Central Ave Dance Ensemble

The Central Avenue Dance Ensemble

The Central Avenue Dance Ensemble is a multi-aged performance group led by Chester Whitmore. Our mission is to perpetuate and promote American Vernacular dances of the 20th Century. These dances include: American street dances such as Leonard Reed’s Shim Sham Shimmy, the Shorty George, the Charleston (1920s) and the Lindy Hop (1920s - 40s). These are in addition to dances derived from them like the Chicago Bop (1960s) which begat Steppin’ (1990s). We aim to show the connections between dance forms from generation to generation and their connection to music and cabaret; to show how American vernacular dances were influenced by African dance and were shaped by spirituality and slavery (liturgical dance) as well as were molded by rhythm and music (tap dance and Salsa). We aim to express the infectious healing qualities of dance, to educate audiences and to spread the joy of dance.

Recent Content:

Type	Title	Post date	Updated/commented date
Event	Cotton Club Night - Association of Black Women Physicians	Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 11:35am	Thursday, August 20, 2015 - 4:47pm
Event	2004-12-18 - Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach	Friday, December 17, 2004 - 12:00am	Sunday, January 21, 2007 - 3:46pm
Event	CentralAveDance at The 5th Annual Uview Media Group Honor Awards 2018	Tuesday, June 19, 2018 - 8:15pm	Tuesday, June 19, 2018 - 8:18pm
Event	The History of Black Dance in America (2015) - Friday	Monday, April 27, 2015 - 4:26pm	Tuesday, November 24, 2015 - 2:43pm
Event	Archive: The History of Black Dance in America (2011)	Tuesday, January 4, 2011 - 9:45am	Thursday, August 20, 2015 - 5:32pm
Event	2005-10-27 - Dance and African-American Music	Thursday, October 13, 2005 - 12:00am	Sunday, January 21, 2007 - 3:46pm
Event	Queen of Swing Documentary hosted by Norma Miller with the Woody Woods Quartet (Las Vegas, NV)	Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 8:08pm	Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 8:08pm
Event	Thixotix Runway Dance Fusion	Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 11:10am	Thursday, August 20, 2015 - 4:45pm
Event	2004-09-04 African Marketplace	Saturday, September 4, 2004 - 12:00am	Sunday, January 21, 2007 - 3:46pm
Event	The History of Black Dance in America - Black History Month 2016	Monday, December 28, 2015 - 10:34pm	Tuesday, March 8, 2016 - 8:24pm