Our Masters of West Coast Dance conference is the first of its kind. We will be re-introducing the legacy of key 20th Century West Coast modern dance artists to the East Coast. Our goal is to convene dance and performing arts teachers, professional dancers, scholars, historians, preservationists, and the arts-in-education policy makers for mutual support, inspiration, networking, and creative partnership.

Ito, Horton, Lewitzky: Masters of West Coast Dance is a five day event in Washington, DC for the scholars, preservationists, and educators who share the Foundation's interests in preserving the work of three artists whose contributions to dance on the West Coast gave direction and form to the development of American Modern Dance. Their legacy as dancers, choreographers, and educators in the 20th century continues to be a determining factor in the evolution of modern dance as a vital contemporary art form.

This event is a bi-coastal initiative between Mason/Rhynes Productions and Lester Horton Dance Theater, Inc. that will feature dances from Michio Ito, Lester Horton, and Bella Lewitzky through a series of master technique classes taught by faculty close to the lineage of the West Coast Masters, lectures, panel discussions, and a concert.

Professional dancers and teachers of dance, performing arts scholars and dance enthusiasts will be enriched by this seminal event. The concert on June 11, 2005 will present reconstructions from Michio Ito, Lester Horton, and the East Coast premiere of Bella Lewitzky's signature solo. The concert will also present works from Washington, DC-based, contemporary dance artists in Washington, DC who have been inspired by these West Coast Masters, such as Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Company, Nejla Yatkin, and ClancyWorks Dance Company.

The Lester Horton Dance Theater, Incorporated was established to preserve, document, and record works of the modern dance pioneer, Lester Horton. His legacy is to be passed on to the ever evolving and growing dance community at large. Through the modern technologies of recording, we intend to record his valuable technique and choreographies and to create a permanent record for future dancers and teachers.