ANINDO MARSHALL
    ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

   
        ELIZABETH CHIN
   EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Chin has a BFA in Drama from NYU where she trained with Anne Bogart and Stella Adler; she has a PhD in Anthropology from City University of New York where she worked with Delmos Jones and Vincent Crapanzano.   She has studied, taught, and performed Haitian Folklore for over 20 years, both in the U.S. and in Haiti.  Her teachers include Jean Leon Destiné, founder of Haiti’s national ballet, Emerante de Pradines Morse,  Mona Amira, Florencia Pierre,  Elle Johnson and Katherine Dunham.  A professor of Anthropology in the department of Critical Theory and Social Justice at Occidental College, she is at work on an ethnographic project examining contemporary dancers, race, and the preservation of Dunham Technique.  

   
  CHESTER WHITMORE
ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Dancing since 1974, Chester Whitmore originally studied to be a cinematographer. An encounter with famed tap dancer Fayard Nicholas changed his life. Eventually, Mr. Nicholas became his teacher and mentor.
Mr. Whitmore has been jumping ever since. Lately, he has been traveling around the world on tour as dancer, teacher, choreographer, director and entertainer. He and his dance company, Black Ballet Jazz, have performed with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington, the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Frank Foster and the great Miles Davis.
The summer of 1999 sent him touring through Canada and Europe with the Smithsonian Masterworks Jazz Orchestra in a tribute to Duke Ellington.
Chester Whitmore's choreography can be seen in music videos by Weird Al Yankovic, Tina Marie, Boys 2 Men, and most recently, Sugar Ray.
The NAACP Image Awards (1989-1994), Soul of American Music, and Stellar Awards (Gospel     Music Awards) show Mr. Whitmore’s versatility in choreographing for diverse groups, such as the Nicholas Brothers with Savion Glover, M.C. Hammer, Lavert, Bebe and Cece Winans, Vickie Winans and dance tributes to Dick Clark and The Artist (formerly known as Prince).
Teaching assignments included Herrang (Sweden), and dance performances, Salzburg     (Austria), the San Francisco Jazz Festival (1997), the Monterey Jazz Festival (1996), performing with veteran jazz greats Jon Hendricks and Joe Williams.
Mr. Whitmore is actively involved in projects reaching young people through Los Angeles Cultural Affairs events as performer or as teacher for the Parks and Recreation Division, African Marketplace, and in schools and universities throughout the U.S.
Chester Whitmore has taught almost everyone who has made a name in the swing scene.

Only when individuals and nations are able clearly to be aware of theirs and other cultures, see their true values and grasp the universality of these, will the facilities emerge for communication and exchange.

                     -KATHERINE DUNHAM 1978

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