Gym.
Gary Bates passed away on April 14. Go to the Facebook page for words by Fred Strickler
I was so happy to have found this site. I had the privilege to study ballet at Lichine in Beverly Hills under Irina Kosmovska and Tania Lichine. The school closed in 1981 or 1982, and I followed Irina to the Los Angeles Ballet School. I danced in the Los Angeles Junior Ballet for several years and at the age of 15, John Clifford offered my a corps position with the Los Angeles Ballet…both Damian Woetzel and myself were the youngest members of the ballet…this was back in 1983. I developed some health problems shortly thereafter and was sent away to school…I left my professional ballet career behind when I left Los Angeles. However, the amazing training I received from Irina, Tania, John Clifford and many others has stayed with me throughout my life…and I am eternally grateful to have been a part of the Southern California Dance movement in the late 70′s/early 80′s.
Kristen Carnochan-Sylvester
Don Bondi has a published book (Amazon.com) NEAR THE TOP OF THE STAIRS. It chonicles his life with particular emphisis on his varied dancing career as a teacher, choreographer, lighting designer for Kalidescope and member of Gloria Newman Dance Theatre, Bella lewitzky Dance Co. David Wood Dance Company, UCLA Dance Co., Choreogrephers Dance Ensemble, Marion Scott Spirit Dancers. Also his contributions in developing and implementing the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Dance and developed a Theatre Arts program (Later became a music magnet) at Hamilton High School.
In honor of my mother, Rosemarie Aguilar-Delgado, I would like to acknowledge some of her dance partners, friends, and mentors: Jose Greco, Juan Talavera, Luisa Triana, Isabel Lorca, Margo, and all of the dancers affiliate with the Aguilar Dance Company and or Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Folklorico Classes!
I was so delighted to find this site and see so much of my early years brought back.
To Leslie Kimball; whenever I hear Schubert Impromptus I always think of you and how beautiful you were in that piece by Irina.
I too remember fondly Graduation Ball
I had the very good fortune to study with Carmelita Marracci in her later years. A Great teacher – we learned a heck of a lot more than dance. It’s wonderful to see her mentioned in your article.
Dancers in Concert was a short lived lived group who produced 2 Choreographer’s Concets in 1969 and 1970.
Carlton Johnson, Elsie Dunin,Ruby Milsap, EllenSiega, Don Bondi, Steven Peck,Larry Richardson were some of the dancers that paraticiated on these programs
Rose Polsky and Dancers had their Los Angeles premiere of BROKEN at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in June 1990. An extended duet in the piece by Rose and Don Bondi was augmented by dancers Antony Balcena, Elizabeteh Chandler, Sigmund Hightower, Jennifer Kim, and Wendy Pan,
Nan Friedman Dance Company presented INHABITANTS at the Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Art Park in June 1993. This was a site based outdoor theatrical dance about a multigenerational generation family performed around the reflecting pool and grass area at the back ao Hollyhock house. The dancers were Dawn Stoppiello, Scott Hendricks, Alwyn Hight Kusner, and Don Bondi
Would love to see information on the exquisite prima ballerina Karel Shimoff and her famous husband Tommy Rall
I am so very happy to have stumbled across this projects website and looking forward to learning as well as participating. Congratulations to the Steering Committee !
Rachel Rosenthal. RIP Your legacy is a flame
Claudia Chapline has a new book out published by Norfolk Press in San Francisco called ” Moving Out of Frame “, it deals with modern dance, art performance, installlatiion, feminism,
and public art in California
Thank you Tamara McCarty and especially Brad Matsuda for your tireless commitment publishing my 50 year old articles on the history of Balachine’s Ballet of Los Angeles.
Thank You for this site. Bobby Banas, What a gift. I really enjoy how you show us how talented he is!!! Aloha, Amy Kidd
Oleg Tupine taught Ballet for the Gloria Newman dance company at her studio in Anaheim in the
early 1960′s donbondi
Have danced with Stanley, Margaret many years, as well as Gene Marinaccio, Carmelita Maracci, Steven Peck Sayber and Dennon Rawles, Roland Dupree, Fanya Sage and so many more
The best years were 50′s,60′s,70′s,80′s, for dance in LA due to the major support (government and corporate) for the arts and helped it flourish
Hi, I have pictures of my Silayan Dance Company which I would like to share. Here is the link. So glad DHP is around for Los Angeles! Thank you! http://flickeflu.com/photos/45675801@N06
Very much appreciated Jan Deen’s photos.
John Clifford, it was good to see your bio on the website as well as read your comments and see your many contributions to dance in LA and
elsewhere. I look forward to more of your views and shared experiences.
Special appreciation to Brad M, our webmaster, for his perseverance in resolving the process of editing three decades of photographs into an essential collection that now appears on this site.
This is excellent project that will help to foster dance in LA and all of southern California for many years to come..
Everyone talks about Oleg Tupine and his contribution to ballet, but there is very little real information out there about him. I’m trying to find out the name of his studio in LA in the fifties. Anybody? I studied there. thanks
I’m pretty sure I took classes with Oleg Tupine when I was 9 in LA. It was 1957. Anyone know the name of his studio then? Mum used to watch every class because some handsome movie star’s child was in my class. (jeesh!) Anybody?
Who else took class at Stanley Holden Dance Center on Pico Blvd in West L.A. ? It was quite the dance scene back in the 80′s
The Jan Deen Dance Phototheatre-thank you so much for taking me there with those vibrant images.
Thank you guys for launching the dance phototheatre portfolio
What an exciting website! And what a thrill to see so many names from the past that bring up fond memories. I will try to contibute whatever I can from my decade there!
wonderful to know all you’ve been doing and accomplished. jabe warm recollections and send happy reards
Dear Don, a surprise and pleasure to find you again. Your notes are a real service. Wish you could tell even more. Jocelyn Knowles
My love for Modern Dance started as I took classes with Claudia Chapline at the IDEA Company 1974-’76. Wonderful memories.
This is a great site. Thank you.
Love this website. Thank you.
HI Don-
It was a pleasure being introduced to you yesterday by Joe Smoke at the LA Dance Summit. I would love to have a coffee! best Tonia Barber- Dance Camera West
Thank you Steering Committee! Wonderful site!
Nice to see this started!!!
Hello Don…would like to send you a lovely pic of us in one of Irina’s childrens’ ballets of the 1960s. My brother late Brother Greg and I danced with you then….all the best…Leslie Kimble Snow
It was a pleasure to read the bio and tribute by Oscar Nieto to Lola Montes. Lola was a fine and enduring force in Los Angeles. A skilled artist-teacher, she had high standards and was generous with her gifts.
Although her work lives on in her dancers, she is missed and remembered by many. Thank you Oscar for capturing Lola so well.
I studied under Don Hewitt and Joey Harris, I was a member of Joey Harris Company The Group in Los Angeles in the 70′s When He left California in the 80′s we lost track, does any one know where he went or his later history? Ballet and Joey changed my life and I would really like any info possible This site is amazing
for leo tee:
http://oahuleo.tripod.com/index.html
This is a wonderful site and I am so happy to have found it. My great-grandmother was Elizabeth Gellman! She spoke of her students often, including Stella Matsuda!!!
Thank you Fred, for this wonderful article on the tap renaissance. It is a great resource for tap students interested in learning more about tap’s history. I will be sure to pass the link on to all of my students! Bravo, Fred!!
Thrilled to have found this site! Thanks to all who have contributed.
Too many ruth St dennis pictures ,how about the male contingent Michio Ito , Ted Shaw both a part of the LA scene
Brad you are doing a GREAT job putting up this site -don bondi
So wonderful to read the new bios as they come in. Although I knew these people, I learned so much more about them. Thank you DHP for bringing this information to us.
Thank you for this site – what a great remembrance! I am looking to donate dance books – photos, college level or so.
Hoping to be able to contribute to this site with information about film and tv choreographers who made The Movies MOVE
lovely article but my name is spelled Mayes.
I am a Master Teacher of the Katherine Dunham technique (A member of her last professional company) 1964-’66
The Dance History project is a wonderful idea!
Thank you -
I am proud to be a part of this!
Thank you for creating this wonderful website-
Thank you for creating this.
Thank you.
Another dance name…..Elizabeth Lee Inouye – still teaching at Legacy Dance Academy.
This is terrific! Thanks to all who made it possible.
Beautiful beginning! What a marvelous opening for learning and appreciation.
I am honored to be a part of this. Thank you!
This is an excellent website and I am looking forward to exploring its possibilities. Thank you for getting this going!
So excited to be part of this effort…we all have pieces of the legacy to share. Brilliant, Fred!
The Website is wonderful and timely. I look forward to spending many hours in future investigating the rich heritage of Dance in So. Cal. Thanks to all of the creators and developers for this special gift!
Congratulations! Great beginnings. Looking forward to the future
Great website!! I am looking forward to seeing all of our history here.
The Website looks great. Excellent work! I look forward to learning more about a great many people and disciplines and simply remembering others and their contributions to the art.
All the best.
Don
Beautifully done Fred, and KUDOS to all participating on the steering committee! A stellar and timely accomplishment indeed!
Well done, Fred! An inspired idea up and running. It’s been a deep pleasure to work on this with you and all our wonderful colleagues.
Hello everybody, I am new to this website, it promises to be a great tool of communication between the different disciplines of the dance.
I am the Artistic Director of Ballet Folklorico viva Panama, and every year our organization produces a fundraising event for the administration of it.
This year we have a Gala Recognition to Distinguished Panamanians, among them we have, a Hollywood celebrity, a Judge of the Superior Court of Sacramento, an our especial Guest, Vicky Greco, an Entertaiment star of the musical “Viva El Zorro” lately in Salt Lake city. She will be opening our event with a musical from Mitzi Gaynor and she will need two or four guys who could open and accompany her in the musical. We are looking for 2 or 4 volunteers to help her.
Here are two links, one the one where she is perfoming in “Viva El Zorro” and the other is the video of the Mitzi Gaynor’s performance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw7wpoNxkII
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuJEK1xHc1k&feature=BFa&list=PL2BEE6FF5EA8012DF
Please let me know if someone would be interested in helping us. Visit our website for more info: http://www.vivapanama.org
Thanks,
Victor Grimaldo.
great idea to illuminate the role of living or coming from the southern part of california. its history and influence has been great and continues to be so today. something about the atmostphiere climiate and freedom that encourages the art of the dance and the making of dancers and choreogrpahers.
As just a “fan” of dancing, I thoroughly enjoyed your web site. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks to Fred and all who have worked on this site. I am so delighted to be part of it.
As the director of a historic Early California folk dance group (Las Fiesteras), I am thrilled by this new website. Thank you to all involved, I look forward to returning often!
This is wonderful – thank you for putting this together!
Yay for Fred Strickler, the force behind this much needed web site.
I look forward to participting on this site!
I just saw the website for the first time. Beautiful motion and images on the front page! A magnificent beginning.
I have loved working on this website project and am grateful to the Steering Committee and all who have contributed to the creation of this website, especially Bad Matsuda who is responsible for the design. Thanks to all of you for your excellent work.