Dallas Black Dance Theatre Blends Old with New for Its 29th Season
This fall, when the lights are dimmed and the curtain comes up on Dallas Black Dance Theatre's 29th season, for Ann Williams, over two decades on the job sums up her commitment to her work and the art of dance.
"DBDT started as a dream. Then with a little bit of money and a lot of patience and faith, it turned into reality," said the company's founder and artistic director, Ann Williams.
Fast-forward to 2005. Williams's persistence has proven valuable. Now, the oldest, continuously operating, full-time dance company in Dallas, Dallas Black Dance Theatre is celebrating its 29th season this fall. During this season, this dance dynamo will add to the old, or seasoned if you will, by bringing in new educational and enrichment programs, new performances and seven new dancers to round out the 14-member dance company; then house them all in an old, new building--a historic facility the company has acquired and will renovate--as its new home.
Founded by Williams in 1976, Dallas Black Dance Theatre has pirouetted its way around the dance world to become one of the most renowned dance companies in the US, noted for its rich, cultural diversity and high-level of artistic excellence in contemporary modern dance and educational programming.
"The Dallas Black Dance Theatre has had an incredible journey since 1976 that started with a dream, a vision and a reality," said Wynn C. Watkins, DBDT Board President and Senior Vice President, Director of Communi-cations & Public Affairs at JCPenney. "Through hard work, remaining focused, and soliciting the financial support of corporations, communities and individuals, DBDT can continue to share the art of dance to all cultures."
Over the years, DBDT has survived tensions, economic struggles and social ills to remain unwavering in its rise as one of the most recognized professional dance companies in the world. The commitments that the company receives and the deeply rooted relationships that the company maintains have helped it stay afloat artistically and financially through some of the worst economic times.
From having been the only regional U.S. dance company invited to the 1996 Olympic Games, to at last being included as the only minority group in Dallas's Arts district, DBDT has accomplished artistic prominence and continues to stretch higher because of the old and new support systems it has in place.
"We started as a community-based organization and because of all the relationships we've built with companies, foundations, individuals and others, we've evolved as a full-time dance ensemble," said the company's marketing manager, Tatum Rodgers.
Since opening its doors over 25 years ago, DBDT has also grown culturally to employ dancers from all over the world. The company's artistic talent includes professional dancers not only from the US, but also from Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and beyond. The troupe also performs all over the world in such places as Mexico, Spain, Italy, Great Britain, South Africa, Bermuda, Austria, Zimbabwe and Ireland--proving that the company has moved far beyond its original goal of providing dance opportunities for minority students, to now appealing to a large, culturally diverse demographic.
"Dallas Black Dance Theatre is more than some may think," said Rodgers. "We are culturally diverse and more importantly, artistically diverse. Many people don't know that in addition to modern dance, we offer other forms of dance movement, including ballet and jazz," she said.
Other new strides the company will add to its already prosperous journey include relocating to a newly renovated home. At a total cost of $10.3 million for the acquisition and renovation of the facility, the historic Moorland YMCA building in downtown Dallas's Arts District will be the permanent home for the company's rehearsal studios, training classrooms and administrative offices. The new facility will increase DBDT's space by 150%.
With the word out about cultural diversity, expansions and clearer visions, DBDT has attracted an influx of aspiring dancers as well as those merely curious about the continued growth plans of the company.
Other season celebrations will include 3 home seasons at Dallas' historic Majestic Theatre, national performances spanning from East to West Coast with several points in between, and international touring including an appearance in Vienna, Austria, for the 4th Annual Black Dance Festival.
"I think our 29th season is going to be our best season yet. It's our personal and artistic renovations of blending old with new to create artistic excellence."
For more information on Dallas
Black Dance Theatre, please visit www.dbdt.com, or call (214) 871-2376.