The World Stage

Leimert Park is known as being one of the only neighborhoods in Los Angeles that is still strongly connected with the African culture and has a deep care for the future of art and music.

One location in Leimert Park that constantly provides artistic opportunities for the community is The World Stage.

The World Stage is an educational and performance art space in the Leimert Park Village, that was founded in 1989 by world-renowned master jazz drummer Billy Higgins and Kamau Daáood, who was a poet and community arts activist.

“The one thing that I think they wanted to do was give an outlet for community artist. Los Angeles has always had a shortage of places for musicians and artists to play and be able to show what they do,” said Dwight Trible, The World Stage executive director.

Trible, who started attending The World Stage at its opening, says it has always been a welcoming place and will remain to be.

“Because of that place and them being so open and loving to me, I was able to sort of develop the concepts I had in my mind and in my consciousness of what I wanted to do. There was nobody there to tell me ‘oh you know, what you’re doing is a little too spiritual,’ a little to this or that you know? They welcomed whatever your presentation was and so I really appreciated that,” said Trible.

What started as musicians and artists giving back to the community in a minor way has now grown to be a key influence in keeping art alive in all of Los Angeles.

The World Stage’s mission is to ‘secure, preserve and advance the position of African American music, literature and works in the oral tradition to a local, national and international audience’.

The World Stage’s affordable weekly workshops that are generally $5, are ran by a range of renowned artists from different backgrounds.

Howlett Smith, the jazz vocal workshop instructor, has had great influence on his students and inspires them to find themselves in many ways.

Sandra Renee, who has sung all of her life, feels Smith and The World Stage has encouraged her to go within herself and pull out what she is as an artist.

“Studying with Howlett Smith has really stuck with me. Learning to sing the melody correctly is what he inspires us to do and then to add your own flavor and improvisation and build a song,” said Sandra Renee.

Some may see the $5 price as affordable, but for others, it's not. Whether you are able to cover the fee or not, you will not be turned away for lack of funds.

“If you are a vocalist or artist in any area, you will not be turned away here. As tonight, if you didn’t have the money, you still sign up on that list, and you will still be called to participate,” said vocal workshop coordinator, Rene Fisher-Mims.

Although the World Stage has been a success in teaching artists and musicians, it has faced many hardships surviving. After being forced to move from its home location due to new property owners wanting to create a new version of Leimert Park, many students and teachers were concerned about the future for The World Stage.

“The change was a little difficult for some people to accept that we were leaving the old building because it had such memories. I myself have treasured memories. Some of the most amazing music and work has come out of that place, and it was hard to release it because we were accustomed to the smaller place. I’ve been working here for a long time and nothing had really happened, it seemed like it was stagnant and sometimes I wondered ‘were we going to lose,’ and Dwight just rescued us,“ said Fisher-Mims.

Luckily, since the move, The World Stage has been able to grow and succeed in ways they never expected.

“After we moved, it turned out to be a great blessing, because had we not moved, we would have been content with staying in a place that is three times smaller than the place we are in,” said Trible.

Although there are constant changes surrounding the World Stage, one thing that all can agree on is that the World Stage was and has a spirit that has not changed.

“The World Stage still operated on a spirit of humbleness and love. The same spirit that we started out with still exists. But a lot of things around us are changing,” said Trible.

As for the future of the performing center, according to Trible, they are very hopeful and have big plans. .

“The story does not stop here, The World Stage does not stop here. I still see us in the next five years possibly purchasing our own building so we don’t have to dance to anybody’s tune and we can create our own path,” said Trible.