Lula Washington is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director for the Lula Dance Theatre, (LWDT). Lula is a choreographer, teaching artist, educator, arts activist, community stakeholder, an advocate for the art of dance, businesswoman, a Wife, a Mother, Grandmother and a Sister.
Through a shared vision, courage, and uncompromising belief in possibility, Lula built LWDT with her husband, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Erwin Washington.
January 2026 marked the 46th Anniversary of LWDT; the longest-running, continuously operated, Black-led, woman-led, dance company, school and cultural arts institution founded in Los Angeles. LWDT owns its dance home on historic Crenshaw Blvd. The dance company and organization are revered across the United States and worldwide. The professional Company has danced in over 160 United States cities, Germany, Spain, Kosovo, Mexico, Canada, China, New Zealand, Russia, Israel and Brazil.
LWDT was founded in a climate of barriers and challenges of the times; deep seeded systemic racism and the marginalization of communities of color; the Crack epidemic and harsh realities of gang violence surrounded her studio on Adams Blvd. There were limited opportunities for African American, and people of color in the arts and in the Los Angeles dance community of the time. Lula and Erwin decided to fill that void and create a space where African American choreographers could develop their skills and make dance art; and where young people and the community could learn the craft and hone skills through the art of dance. The LWDT school and its programs continue to be a model for other local dance and performing arts organizations. It remains important to Lula that she owns the space. Ownership makes LWDT a stakeholder in the neighborhood. It gives LWDT a consentient, safe, clean environment that encourages creative expression and personal growth; which is in alignment with Lula’s goals to develop world class dancers, creative citizens and leaders through the art of dance.
Many told Lula and Erwin that it was impossible for their dream to come true. With Lula’s resilience and Erwin’s tenacity and brilliant business mind, the two have transformed the organization into an internationally recognized institution.
Lula’s determination, grit, community spirit, and resilience come from her upbringing as the oldest of eight children in the Nickerson Gardens housing project in Watts. Growing up in intense poverty, she could not afford dance lessons, (and did not know it existed for her). Her family danced outside on the porch to an old radio on the weekends. Music and social dancing was everywhere. She worked late-night shifts at movie house downtown selling popcorn and a skating rink was oN Washington Boulevard. Despite these steep systemic barriers, she followed her heart and passion and ultimately changed the trajectory of her life and many others along the way.
Lula stumbled upon modern dance at Harbor Community College, where a dance instructor introduced her to the work of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Mesmerized by the beauty of Ailey’s dancers, Lula decided to pursue a career in dance. Soon afterward, Lula applied to University of California, Los Angeles’ (UCLA) dance program and was rejected. The University said she was too old at age 22 to begin a dance career. By this time, Lula was already married to Erwin and they were raising a small child, Tamica, (the current Associate Director and rising Executive Artistic Director for LWDT).
Unwilling to take no for an answer, Lula and Erwin wrote and submitted an impassioned appeal for admission. A retiring dean was moved by the passion in the letter and called Lula in to meet in person. Lula promised she would work hard and not let him down if he let her into the school. The Dean granted her appeal as his last act before retiring, saying that anyone with her determination, drive and eloquence deserved a chance.
Lula received her B.A. and her Master of Fine Arts in Dance from UCLA. While there, Lula danced in the Academy Awards telecast, films including: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Band, Funny Lady with Barbara Streisand, King Kong and many others. She toured with Cher; the television show Comedy Tonight, she established the Black Dance Association at UCLA, bringing artists of color to the UCLA campus, and found time to dance and tour with local dance companies and choreographers including Margalite Oved, R’Wanda Lewis, the Marilyn Mask Dancers, William Couser, Birch Mann Americana Folk Ballet and Gloria Newman Modern Dance Company.
Lula has received hundreds awards over the decades. She has numerous recognitions, proclamations and awards from Local and State Government Leadership, Local and National organizations; to name a few:
2025 “Dance Magazine Award”, for her contributions to the national dance ecosystem; 2025 “Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Diva’s Simply Singing, Arts Activist Award” for her dedicated work in communities; the “Dance/USA Champion Award”, Lula and Erwin were given the prestigious honor for their outstanding service, and dedicated efforts to the national dance ecosystem; the “Carter G. Woodson Civil Rights Award” from the National Education Association for her Reflections In Black school performance program; the “Rosenfeld Prize” from UCLA for bringing Reflections In Black to more than 28,000+ thousand school children at UCLA Royce Hall over 15 years; the “UCLA Community Service Award” for her commitment to her community; the “Uncommon Angel Award” from the LA Commons organization for “transforming the face of Crenshaw Boulevard” by relocating her dance studio there. Lula was in the inaugural cohort of women to receive a “Minerva Award”, from the State of California by First Lady Maria Shriver. These awards honored remarkable women who stepped forward with courage, strength, and wisdom to make a significant impact on their communities. During the award ceremony at the Governor's Conference for Women, Shriver honored Lula as an outstanding "architect of change", praising her for dedicating her life to furthering positive change, particularly through the Lula Washington Contemporary Dance Foundation and her work in the Los Angeles community. Lula happened to be the first to be awarded that day by Oprah Winfrey.
Sitting President Joe Biden awarded the “National Medal of Arts” to the International Association of Blacks in Dance, (IABD), for expanding the nation's appreciation for the practice and preservation of dance from the African Diaspora. The award was received at the White House by Lula along with her sister Founders, Joan Myers Brown, Ann Williams, Cleo Parker Robinson and Debbie Blunden-Diggs, (for her mother Jeraldyne Blunden) and sitting President and CEO of IABD, Denise Sanders-Thompson, received the award at the White House.
Lula is looking forward to the continuation of LWDT as the organization prepares for new leadership. “I see LWDT continuing to thrive and uplift the art of dance in the African American community and abroad. I want our space on Crenshaw and Coliseum, to always be a bright light”.