Dallas Black Dance Theater is Olympic bound

By Ivy N. Mcquain, NDG Contributing Writer

For the Dallas Black Dance Theater (DBDT) there is no greater honor than representing not only the City of Dallas, but also the state of Texas and the United States of America at the 2012 Booking Dance Festival, which is part of the Cultural Olympiad at the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland. Although the games are over at the 2012 Summer Olympics, but the international cultural celebration spans four years. Events at the festivals throughout the United Kingdom include musicals, comedy, art exhibitions and dance performers from around the world.

The 11 selected dancers in the first company will entertain thousands in seven total performances, two of which are solo performances, from Wed., Aug. 15 to Sun., Aug. 19 at the 1,200 seat Venue 150 at The Fringe.

On Friday, a free reservation only reception was held at the DBDT headquarters on Flora St. in downtown Dallas to salute the 11 dancers who are performing in this Olympic sized event. Supporters of DBDT enjoyed Olympic colored drinks and savored artisan cheeses, fruits and other light refreshments as photo opportunities were available with the dancers and founder, Ann Williams. The atmosphere was light and excitement filled the air. While this is not the first opportunity DBDT has received to perform at the Olympics, they also went to Atlanta in 1996; everyone was excited to represent the State of Texas as the only dance company bestowed this honor.

The DBDT did not have the funds in their budget to pay for the dancers and five staff members to fly to Scotland for the festivities so they did what they knew best – ask their supporters for help. The fundraising started in late April and the support was overwhelming. Media supporters highlighted the wonderful invitation with their audience as much as possible.

“We are excited to have been invited to perform at the Olympics again,” said Williams. “And we thank our supporters who helped us be able to go on this trip and those who will be supporting us when we return.”

Williams started the Dallas Black Dance Theater in 1976 because of her passion and love for dance. She recalled her ballet and tap dance lessons at the local Y then pursuing dance in college before earning her Master’s degree in Dance from Texas Women’s University. She now teaches dance, but has more of an administrative role in selecting the dancers and the day-to-day operations of the company. She urges the residents of Dallas and lovers of the performing arts to continue to celebrate and support the DBDT.

“We have never missed a season,” she said proudly, “because of our supporters who give and attend the performances yearly. We operate like a real company and pay our dancers twice a month so we need the support of the community to keep going.”

The dancers of the first company have come from all over the country and Canada to perform for the DBDT and are excited for the opportunity to perform at this year’s Olympic events. While they regularly tour and perform on national and international stages, none have had the opportunity to perform at the Olympics.

Michelle Hebert, a Detroit native and dancer for 18 years, is enjoying her third season with the DBDT. She is excited about performing internationally because she has never performed in Europe. She hopes the performances attract the attention of international touring agencies and provides the DBDT with more international touring opportunities.

Longtime DBDT dancers, Nycole Ray of Detroit and Richard A. Freeman Jr. of Washington D.C., are equally excited to be representing Company I, Dallas, the state of Texas and the United States. Ray, the director for Company II, admitted to feeling slight pressure with the upcoming international performances. Freeman, choreographer for Company I and II, who has been dancing professionally since he was seven, described the DBDT, as his home.

For Vancouver, Canada native Sean J. Smith performing at the Olympics is an honor. He admits to admiring the athleticism of the Olympians from all over the world. He like the other dancers has never performed at the Olympics, but is honored to do so with the DBDT. He offered future dancers the advice of remaining open and flexible in their careers to wide-range of possibilities.

The other dancers performing in at The Fringe Festival include Claude Alexander II, Katricia Eaglin, Diana Herrara, Rachel McSween, Derrick Smith, Jamie Thompson, Tyrone C. Walker and Michelle Zada.

The 2012 season begins in Nov. with the Dance Africa performance at the Winspear Opera House. For more information on the upcoming season, tickets and donations, visit http://www.dbdt.com.