BIOGRAPHIES
La Verne Howell Reed (Artistic Director / Writer / Choreographer) - When you of think of the best in quality dance, music and theatre for children, one name surely corn to mind, LaVerne Reed. LaVerne has written, directed, choreographed and produced children’s dance and music theatre for many, many years. She is well known throughout this country, from the east coast, the west coast, for her creative genius in blending raw talent with professionals to produce a flawlessly creative production of wholes family entertainment and holiday spectaculars.  Considered the gradame’ of children’s dance theatre, Reed has dazzled the Washington audiences with her brilliant artistry in such productions as “Santa a the Mother Goose Rock’ “Santa’s Star Flight;’ “The Wiz” and “Black Orphesus’ Currently the Associate Director of the Mary Burch Theatre, Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey, LaVerne has earned a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts Degree from Howard University and Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the George Washington University. She established the LaVerne Reed Dance Theatre Company of New York and is the President of the LaVerne Productions.
     Reed is no stranger to the Washington, DC community. For years, was the Cultural Arts Director for the DC Department of Parks and Recreations, resident director / choreographer and dance instructor a Howard University and Chairman of the Dance Department at the Duke Ellington High School for the Arts. A teacher, choreographer premiere dancer with the Capital Ballet Company, Reed was also a premiere dancer and teacher at the once, DC Black Repertoire Theatre, founded by Robert Hooks. She choreographed, “When the Bells Ring,” a jazz ballet, for the Washington Ballet and was a premiere dancer and soloist with the Lewis Johnson Dance Theatre Company
     LaVerne Reed has worked with such notable as Lewis Johnson, Mike Malone and Debbie Allen. She was the founder/artistic director of the LaVerne Reed Dance Theatre School and Professional Dance Company CA, and The LA-KAT (Kids About Theatre) Company in Los Angeles, CA. She was also the founder/artistic director of the LaVerne Reed School of the Performing Arts in Silver Spring, Maryland and a producer/director of the US National Park Services’ Carter Baron Summer Amphitheater in Washington, DC.
The recipient of numerous awards such as the Monarch Arts Awards from the National Council on the Arts (NY), the Howard University Wèenie Award and the Mt. Gilead CPA Award for Artistic Direction, LaVerne is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
     The Chocolate Nutcracker, which has been performed in Los Angeles California with Academy Award choreographer, Debbie Allen and in Miami with Fresh Prince of Belair’s Mom, Vernee Watson-Johnson, is the brainchild of LaVerne Reed. She dedicates the Washington, DC performance to her daughter, Erica Ashley Reed, a beautiful and talented dancer studying at Fordham University in
New York and also a world famous Rockette performing at Radio City Music Hall. Her appreciation is expressed to the many, friend co-workers, students and artists who have helped to make the Washington DC Premiere a success!