JANA SUMMERS Students stretch in a West African dance
class held Wednesdays at the Dance Collective in Leimert Park
Village.
By Kenny Chang
Daily Bruin Reporter
The bustling center of Leimert Park is the mecca for African
American appreciation.
Located off the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and 43rd
Street, African American themes emanate from Leimert Park
Village’s small, promenade-like shopping area.
“It’s an African American cultural village,”
said Laura Hendrix, president of the Leimert Park Merchants
association. “As of 10 years ago, what we have tried is to
bring in different businesses that are mainly cultural types of
businesses.”
In the daytime, there are boutiques and restaurants available
for visiting, but at night, there emerges an entirely different
atmosphere altogether.
As visitors walks down Degnan Street in the middle of the
village, sounds of jazz playing, mixed with poetry readings, spoken
word and the full sounds of drums all resonate together in a
composition of African heritage.
At the Dance Collective, live drummers play and anyone can hear
the music and watch as students learn West African style
dancing.
Patrons line up to watch, and people pour out the door, as there
is so much interest in the practices.
“I encourage people to take these dances and use them in
their lifestyle, the way they were used in Africa,” said
Nzingha Camara, dance instructor for the Dance Collective and
former UCLA World Arts and Cultures professor. “They were
used as entertainment, for special events or to celebrate all
cycles of life. The culture is preserved in this way.”
“We keep the doors open so people can come in and
appreciate the sights and sounds,” Camara added. “We
have always had a positive response from everybody.”
JANA SUMMERS Music classes, and other lessons in various art
forms, are offered at the Leimert Park. Down the street, located on
43rd Place, there is always the sound of live entertainment that
reverberates from the Kitchen on 43rd Place, Inc., a soul food
restaurant that has nightly performances from Wednesday through
Sunday. People interested can also sign up and jam with the jazz
players as well.
“Leimert Park is like a village atmosphere,” said
Kevin Davis, manager of the Kitchen on 43rd Place, Inc. “The
jazz here helps to contribute to this good atmosphere, and the
community is receiving it well.”
Whether it’s soul food, jazz, poetry reading or West
African dance, Leimert Park is alive with historical art forms and
customs.
It has been maintaining its identity through the use of
independent merchants and their orientation toward an African
American culture.
“We don’t want a big commercial area here because it
loses the flavor and just takes away from what we’re trying
to do here,” said Hendrix. “I’ve seen other
areas, like Old Town Pasadena for example, where they refurbished
the area and moved a lot of the little people out. It loses the
flavor of the area.”
With this sort of direction, the future of Leimert Park Village
looks bright.
Leimert Park officials have been working with the City Council
and the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau to promote
smaller cultural areas like Leimert Park and other places like Thai
Town for tourism.
However, what it all boils down to is that there is an area
functioning directly in celebrating the African American
heritage.
There’s no other concentrated location quite like this in
southern California, and Leimert Park Village is definitely an
asset to the diverse Los Angeles community.
“The African American people really need someplace they
can go to enjoy the culture,” said Hendrix. “Leimert
Park is a place where African Americans and others can come walk
the streets and feel comfortable.”