DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE AND DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONTINUE ANNUAL VIRTUAL ARTS EDUCATION INITIATIVE
DALLAS - Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) is continuing its annual virtual arts education accessibility partnership with the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) for a sixth year. Originally started to bridge the gap in arts access during the pandemic, the partnership has grown into a yearly district-wide program each February that to date has served over 137,000 Dallas ISD students.
Between February 2-13, 2026, Dallas Black Dance Theatre will provide access to their Cultural Awareness virtual matinee to every student and grade level in the Dallas Independent School District during Black History Month 2026, which includes The Nina Simone Project by the award-winning multihyphenate choreographer Dianne McIntyre whose work epitomizes Nina Simone’s regal presence with choreography set to Simone’s signature classical, jazz, and soul fusion.
“By connecting the classroom to the stage, we are doing more than teaching history; we are sparking the imagination and cultural pride that will empower the next generation of leaders,” said Levonue Brewster, Dallas ISD’s Executive Director of Academic Enrichment Support.
This arts education initiative aligns with the National Endowment for the Arts’ mission to support arts learning, celebrate America’s cultural heritage, and promote equal access to the arts. Additionally, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) aligned program provides all K-12 Dallas ISD students with cultural literacy experiences that meet and support core curriculum subjects including English, Math, Science, History, Reading, Social Studies, and Geography.
Dianne McIntyre’s prolific career spans over five decades and a variety of performance mediums including concert dance, theatre, film, opera and TV. She holds numerous honors and awards for her work, including a John S. Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, a Dance Magazine Award, a Martha Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, a Doris Duke Artist Award, a United States Artists Fellowship, a Dance/USA Honor Award, three Bessies (New York Dance and Performance Award), a Master of African American Choreography medal from the Kennedy Center, two New England Foundation for the Arts/National Dance Project grants, two AUDELCO awards, two Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degrees and more.
All Dallas ISD teachers will receive a direct access link to bring this virtual student matinee performance into their classrooms, ensuring participation across the district.
For information on how Dallas ISD teachers can access this virtual student matinee performance, please contact Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s Community Engagement team at marketing@dbdt.com.
DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE 2025/2026 SEASON SPONSORS
LEGACY SPONSORS
Harold Simmons Foundation
CATALYST SPONSORS
Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, Texas Instruments, Communities Foundation of Texas
SEASON SPONSORS
City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture, The Shubert Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, Holloway Family Foundation, Anonymous, Norma & Don Stone, The Blessing Family Endowment, Hillcrest Foundation, Rea Charitable Trust, Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, W.P. & Bulah Luse Foundation, Texas Metro News, American Airlines, Oversee My IT, The Dallas Post Tribune, Genesis Inspiration Foundation, Trendy Africa, Lexus, Arts & Culture Texas, DeDe in the Morning, The Dallas Morning News, fyi50+, ROXOR Spirits, Gracepoint Media
ABOUT DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE
Founded in 1976 by Ann Williams, Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s mission is to create and produce contemporary modern dance at the highest level of artistic excellence through performances and educational programs that bridge cultures and reach diverse communities. As the largest and oldest professional dance company in Dallas, DBDT is the fourth-largest Black dance company in the nation, ranks in the top 10 largest contemporary modern dance companies in the U.S. and is included among the nation’s 50 largest ballet companies by Dance Data Project. Located in the thriving downtown Dallas Arts District, the nation’s #1 Arts District (USA Today), DBDT has performed worldwide for over 5 million arts patrons and 3 million students in 33 states and 16 countries on five continents. The performances include three Olympics (1992, 1996, and 2012), the nation’s most prestigious venues (Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Broadway, Jacob’s Pillow and Joyce Theatre), and for such luminaries as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and South African President Nelson Mandela. Since 2020, DBDT performances have been viewed virtually in 43 countries and expanded to include virtual student matinees and cultural literacy programs. Since 2021, the virtual education performances have been viewed by nearly 200,000 K-12 students across 28 districts throughout the nation. The Company has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as an American Masterpiece Touring Artist (2008) and received the Texas Medal of the Arts Award for Arts Education (2017).
For more details about Dallas Black Dance Theatre, visit DBDT.com.
ABOUT DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) is continually preparing its more than 143,000 students for college or a career. The district offers a competitive mix of innovative programs, choice programs and instructional initiatives that support the increased academic achievement and the social and emotional development of its students. To learn more, visit www.dallasisd.org.