Phillip Horn, executive director of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, spent the last 20 years trying to have the world-renowed company of Lula Washington come to the state to have her company perform.

Well, the effort paid off because Lula Washington Dance Theatre is touring Pennsylvania for the first time and one of its stops is Allentown.

Lula Washington Dance Theatre performs 8 p.m. Feb. 23, Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown.

In a recent telephone interview, Washington says of the Allentown performance, "I would invite and encourage everyone to come because they will be pleasantly surprised. Someone might find great meaning in it."

The husband and wife team of Lula and Erwin Washington in 1980 created a nonprofit to provide a creative outlet for minority dance artists in south Los Angeles.

The mission statement is: "To build a world class contemporary modern dance company that travels worldwide with contemporary modern dance works that reflect African-American history and culture." The troupe has toured Russia, China and Brazil, as well as the continental United States.

Washington was sought out by James Cameron, the director of "Avatar," to choreograph the movements of the fictional Na'vi featured in the movie. Lula Washington Dance Theatre dancers doubled for the actors.

Recalls Washington, "It was an amazing experience." She even came up with the greeting of the native creatures, two fingers to the forehead and a reach outward as if touching "the third eye."

Washington describes her style as a blending, a fusion of ballet, jazz, African and modern dance. "I don't focus on one style. I look for dancers that can perform all styles of dance and are passionate about what they do."

Six pieces will be presented at Miller Symphony Hall, beginning with "Love Is," choreographed by Christopher L. Huggins, a former member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The work looks at love from four points of view.

"The Healers" is a ritualistic dance about finding a way to heal metaphorically, choreographed by Washington with an all-male cast.

"Reign," choreographed by Rennie Harris, one of the top hip-hop artists, has a spiritual edge that uses the style of "House dancing" where the protagonist has a bad experience with a relationship in a nightclub but ends up in church to get over the pain.

"Random Thoughts" is set to the music of jazz musician Terence Blanchard and choreographed by Washington.

"Angelitos Negros," choreographed by Donald McKayle, uses a song, sung in Spanish by Roberta Flack. She asks, "Why are there no black angels painted on the ceilings of churches? Are there no black angels in heaven?"

"We Wore the Mask" is based on the concept that African-Americans can take off their mask in today's world and celebrate. It is choreographed by Washington.