Program areas at DBDT
Season performances- funding include foundation and corporate grants. -dancing beyond borders west(september), Dance africa (october), director's choice (november), behind the scenes (november), Black on Black (december), cultural awareness (february), dancing beyond borders north (march), rising excellence(spring fiesta - april), and spring celebration(may). -international association of blacks in Dance festival(iabd - january)-local and national Dance performances by master choreographers and new works by contemporary choreographers. -outdoor festival held for community with market place, live performances and entertainment in celebration of african culture through Dance performances, music and arts (Dance africa). -national and international choreographers contribute cultural diversity (cultural awareness) -program and enrichment opportunities for children and young adults (student matinees and behind the scene) -in-person performances on fy2022 continued to be on a limited seating capacity (30%) to observe covid 19 restrictions.
Touring performance dbdt provides residencies that includes master classes, workshops, children and senior citizens, matinees, lecture, demonstrations and full evening performances. During the covid 19 pandemic, touring is the form of virtual live and/or online access pay per view. In fy2022, touring is back in full gear with performances by the dbdt main company in beckett, ma for jacob's pillow, lubbock, tx, wichita, tx, norman, ok, longview, tx, laredo, tx, elizabeth city, nc and cheverly, md. Dbdt encore! Has also started touring on different cities of state of Texas including, midland, odessa and within the dallas-fort worth metroplex. Past notable performances include the super cruise in costa rica, central america, the kennedy center, lincoln center, joyce theater, national Black arts festival, bermuda festival, Black arts festival in vienna, austria, harrare festival in zimbabwe. Tours to the countries of belize, ireland, mexico, south africa, italy, spain, chile, peru and in early 2019 a collaboration with world learning, makedox and the united states department of state, tour the republic north of macedonia. Dbdt also performed in 1996 summer olympics in atlanta, Georgia and in the 2012 london summer olympics in edinburgh, united kingdom. On january 2017, dbdt was invited to present and perform at the joyce theater in new york city. Dbdt has been designated as an american masterpiece touring artist by the national endowment for the arts in 2008 and received the Texas medal of arts award for arts education in 2017. On march 2019, dbdt's artistic director received an achievement award from the national association of negro business and professional women's clubs, Inc. Recent awards include dbdt's board being named "outstanding board of directors" from Dallas business journal, excellence award for dbdt's executive director and management from Dance, usa. On march 21, 2023 president biden presented the international association of blacks in Dance organization with the national medal of arts of which dbdt is a founding member. The company's founder ann williams attended the ceremony on behalf of the organization. The national medal of arts is the highest award the federal government gives to artists and arts patrons.
Academy- funding is coming from corporate and foundation grants. Educational classes/programs for youth and adult students -professional Dance instructors offer a variety of classes for students of all ages and levels, 550+ students per week in 50 Dance classes with 4 levels of training which include ballet, jazz, tap, modern and african. -emphasis on life skills and development of self-esteem through self discipline and directed Dance studies in a learning environment. -academy performing ensembles for students showing exceptional performance skills; these groups perform locally at festivals and various events in the dallas-fort worth metropolitan area. -scholarships are provided to a select number of students annually -performance awards ceremony and presentation held at end of year recital in may -in person classes is back in full capacity although virtual classes are still being offered and will remain available as live via zoom.
Other program