DALLAS – May 16 -17 the downtown Dallas Arts Community will be in full force as members come together to celebrate the final performances of the Dallas Black Dance
Theatre with Founder Ann Williams at the helm. The AT&T Performing Arts Center Winspear Opera House will be the stage for five performing arts organizations to pay tribute in dance.
Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, Bruce Wood Dance Project, Texas Ballet Theater and guest performer Kirven Douthit-Boyd (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) will perform both evenings as a gift to the retiring Williams. In addition, DBDT will perform new choreography by Lily Weiss (Booker T. Washington HSPVA), Christopher Vo (Booker T. Washington HSPVA alum and participant in the NBC hit series SMASH) and Bruce Wood, who has choreographed a work that features members from his own company and DBDT.
Both evenings will begin with a red carpet reception featuring the biopic The Dream, a biographical film that chronicles the history of Dallas Black Dance Theatre and features interviews with several community supporters. After the performance, a VIP reception will be held for performers, guests artists and audience members to mingle with Williams.
TACA (The Arts Community Alliance) returns as the presenting sponsor for the series. TACA champions artistic excellence in performing arts organizations and has been a supporter of DBDT since 1978. “TACA has had the privilege of providing financial support to Dallas Black Dance Theatre since 1967. To date, TACA has awarded DBDT $641,000. We value the work that this important company does in our community as well as its role as an international ambassador for our city.
DBDT has helped shaped our cultural landscape in many ways,” said Rebecca Young, TACA President & Executive Director.
Serving as Honorary Chairs for the performances are Anita N. Martinez (Founder, Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico), Linda James (Dance Council of North Texas) and Alfreda Norman (Federal Reserve Bank).
The Spring Celebration Series will be Williams’ final act after 40 years of dedicated service providing exceptional dance education and performances to an international dance audience. During her reign as Artistic Director, the Dallas Black Dance Academy and Dallas Black Dance Theatre have provided performances to over 3.5 million arts patrons and 2.5 million students worldwide in 30 states and 12 countries.
