Thursday, March 28, 2024

LA Phil @ 100 x CicLAvia-Let the Good Times Roll

Lula Washington Dance Theatre: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

*Los Angeles – One hundred thousand attendees heeded the invite from the LA Phil for a FREE celebration with hundreds of musicians, artists, dancers, family activities and much more!

You can consider yourself fortunate if you took part of this history-making event. This event, one of many, put the spotlight on the LA Phil as it started its Centennial season with an epic festival showcasing L.A.’s creative spirit, with 1800 musicians, artists, and dancers gathered to perform at the festival’s six hubs and along the eight-mile route itself.

The LA Phil in partnership with CicLAvia and Community Arts Resources (CARS), made it all possible for certain streets of LA to be without cars for a day. Beginning at 9:00am, participants were able to walk, run, skate, scoot, bike and wander to their hearts content, through car-free streets, where six hubs played home to performance stages, arts installations, food trucks, screen printing, engaging family activities and more.

Buzzing cycle: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

LA Phil’s Centennial Celebration- Celebrate LA! Was a gift to the city showcasing and honoring the rich heritage and diversity of Los Angeles through song, dance, music and art.

The various hubs included Walt Disney Concert Hall, Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles in MacArthur Park, Koreatown, Melrose, Hollywood and the Hollywood Bowl.

I was posted up at the Walt Disney Concert Hall to hear and witness an amazing roster of musicians. My day started off with Members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, followed by Cleary Irish dance and the powerful sounds and timely message with Las Cafeteras.

A cultural smorgasbord was on full display, as I enjoyed the Kayamanan Ng Lahi Dancers, followed by Calder Quartet and Phoebe Bridgers.

Kayamanan Ng Lahi: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Versa-Style Dance Company pumped up the proceedings with an energetic, impactful set of hip-hop dance routines. Poncho Sanchez Latin Band fired it up with some Latin Jazz and Salsa, marinated in Soul.

Poncho Sanchez: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Poncho Sanchez Latin Band: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Poncho Sanchez Latin Band: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Our journey continued to the beautiful, enchanting island of Hawaii with the vibrant, colorful crowd pleasing performance of Keali’i O Nalani dancers. Jason White & Company raised their voices in a joyous Praise to God.

Jason White and Company: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

DaM-Funk (DJ Set) rocked the house, while holding down the ones and twos. The crowd got their groove on while being entertained with an Old School soundtracks that they sang along to.

DaM-Funk: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Lula Washington Dance Theatre time in the spotlight was awe-inspiring, exhilarating and jubilant. Pink Martini’s set and WDCH Dreams was awesome and dazzling!

Lula Washington: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Lula Washington Dance Theatre: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, that’s not all. The festival concluded on a grand note, in grand style with a FREE concert at the Hollywood Bowl, where Gustavo Dudamel led the Los Angeles Philharmonic with very special guests- including Katy Perry, Herbie Hancock, Kali Uchis, Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), and more to the Hollywood Bowl Stage. We were indeed fortunate to participate in CELEBRATE LA!

Ricky Richardson is a Southern California based writer, music reviewer and photographer. Contact him via: [email protected]

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