Monday, March 7, 2016

Festival Performers Spotlight #2: Raissa Simpson and Ashley Gayle!

                          The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival
is proud to present
The 23rd Annual Festival
"Telling Our Truths"
  
Thursday, March 24 - Sunday, March 27, 2016

The Electric Lodge
1416 Electric Avenue
Venice, CA 90219
The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival (LAWTF) marks 23 years of producing over 500 extraordinary multicultural and multidisciplinary solo performers from around the globe.
  
The longest-running Annual Solo Festival for women in Los Angeles, LAWTF will return March 24-27, 2016 to the Electric Lodge, located at 1416 Electric Ave., Venice, California 90219.
  
The Champagne GALA and Awards Ceremony on March 24, 2016, "A Toast To Greatness," will be held in honor of exceptional women who have made laudable contributions in theatre. Following the reception at 7:00 p.m., the festivities continue at 8:00 p.m.  Hosted by Starletta DuPois (The Notebook) and Shabaka Henley (Black-ish), this year's Theatre Awards that will be bestowed upon Eloise Laws (Eternity Award), Sandra Evers-Manly ( Integrity Award) Marja-Lewis Ryan (Maverick Award),  Ana Maria Alvarez and Dr. Chantal Rodriguez (Rainbow Award) and posthumously, Elizabeth Pena (Infinity Award).  
Entertainment for the evening of Thursday, March 24, 2015 will include:
           
Raissa Simpson and Ashley Gayle
"Study On A Butterfly"
 choreographer, Raissa Simpson


From San Francisco, "Study On A Butterfly" showcases points of transformation amidst limitations of movement. From sources of her struggle with degenerative joint disease, Raissa Simpson draws on her experience to develop metamorphic movement.
Raissa Simpson (Choreographer) is Artistic Director of PUSH Dance Company in San Francisco. After receiving her BFA from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase, Simpson had an extensive performance career in the San Francisco Bay Area dancing with Robert Moses' Kin and Joanna Haigood's Zaccho Dance Theatre, among others. Hailed by Dance Spirit Magazine as "Reflective Contemporary Choreography," she has presented her work at Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech, Sacramento State University, Joyce SoHo, San Francisco State University, Washington Ensemble Theater, Evolve Dance Festival in NY, Los Angeles Theater Center, Black Choreographers Festival, Renberg Theater and many more.


dancer, Ashley Gayle
Ashley Gayle (Dancer) was born and raised in the Bay Area and found her passion for dance at the age of three. She was trained in an array of dance forms growing up and was honored to train and perform at Alvin Ailey in New York. Ashley graduated from University of California, Irvine with a BFA in Dance-Performance and a Business Management minor in 2012.

Throughout her time spent at UCI, Ashley was accepted into the Jazz Ensemble, led by Sheron Wray, and trained with Loretta Livingston, Jodie Gates, Molly Lynch, Donald McKayle and Tracy Bonner. Ashley returned to the Bay Area in 2013 and became a member of Alayo Dance Company under the direction of Ramon Alayo. She joined PUSH Dance Company in 2014 and showcased her choreography at PUSHfest that fall.
 
To see Raissa Simpson and Ashley Gayle engaging performance of "Study On A Butterfly" and other dynamic solo shows, please join us for the 23rd Annual Festival " Telling Our Truths" to be held at the Electric Lodge in Venice. 
For tickets and any additional information, please call LAWTF at
(818) 760-0408 or visit our website at www.lawtf.org.

We hope to see you there!   

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