Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Description

With vivid performances and inclusive classes, Dallas Black Dance Theatre positively impacts lives and bridges cultures through the transformative power of dance. Since its founding in 1976 by Ann Williams as a small community-based dance troupe, it has grown to become Dallas’ oldest and largest professional dance company and the tenth-largest arts organization of color in the nation. It has toured numerous Texas cities, 31 US states, and 16 countries on five continents, including performances for Queen Elizabeth II and President Nelson Mandela. The company’s repertoire is broad, from masterworks by Alvin Ailey and Twyla Tharp to an aerial ballet and silent disco experience. Dance styles available for touring include modern, ballet, jazz, African, and some tap. Five performing ensembles (the main professional company, the second professional company DBDT: Encore!, and three elite student performing ensembles from the Academy) provide a variety of performance types and fee ranges to accommodate audiences of any size and age. Professional dancers hail from top national programs like the Ailey School and NYU, while Academy students continue dance training at the Juilliard School and SMU, among others. In 2017, Dallas Black Dance Theatre received the Texas Medal of Arts Award in arts education. Photo by Brian Guilliaux.