The Lula Washington Dance Theatre was founded in 1980 by Lula and Erwin Washington in south Los Angeles and focuses on using dance to explore African American history and culture. (photo courtesy of the Ford Theatres)

The Los Angeles-based Lula Washington Dance Theatre will return to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a dynamic, powerful program exploring social and humanitarian issues.

The company will perform at 7:30 p.m. from Thursday, Jan. 30, through Saturday, Feb. 1, in The Wallis’ Bram Goldsmith Theater.

“Lula Washington Dance Theatre is among our country’s most important and influential dance companies,” said Paul Crewes, artistic director at The Wallis. “The Wallis is honored to celebrate its 40th anniversary, a landmark occasion for dance locally and internationally.”

For the event, the dance troupe presents the world premieres of “To Lula with Love” and “Hands Up: A Testimony” by company alumnus Tommie Waheed Evans.

Additionally, the program features two works by company founder and artistic director Lula Washington, including the world premiere of excerpts from “Fragments,” a work-in-progress she describes as “a reaction to the chaotic times we live in,” and “King,” which she created in about the struggles of Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement.

“At the same time the company is pushing forward with new groundbreaking work, it is also holding true to its original mission of doing work that is ‘reaching for your soul,’” Washington said. “Our dancing and programming is designed to touch the soul and spirit of people, aiming to move them to a place of humanism and fairness for all.”

Other repertoire includes the West Coast premiere of “Zayo,” a bold, Afro-fusion, dance-theatre work by Esie Mensah, and “Reign,” a joyous, gospel-fueled work by hip-hop concert pioneer Rennie Harris.

Tickets are $29-79 and are on sale now.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is located at 9390 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. To purchase tickets or for information, call (310)746-4000, or visit thewallis.org/lula.