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	Thixotix Runway Dance Fusion	Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 11:10am	Thursday, August 20, 2015 - 4:45pm
Event	2005-02-20 - New Creation Christian Faith Center	Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 12:00am	Sunday, January 21, 2007 - 3:46pm
Event	CADE performs at 2nd Annual Tango On The Streets	Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 2:02pm	Thursday, August 20, 2015 - 5:25pm
Event	L.A. Trade Tech Dance Ensemble Reunion '06	Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 8:08pm	Thursday, August 20, 2015 - 5:10pm
Event	Chester Whitmore "Lord of the Swing" Teaches Weekly Swing Class in February	Sunday, February 2, 2020 - 3:26am	Sunday, February 2, 2020 - 3:27am
Event	Archive: The Origins of Black Dance (2014)	Monday, April 27, 2015 - 3:33pm	Tuesday, July 21, 2015 - 2:39pm
Event	Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?	Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 8:08pm	Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 8:08pm
Event	CHESTER WHITMORE'S TAP & JAZZ REVUE at Union Station Los Angeles	Monday, July 3, 2017 - 5:50pm	Friday, July 14, 2017 - 10:25am
Event	The Los Angeles Public Library presents: "The History of Black Dance in America"	Saturday, August 21, 2021 - 4:18pm	Saturday, August 21, 2021 - 4:18pm
Event	2005-02-18 - Swingin In The Hood	Friday, February 18, 2005 - 12:00am	Wednesday, January 4, 2017 - 10:01pm