By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — The vibrant rhythms and rich heritage of African-American culture will be on display at the Lula Washington Dance Theatre’s 45th anniversary Kwanzaa Celebration, set to take place Dec. 28-29.
The event, a blending of Lula Washington’s youth dancers and the professional members of the world-famous international touring company, marks the grand finale of the organization’s 45th year.
“We celebrate because Kwanzaa is important,” Lula Washington said. “It’s a celebration of African-American history and culture created by professor Maulana Karenga in 1966 after the Watts Riots. He found a way to bring our community together so we can heal, and so we can know that we have a rich history and culture.
“Kwanzaa reaffirms who we are as African-American people,” Washington added. “We can not allow our history and our culture to be erased. We can not let people diminish us or our accomplishments. Kwanzaa is about uplifting the community, friends, students, families and our elders. We want to keep the joy of who we are.”
While it’s primarily an African-American holiday, Washington said, “It’s a celebration of family, community, and friends.”
“Our community is not just made up of African-American people,” she said. “It’s made up of a tribe, a village. We have many different cultures here. That’s one of the reasons I celebrate Kwanzaa.”
The festival highlights the seven principles of Kwanzaa, emphasizing the building of strong families, communities and individuals. It’s a celebration of culture, not a religious observance.
“We’re not trying to instill any kind of spiritual practice or religious practice, but rather to have faith in yourself,” said Tamica Washington-Miller, associate director of the Lula Washington Dance Theatre and the daughter of founders Lula and Erwin Washington. “This is a celebration for the community.”
There are seven principles of Kwanzaa, one for each day of the week-long celebration. They are: Umoja (Unity), to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race; Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves; Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), to build and maintain our community together, making our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and solving them together; Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), to build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses, profiting from them together; Nia (Purpose), to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community, restoring our people to their traditional greatness; Kuumba (Creativity), to do always as much as we can, in the way we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited; and Imani (Faith), to believe with all our heart in our people, parents, teachers, and leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
“We don’t wait until December 26 to implement the principles of Kwanzaa,” Washington-Miller said. “We implement the principles of Kwanzaa in our daily practice here at the studio.”
Washington-Miller said the principles of Kwanzaa are instilled in the organization’s students.
“We want the kids to know that this is a community,” Washington-Miller said. “We have to care of each other. Self-determination is a daily practice and dance in our daily life.”
Washington-Miller said students are taught to have faith in themselves.
“We tell them they can get through anything,” Washington-Miller said. “Whether it’s a test, whatever is happening at school, you can get through it by faith. All of this is part of who they’re going to be. Develop your character. Develop yourself and your self-confidence and self-determination.”
The Kwanzaa celebration will include the fusion of dance, storytelling, and live African drumming, featuring the company’s acclaimed Harambe Suite, which blends classical ballet, modern and street dance with traditional African dance and live drumming.
The suite has been expanded with new sections that showcase the company’s growth and creativity. Washington-Miller said 25 dancers from the Lula Washington Dance Theatre will bring to life the stories and traditions of Kwanzaa.
The live music features Veritus Millers’ Truth Troop’s unique sound, which fuses soul, funk and R&B with jazz instrumentation; West African drumming, led by Jelani Blunt; and special guest Nahshon Dion, an award-winning writer and emerging filmmaker, who will participate on Dec. 28 only to present an excerpt from his upcoming anthology, responding to the 2025 Altadena fires.
“This celebration is designed for the community,” Washington-Miller said. “It’s always a wonderful event. My parents have been doing this for so many years. I’m in awe of what my parents have accomplished with this company.”
On Dec. 27, (Kujichagalia-Self Determination), the Umoja Circle, a private event, takes place. The gathering is a chance for like-minded individuals to support the organization’s mission. The public’s participation helps to elevate the Next Generation Leadership Team and cultivate internships, apprenticeships and scholarships.
Included this year are new sections to the Harambe Suite and a sneak preview of a new documentary by Marcus L. Miller about the legacy of African dance and drumming in Los Angeles. A minimum donation of $250 is required for this event.
The Lula Washington Dance Theatre Kwanzaa Celebration is at 3 p.m. Dec. 28 and at 6 p.m. Dec. 29. General admission tickets are $45 with students and senior citizens over 65 at $35. Tickets for children 12 and under are $15.
Doors open an hour before each performance. Attendees can come early to connect and participate in a communal art project. There also will be a communal art project, chess, checkers, and a photo booth, plus refreshments.
The Lula Washington Dance Theatre is at 3773 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles. Parking is free in the adjacent parking lot.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
