Lula Washington Dance Theatre Perform at Ramona Convent Secondary School

On Wednesday, January 6th, internationally recognized Lula Washington Dance Theatre performed an African-American educational performance at Ramona Convent. Their unique blend of modern dance, ballet, jazz, African, Afro- Caribbean, and street-dance techniques told stories of African-American history and culture. “My favorite part of the performance was when the ballet dancer performed with a traditional African scarf. It was such a difficult routine but the dancer was so flawless. I enjoy performances that creatively expose us to different cultures rather than just lectures,” said Senior Alia Coalwell. After the dance, performers explained the significance of their colored scarves and artistically expressed the meaning of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is the African-American National Anthem. The spirit was felt when students and faculty were invited to participate in dance moves taught by the performers. Mrs. Veronica Puente-Smith, Director of Enrollment & Public Relations shared that “during the entire performance, I just wanted to get up and dance, and I could tell that others felt the same.” Guests from St. Anthony’s Catholic School and All Souls Catholic Tri-lingual Immersion School also visited Ramona to witness the vibrant and inspiring performance.

In continuation of Ramona’s month-long celebration honoring Black History Month, the school will welcome Donzaleigh Abernathy, daughter of the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, as a guest speaker on Wednesday, January 27th. She will be speaking to students about her experience growing up in the civil rights movement, her memories of Dr. Martin Luther King, and peace and justice in general, and how it impacts our daily lives.

Since Ramona is a school that provides a global learning experience, it is important that students understand the history and traditions of various cultures that make up our community. Ramona Convent Secondary School is a college prep school for girls in grades 9 – 12. Students travel through four years with the support of spirited friends and expert, caring teachers while surrounded by the inspiring beauty of a college-like campus.

For more information, visit http://www.ramonaconvent.org/.