Ron Parker is the director of the Central Avenue Dance Ensemble. A native Californian, born and raised in Los Angeles, he is a graduate of U.C.L.A. with a degree in French and Linguistics. Ron is a nationally recognized dance instructor, dance historian, Jazz, Ballroom and Tap dancer. He has written and produced several YouTube documentaries on Black Dance History. He is the co-founder of the R & B Salsa Network, which taught and promoted the dance in the Black community for several years. As past Vice-President of the Los Angeles Chapter of USA Dance, he was actively involved in promoting Ballroom dancing in Southern California for the several years. His hobbies include skiing, hiking, rock climbing, and dancing and performing a variety of Ballroom and social dances (including Ballet, Belly Dance, Argentine Tango, Salsa, Hustle, West Coast Swing, Lindy and Tap). He is a founding member of the Central Avenue Dance Ensemble and his dance experience includes performances in the musicals “At the Lincoln Theatre”, “De Obeah Mon” and "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?", the T.V. shows “That’s So Raven” and “Tom Joyner Show”, and the movies “Lackawanna Blues” and “Their Eyes Were Watching God”. He has also served as a choreographer and principal dancer with the Beverly Hills Cotillion Dance Ensemble. In 2011, Ron wrote, produced, directed and co-choreographed the highly acclaimed "History of Black Dance in America" multi-media show which presents the story of the African-American contribution to American popular social dance. It premiered to a sold-out crowd in 2011, and closed to sold-out crowds in 2012. 2014 was a busy year for Ron: He served as assistant director to Chester Whitmore for the Frankie Manning Centennial Show at the Apollo Theater in New York, hailed as one of the best shows at the Apollo in 25 years. He directed "The Origins of Black Dance" at the Barnsdale Gallery Theater in Los Angeles. And, he initiated and ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the successful HBDA Juneteenth 2015 Celebration at Cal State Dominguez Hills University. As a result of this successful campaign, he was nominated, along with Chester Whitmore, as a "Local Hero" by our local PBS station. Recently Ron was tapped by the El Camino College Center for the Performing Arts in Torrance, CA to present HBDA for Black History Month 2016. And, a photo retrospective of the 2015 HBDA show premiered at the Gallery Exposure art gallery, also in Torrance, on February 6, 2016: http://www.centralavedance.com/hbda_exhibit_2016.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADfeoLAJinc
I am born, raised and educated in Los Angeles. I danced in high school musicals. After graduating from LA High School, I joined a community youth group that performed vintage Swing routines at senior citizen facilities around the city. After graduating from UCLA, I started a computer software business which I ran successfully for 20 years. Around 2000, because of the changing demographics in the city, I decided to take up Salsa. I went on to learn and master Ballroom, Argentine Tango and most of the partner social dances. Around 2003, I joined Chester Whitmore, who was looking to form an all-black Lindy Hop dance group. We named it the Central Ave Dance Ensemble. Here I gained both an interest in studying dance history as well as experience performing for and educating the public on dance. I went on to dance at several events around the city as well in a couple of TV shows and movies. I joined the Beverly Hills Cotillion Dance Ensemble and have performed with them for 4 years. Between 2008 and 2009 I was vice-president of the LA Chapter of USA Dance where I was quite active in promoting Ballroom dancing in the community. In 2010 I initiated a series of dance workshops designed to introduce South Central residents to dances they aren't normally exposed to: The Diversify Your Dance series. And, in 2011 and 2012, I produced, directed and co-choreographed "The History of Black Dance In America", a retrospective of 200 years of African-inspired dance in America. It premiered to a sold-out crowd in 2011, and closed to a sold-out crowds in 2012. In 2014 I served as assistant director to Chester Whitmore for the Frankie Manning Centennial Show at the Apollo Theater in New York, hailed as one of the best shows at the Apollo in 25 years. Also in 2014, I initiated a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to do HBDA in 2015. As a result of this successful campaign, I was nominated, along with Chester Whitmore, as a "Local Hero" by our local PBS station. Recently I've been tapped by the El Camino College Center for the Performing Arts to present HBDA for Black History Month 2016.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADfeoLAJinc