Worked with Oprah in “The Color Purple,” toured with Cher in Las Vegas, danced with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in “The Wiz” – the list of things De Anza dance instructor Warren Lucas has accomplished is impressive.
Lucas started dancing in a jazz company in New York City when he was just a teenager. He eventually started studying dance seriously and attended a dance conservatory in North Carolina where he got a BFA in dance and joined a professional dance company. Lucas has studied all areas of dance and went to graduate school at UCLA where he received his master’s degree.
He later went into show business, having worked with the aforementioned people, to just name a few. Eventually, he started teaching part-time in Los Angeles, got married, settled down, taught at about five institutions for almost 10 years, and came to De Anza to become a full-time instructor.
Marlon Datu, De Anza fourth year music major, likes the blend of independence and guidance Lucas brings to the classroom.
“He really pushes creativity and allows his students to figure out more about themselves,” said Datu. “He makes his dancers feel comfortable enough to express themselves in a different way.”
Other students enjoy the personality Lucas brings to the classroom.
“There’s a lot that I really admire about Warren,” said Czarbelle Bato, third year law. “I feel like his personality motivates his students to come to class and the amount of work he’s done is really inspiring. He’s humble, diplomatic and he gives people chances even if they don’t really deserve it.”
Third year undecided student Phillip Jaco enjoys the out of the box things Lucas does during class.
“Warren really is a character,” said Jaco. “He makes sound effects when he’s choreographing, comes up with weird nicknames for people, and sings the beats instead of counts. I love his mentality about really connecting dance to music.”
Lucas teaches new dancers, and after seeing so much change, still loves what does.
“I love watching the growth and progression of the students, seeing them mature and develop their artistic sensibilities is extremely rewarding,” said Lucas. “I’ve been dancing for almost 48 years and it has changed a lot since I started. Teaching at De Anza makes me feel connected to the younger generation and continue learning the new and fresh things out there with which I can update and reinvent myself.”