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
Image	ChesterTaps	Monday, October 18, 2010 - 3:02pm	Monday, October 18, 2010 - 3:02pm
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	Chester Whitmore interview with TheActorsChoice	Monday, April 20, 2020 - 8:01pm	Monday, April 20, 2020 - 8:01pm
Event	Chester Whitmore in Detroit for tap and jazz	Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 8:08pm	Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 8:08pm
Event	Chester Whitmore Dancing in the Hood with the Opus One Big Band	Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 8:08pm	Thursday, July 9, 2009 - 8:08pm
Event	Chester Whitmore and the Central Ave Dance Ensemble perform at Barbara Morrison's Juneteenth Show	Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - 1:48pm	Thursday, August 20, 2015 - 5:24pm
Video Embed	Chester Whitmore and Rusty Frank - Vaudeville Act 1993	Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 4:40pm	Tuesday, January 30, 2018 - 12:24pm
Event	Chester Whitmore and CentralAveDance at 4th Annual Los Angeles/Leimert Park Theater Festival	Friday, August 11, 2017 - 7:38pm	Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 12:17pm
Event	Chester Whitmore "Lord of the Swing" Teaches Weekly Swing Class in February	Sunday, February 2, 2020 - 3:28am	Sunday, February 2, 2020 - 3:46pm
Event	Chester Whitmore "Lord of the Swing" Teaches Weekly Swing Class in February	Sunday, February 2, 2020 - 3:25am	Sunday, February 2, 2020 - 3:29am