Chronicles of Carols in Color

Once, there was a Black Dance company named LEJA DANCE THEATRE, founded by Leon Evans and Jaye Allison. They had been in love with each other’s dance styles ever since they met in Center City at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Fall of 1978. Leon was the new high school’s bona fide Broadway Star who wasted little time showing what it meant! And without hesitation, started to organize after school rehearsals, gathering 14-18 dance classmates to learn choreography and to see how far he could take it. Each dancer came from somewhere in Philadelphia, and those were the places this group, ‘The Company with Class Dancers’ performed! From the beginning, they had great teachers who helped them mold their techniques in all forms of dance: Classical Ballet - Cecchetti, Vaganova and American, Modern techniques of Horton, Limon, Duncan and Improvisation, Theater Dance with Broadway Jazz and Tap, Ethnic Studies of Dunham and Liturgical and yes, there were more. This high octane training developed their individual skillsets and permanently molded their signature styles. Yet they always trained with a yearning and desire to learn more and more... 4 years later, one week after graduation, summer of 1982 to be exact. They continued the troupe but needed a new name to keep it going. Leon wanted something unique and classic. He thought of a few ways to fancy up his name, Le Danse, Elle’ Danse, Eleone and others but he didn’t get great responses from Jaye. So he thought, and thought until he spoke up saying "Lay-Zhah". Asking Jaye what she thought, she said “Oo~la~la! It sounds French and memorable... umm, but what does it mean, like, what is it?!” He said proudly, “It’s our initials!” Jaye hollered loudly and laughed full bellied, replying “that is so clever! It’s perfect! It’s us!” Leon and Jaye reformed the dance group with 4 members and was ushered into the world of professional concert dance by their high school's Modern Dance teacher. She felt her students were ready to represent a future of the Horton legacy passed down from Philadelphia's Horton Dance Master, Joan Kerr, who passed away in January that year. The Painted Bride Arts Center was the stage where all the dance companies and soloists touched by her life's work gathered to pay public tribute. The group performed 'Oluwa - Many Rains Ago'. It made quite the impression and became the group's Signature work. LEJA quickly doubled in size within its 1st year! Mainly because Jaye entered the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts that September, followed by Leon in January. The wealth of technically sound dancers found in this world famous Dance Department was beyond compare! It was funny to see the faces of people, especially Emcees, mispronounce the company name...Leeha, Layha, LeeJay.... It was several years before people learned the correct pronunciation.The wealth of technically sound dancers found in this world famous Dance Department was beyond compare! It was funny to see the faces of people, especially Emcees, mispronounce the company name...Leeha, Layha, LeeJay.... It was several years before people learned the correct pronunciation. They danced on lots of stages! LEJA was the first dance group Six Flags Great Adventures Amusement Park invited to showcase local dance artists in 1985. They also performed... on television, in night clubs, birthdays and weddings. stage. In plays and at outdoor festivals. Any and every place they could, LEJA DANCE THEATRE did! They even doubled their identity as the Power 99FM Dancers 1983-86. The new black radio station’s reputation gained face value with publicity campaigns using Hot Jazz dancers alongside TV ads showcasing a silhouette dancer appearing throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area: store openings, car washes, 3 yearly PowerHouse dance parties and always in nightclubs as far as Atlantic City!