DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE ANNOUNCES 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON, “50 YEARS IN MOTION”
Season opens October 9-10, 2026 with DanceAfrica at Moody Performance Hall; tickets now on sale
DALLAS – Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT), the oldest continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas, announced its 50th anniversary season, "50 Years in Motion," celebrating five decades of contemporary modern dance and community impact. Tickets for the season are on sale now.
Founded in 1976, DBDT has spent 50 years pursuing its mission to serve their community and inspire minority youth to see dance as an art form and a viable professional path. That mission, reflected in the company's "Relentless Excellence" ethos, has carried DBDT from its earliest years to its standing today as a cornerstone of Dallas arts and culture.
"This year is a season-long celebration for us," said Richard A. Freeman Jr., DBDT Artistic Director. "This is my second season as Artistic Director, and I'm proud of the decades of work that brought us here and grateful for the legacy and stories that made us who we are. We're looking forward to sharing that legacy with our longtime audiences and introducing DBDT to new ones."
The season's home series is organized into three programs, GENESIS, INHERITANCE and UNCHARTED, each built around a different chapter of DBDT's story. GENESIS looks back to the company's founding and early repertoire, INHERITANCE reflects on the artists and works that have carried the company's legacy forward, and UNCHARTED turns toward the future with new commissions and choreographic voices that will shape DBDT's next fifty years.
"This summer has been an opportunity to immerse myself in the culture, history and people who have made DBDT such an extraordinary organization," said Kristie Patton Foster, DBDT's newly appointed Executive Director. "Leading my first season as Executive Director during our 50th anniversary is both a huge honor and a major responsibility. I look forward to celebrating what's been accomplished while helping shape what comes next."
The season also marks the first for newly appointed DBDT: Encore Artistic Director, Christen Reyes. Under her leadership, DBDT: Encore, the company's second ensemble, will expand community-wide education initiatives.
"Stepping into this role during DBDT's 50th anniversary is a privilege I don't take lightly,” said Reyes. “DBDT: Encore has always been about opening doors, giving young dancers a way into this art form and a reason to believe they belong in it. Growing our education initiatives this season is personal for me, and I'm honored to help carry that work forward."
The beloved holiday tradition Espresso Nutcracker returns this season under the direction of Katricia Eaglin, Academy Director of Dallas Black Dance Academy. Eaglin, who is celebrating her tenth year as Academy Director and nearly thirty years with DBDT, began her career with the company as a dancer. She originally created and arranged this family-friendly, one-night-only interpretation of the classic Nutcracker, featuring students from Dallas Black Dance Academy. The tradition returns to the Majestic Theatre this December.
"Espresso Nutcracker has always been about giving our students a stage to shine on and giving Dallas families a holiday tradition they can call their own,” said Eaglin. “Watching this production grow alongside our 50th anniversary season means a great deal to me, and I'm excited for audiences to see what this next generation of dancers brings to the stage this December."
Tickets for the 50th anniversary season are available now at DBDT.comor by calling (214) 871-2313.
2026-2027 ANNIVERSARY SEASON
DanceAfrica
October 9-10 | Moody Performance Hall | 7:30PMCelebrate the rich tapestry of African culture in the heart of Dallas with DanceAfrica! The stage comes alive with traditional and contemporary African dance, driven by the pulse of live drums and performances by Dallas Black Dance Theatre, DBDT: Encore, Allegro, Senior, and Junior Performing Ensemble, plus special guest artists Lancaster High School DC3, Voices of Empowerment, and African drum and dance ensemble, Bandan Koro.
After the performance, join in our beloved Bantaba tradition, a communal dance experience where dancers, drummers, and audience move together as one in a celebration that bridges cultures and generations in a single universal rhythm.Community Class October 7 | DBDT Studios | 6PM-7:30PM
Ready to try something new? Join us for a FREE welcoming dance class where everyone can participate—no dance experience necessary! Class will be led by special guest artists, Bandan Koro.Festival & MarketplaceOctober 10 | Klyde Warren Park | 10AM-2PM
Bring the whole family for a day of discovery as Klyde Warren Park transforms into a gateway to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Africa! Browse handmade artisan crafts, explore offerings from local vendors, and enjoy a variety of dance all day long with performances by dance troupes from across the DFW Metroplex.
GENESIS | Director's Choice Series
November 6-7, 2026 | 7:30PM | Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre
Every story has a beginning. Experience where it all started with the iconic works that laid the foundation for Dallas Black Dance Theatre.Behind The Scenes
November 23-24, 2026 | 12:00PM | DBDT StudiosNovember 23, 2026 | DBDT & DBDT: Encore
November 24, 2026 | Dallas Black Dance Academy Performing Ensembles
Join us for a FREE program at DBDT Studios that gives an exclusive look into how our productions go from the studio to the stage. Suitable for all ages, this hour-long presentation features workshops by Dallas Black Dance Theatre, DBDT: Encore and Dallas Black Dance Academy Performing Ensembles.
Black On Black
December 4-5, 2026 | 7:30PM | DBDT Studios
What happens when dancers become their own choreographers? Find out with an evening unlike any other where our companies take creative control to share original works at our home studios in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. After the performance, close out the night with an afterparty featuring live DJ entertainment.Espresso Nutcracker
December 12, 2026 | 7:00PM | Majestic TheatreSnow falls, candlelight glows, and the Majestic Theatre transforms into a world of holiday wonder as Dallas Black Dance Academy students bring this treasured holiday tradition to life. Clara’s magical Christmas dream unfolds through waltzing flowers and dancing snowflakes set to a soundtrack that pairs Tchaikovsky with Duke Ellington's celebrated take on this beloved tale.
This narrated, hour-long production reminds audiences young and old what's possible with a little Christmas magic.
INHERITANCE | Cultural Awareness Series
February 12-14, 2027 | 7:30PM & 3:00 PM | Dee & Charles Wyly TheatreA new generation of dancers embody the works that established Dallas Black Dance Theatre in the contemporarylandscape, celebrating what’s been passed down and what’s still to come.
Rising Excellence
April 16-17, 2027 | 7:30PM | Moody Performance HallThe future of dance takes center stage for DBDT: Encore’s home series showcase. Join the emerging talent of the next generation of dance excellence as they command the stage with fearless passion, technical mastery and boundless energy.
UNCHARTED | Spring Celebration Series
May 14-15, 2027 | 7:30PM | Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre
Step into the unknown as Dallas Black Dance Theatre debuts its first program devoted exclusively to world premieres, ushering in the next fifty years of relentless excellence.
LEGACY SPONSORS
Harold Simmons Foundation
CATALYST SPONSORS
Mellon Foundation, Texas Instruments, Communities Foundation of Texas
SEASON SPONSORS
City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture, The Addy Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, The Dallas Foundation, Anonymous, The Blessing Family Endowment, Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, The Village Giving Circle, Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, Rea Charitable Trust, Holloway Family Foundation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, NBC 5/Telemundo, Texas Metro News, American Airlines, Oversee My IT, The Dallas Post Tribune, 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 35 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 45 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).
ABOUT DBDT: ENCORE
Founded in September 2000 by Ann Williams, DBDT: Encore began as a showcase for top Dallas Black Dance Academy students and evolved into a professional company of multi-ethnic artists from across the nation. DBDT: Encore creates contemporary modern dance performances of the highest artistic quality while bridging cultures and reaching diverse communities. The company offers residencies including master classes, workshops, matinees, lecture-demonstrations, and full performances. With a diverse repertoire including modern, jazz, African, lyrical and spiritual works, Encore has performed works by both emerging and internationally recognized choreographers such as Baba Chuck Davis, Milton Myers, Christopher L. Huggins, and Katarzyna Skarpetowska. The company has collaborated with prestigious organizations including The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Dallas Museum of Art, and The Dallas Opera's production of Show Boat. In 2022, they performed with QuestLove at the inaugural QuestLove's Hip Hop Brunch. Beyond Dallas/Fort Worth, Encore has performed throughout the United States and internationally at festivals in Canada, Mexico, and Chile, earning a distinguished global reputation.
For more details about DBDT: Encore, visit DBDT.com.
PHOTO CREDIT / CALEB KARRENBROCK