Artist Detail

• Tell-a-friend

Lori Dismuke

Composer - Dancer - Visual Artist

About the artist: DANCE BIOGRAPHY OF LORI L. DISMUKE

I will be dancing until the day I die. I have experienced dancing in the center of the living room floor to dancing center stage in Queens, New York. My background includes Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Iranian, Caribbean, and West African dances. Since the age of 14, I have danced solo as well as with community, private, and school groups within Southhern California. I know that dance will always be a part of my life.

I have experience as a dance choreographer and instructor. My training in choreography came from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) where I received a BA degree in Psychology and a minor in Dance. During my undergraduate study at UCR, I organized and choreographed a student dance group called “Edide African Dance Group.” The group successfully performed throughout Southern California from 1996 to 1998. In 1998 I performed as a solo choreographer and dancer in the ”UCR’s Dancing,” annual showcase. I have performed for more than 10 years with the AVAZ International Dance Theater, a Middle Eastern dance company. With this company I have performed both as a dance captain and soloist. During the summer of 2000, I choreographed Middle Eastern dances for the California Youth Project’s play called “Seven Baskets for Khalid.” I taught dance to “at risk” youth during my active membership with a community outreach organization known as the University Eastside Community Collaborative AmeriCorps Project. I have also taught West African dance classes at UC Riverside and local community organizations. Operating as an instructor, choreographer, and performer of dance I have found dance spiritually, mentally, and physically satisfying. In August 2002, I received my Master of Arts degree in Dance History and Theory. My research focused on ritual dances involving mental states of trance performed as religious worship among the people of Nigeria, West Africa.

I am also the founder and artistic director of “WE THE PEOPLE” Cultural Dance Troupe. Our mission is to encourage community awareness and appreciation for the commonalities of world drum and dance practices. My future goal is to open a cultural dance/art center where the drum and dance troupe activities can be held. Drum classes, dance classes, community events, workshops and more will also be held at the center. Overall, I believe that dance offers the body, mind and soul, a tangible means of expressing cultural, historical, and social meaning to be shared by all.


Lori L. Dismuke
PERSONAL RESUME

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

§ Solid writing, communicating, and interpersonal skills.

§ Effective organizational skills and ability to work productively under pressure.

§ Maintain a reliable “team player” philosophy.

§ Experienced in event coordinating, as well as, program planning, development and management.

§ Also experienced in dance choreography, instruction, and performance.

DANCE EXPERIENCE

CHOREOGRAPHY/INSTRUCTION/PERFORMANCE

“WE THE PEOPLE” Cultural Drum & Dance 4/00-Present
P.O. Box 56101, Riverside, CA

I am the founder and Artistic Director for this 501c3 non-profit organization. Our mission is to build community awareness and appreciation for the commonalities of world drum and dance practices by giving educational and artistic performances, lectures, and workshops. We currently present West African, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern dance forms. Some of my duties include coordinating, program planning/development, grant writing, fundraising, choreographing, teaching, and performing.


AVAZ INTERNATIONAL DANCE THEATRE 1/95-Present
Los Angeles, CA

My most recent positions have included performer, soloist, and dance captain. I have also functioned as Assistant Director during the 2003 performance season of “Guran,” and have performed group and solo dances drawn from traditional court and tribal forms of the Middle Eastern culture. The performances have been displayed throughout the state of California, in New York, Washington DC, and in Florida.

EJI’DIDE AFRICAN DANCE ENSEMBLE
a.k.a. EDIDE AFRICAN DANCE GROUP 12/95-6/99
U.C. Riverside, CA

I was the founder, choreographer, and performer in this student dance group. We performed several dances drawn from modern dance techniques and traditional dance forms from West Africa (ie. Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria). Dances were performed throughout the Inland Empire and in the city of Los Angeles. The group received outstanding recognition from many of its sponsors and from newspaper reviews in The Press-Enterprise and the UCR Highlander newspapers.


DANCE PROJECTS/PROGRAMS HISTORY

RIVERSIDE ARTS COUNCIL “ARTS & MINDS” PROGRAM 2003-2006
RIVERSIDE PLAZA SUMMER PERFORMANCE SERIES 2005-2005
SAN BERNARDINO ARTS COUNCIL “PRIMETIME” PROGRAM 2003-2004
RIVERSIDE ARTS COUNCIL “PRIMETIME” DANCE PRESENTATION MAY 2004
LSDC ARTISTIC CARE PROGRAM 6/04-8/04
WTP ANNUAL DRUM & DANCE FESTIVAL 5/03, 5/04 & 5/05
UECC “EASTSIDE STORY” THEATRE PROJECT 9/03-2/04
NYSP SUMMER PROGRAM & FINE ARTS PRESENTATION 6/01-7/01
CALIFORNIA YOUTH THEATRE PROJECT AUG 2000
UECC AMERICORPS PROJECT

EDUCATION

M.A. Dance History & Theory, University of California, Riverside 08/02
B.A. Psychology, University of California, Riverside 12/98
Minor in Dance, University of California, Riverside 12/98

LICENSE & CERTIFICATES

Substitute Teaching Credential, CPR/First Aid & Safety, Disaster Preparedness, “Choices Youth Development Program” Instructor Certificate,

COMPUTER SKILLS

Windows XP, Windows ME, Microsoft Office 2000, Excel, html, internet research, 12+ years experience with word processing, spreadsheets, posters, news letters, brochures, and coupons/tickets.


REFERENCES: Available upon request