Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) launches its 41st home season under the creative helm of new Artistic Director Bridget L. Moore with two world premieres. Moore has developed the 2017-2018 season that takes the audience from avant-garde to classical contemporary and all points in-between. New works feature DBDT in a stage musical project in tribute to Donny Hathaway and DBDT: Encore! in a Japanese heritage dance performance.
DBDT kicks off the season with the 12th Annual Festival of DanceAfrica at the Moody Performance Hall (formerly Dallas City Performance Hall), 2520 Flora Street and continues with home performances at the Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora Street in the Dallas Arts District.
DBDT and DBDT: Encore! unite in the Director’s Choice series November 3-5, 2017 to create the energy of a storm front in Andy Noble’s Tower. The athletic masterpiece is complete with the experiences of fog, thunder and rain. Bridget L. Moore delivers her award-winning choreographic talents to the season opener expanding the audience favorite duet Uncharted Territory into the world premiere of a full company version.
The Cultural Awareness series February 16-18, 2018, embraces and celebrates cultures. Dance, poetry and a brass band are used to reflect the 12-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in Displaced, Yet/Rebirth. Michelle N. Gibson, the choreographer who survived the hurricane, weaves movement and traditions of the rich New Orleans culture she calls home. Complexions Artistic Director Dwight Rhoden set the dynamic and complex Testament to traditional spirituals like “The Lord’s Prayer” and “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”
The Spring Celebration series May 18-20, 2018 is driven by the music of jazz legends who dominated the top of the music charts in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Moore and Southwest Soul Circuit musician Kevin Hamilton collaborate forming a stage musical project with a live band in the world premiere of Mr. Soul: An Ode to Donny Hathaway. Choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie uses a rousing score of hits by Sammy Davis Jr. in Simply Sammy to pair famed Tap dancer Marshall Davis Jr. and DBDT dancers in an electrifying, theatrical experience. Dark Circles Dance Company of Dallas is the featured guest artist.
This year’s DanceAfrica Festival and Performances October 6-7, 2017 will be in tribute to National DanceAfrica Founder Dr. Charles “Baba Chuck” Davis with his favorite mantra “Peace, Love, Respect for Everybody.” Featured guest artist is Bandan Koro African Drum & Dance Ensemble of Dallas.
Other performances include the Rising Excellence series April 6-7, 2018, which features the new work of Japanese choreographer Takehiro “Take” Ueyama. Kizuna is a sensitive contrast yet compelling work blending the powerful athleticism of DBDT: Encore! with the delicate movements of Japanese heritage. Encore! will also dance Chasing Shadows, by Jennifer Archibald, the first female resident choreographer in the 40-year history of the Cincinnati Ballet. Dancing Beyond Borders features both DBDT and DBDT: Encore! in performances in Richardson and Fort Worth during March 2018.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre returns to New York City for a seventh season April 20-21, 2018 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. Audience favorite Tribute by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Rehearsal Director Matthew Rushing will be featured.
“These are exciting times as we transition into a territory of new beginnings,” said new DBDT Artistic Director Bridget L. Moore. “I have contemplated the significance of building on the foundation of the organization and the legacy of Founder, Ms. Ann Williams. The 2017-2018 programs are filled with generations of dynamic choreographers and guest artists who will take us on a journey of Uncharted Territory.”
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW!
Save when you buy season tickets. Group season tickets allow groups of at least 10 people to book multiple performances and receive a 30% discount. For group season subscriptions and group tickets sales call 214-871-2390.
Individual subscriber benefits include up to a 15% discount on ticket prices. To select individual season packages visit the AT&T Performing Arts Center at www.attpac.org or call 214-880-0202.
Ticket prices range from $22-$58.
Single tickets go on sale September 1, 2017 at www.attpac.org or call 214-880-0202.
2017-2018 | Season Sponsors
Legacy Sponsor: Simmons Sisters Fund of The Dallas Foundation.
Season Sponsors: Office of Cultural Affairs – City of Dallas, Texas Instruments, NBC 5, I Messenger, Yellow Cab, The Downtown Business News, TACA, Paper City, American Airlines, The Dallas Weekly and DART.
2017 – 2018 | Season Supporters
Season Supporters: NorthPark Center, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Lexus, OverseeMyIT, The Dallas Examiner, The Dallas Post Tribune, Elite News, AT&T Performing Arts Center and Arts+Culture.
2017 – 2018 | Performance Sponsors
Co-sponsor: MUFG Union Bank & PurePoint Financial
Supporting Sponsor: Dallas Arts District
Guest Artists Sponsor: Dallas Tourism and Public Improvement District
Kizuna is supported by the Japan Foundation through the Performing Arts JAPAN program.
Guest Artists Sponsor: Dallas Tourism and Public Improvement District
Founded in 1976 by Ann Williams, Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) is the 10th largest minority arts organization in America, the fourth largest black dance company in the nation and the oldest continuously operating professional dance company in the City of Dallas. Dallas Black Dance Theatre has been designated as an “American Masterpiece Touring Artist” by the National Endowment for the Arts and in 2017 was named Texas Medal of Arts Awards recipient for Arts Education.
The mission of Dallas Black Dance Theatre is to create and produce contemporary modern dance at its highest level of artistic excellence through performances and educational programs that bridge cultures and reach diverse communities. With an ever-expanding national and global audience, the company employs a diverse, multi-ethnic troupe of dancers performing for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Located in a historic facility at the eastern end of the thriving downtown Dallas Arts District, Dallas Black Dance Theatre is a nationally and internationally recognized professional modern dance company. DBDT engages the cross-cultural community through contemporary modern dance presented from the African American experience. Dallas Black Dance Theatre is a resident company member of the AT&T Performing Arts Center – Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre located in Dallas’s Art District.
During its 41-year history, Dallas Black Dance Theatre has performed on five continents, in 15 countries and 31 states, including two Olympic Cultural events. Over the years, more than 4 million arts patrons and 2.6 million students, grades K-12, have experienced the dance company’s performances and educational outreach programs. DBDT serves more than 100,000 people annually, including more than 20,000 youth in grades K-12 in Dallas-Fort Worth area schools each year. DBDT offers community outreach services through workshops, lecture/demonstrations, master-classes, residences, mini-performances and student matinees that are designed level-specific for elementary, middle, high school and university students.
