DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE ANNOUNCES CHRISTEN REYES AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF DBDT: ENCORE!
Reyes, who has previously danced with DBDT: Encore! and served as the Company’s Artistic Assistant, brings nearly 15 years of exceptional dance, education and leadership experience to the role
PHOTO CREDIT: SHAWN LAWSON
Dallas, Texas – Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) has named Christen Reyes as Artistic Director of DBDT: Encore!, the organization's renowned second company. Reyes, an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and educator with deep roots in the DBDT family, will lead the ensemble as it continues to bring the power of dance to communities throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth region and beyond.
"It is with great excitement that I congratulate Christen on her appointment as Artistic Director for DBDT: Encore!” said Richard A. Freeman, Jr., Artistic Director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. “Having witnessed her artistry and dedication over many years, I can attest to the vision, discipline, and passion she will bring to every endeavor. Her leadership will not only elevate the organization but also inspire the next generation of dancers to pursue excellence."
Reyes brings a unique perspective to the role, having served as a dancer with DBDT: Encore! for three seasons while simultaneously serving as rehearsal assistant for two of those seasons. She subsequently served as Artistic Assistant for DBDT: Encore!, giving her an intimate understanding of the ensemble's artistic mission and operations. Her leadership during this time demonstrated her exceptional ability to nurture young artists while maintaining the highest standards of artistic excellence.
“I am so humbled to step into the role as Artistic Director of DBDT: Encore!” said Reyes. “My deep work with this next generation of young artists over the last 8 years, is the foundation of my inspiration to keep Encore! innovative, global, and inspirational for the company members and the future audiences alike.”
As Artistic Director, Reyes will oversee all artistic programming for DBDT: Encore!, including repertory selection, educational initiatives, and community partnerships. She succeeds Nycole Ray, who served as Artistic Director of DBDT: Encore! for 15 years during her 30-year tenure with the organization in a multitude of leadership and dance roles.
“Not only is this a full circle moment, but it is one that I do not take lightly, as these are giant shoes to fill. Nycole Ray was my director and has been a mentor to me since I transitioned into education, and even still. How she has elevated and grown the second company to what it is today, and how her impact has directly prepared me as well as a host of others, makes this assignment all the more special” said Reyes. “I stand on the shoulders of her, and all of the powerful women who have held a leadership role within the walls of Dallas Black Dance Theatre.”
PHOTO CREDIT: THE DANCING IMAGE – SHAREN BRADFORD
A BFA recipient from Howard University and proud legacy of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Reyes has worked with acclaimed choreographers including Camille A. Brown, Hope Boykin, Ray Mercer, and Kim Bears-Bailey, and has performed works by Pearl Primus and Ronald K. Brown. Her performance career includes notable appearances with Alfre Woodard at the Lincoln Memorial for Constitution Day, two Inaugural Celebrations for President Barack Obama's re-election, and Anthony Hamilton on TV One's A Christmas Special. She also served as a principal dancer with the Dallas Opera and completed national and international tours with DBDT: Encore!
As an educator and arts leader, Reyes has made significant contributions to dance education in North Texas. She founded the dance program at Fort Worth ISD’s I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM & VPA in 2018 and has been named Teacher of the Year and Broadway at the Bass Teaching Chair of Excellence. She is the founder and curator of Fort Worth Dance Festival, a fundraising initiative that brings together over 20 studios and companies to share dance with the Fort Worth community. A certified Horton Technique teacher, Reyes previously served as Director of the Junior Performing Ensemble within the Dallas Black Dance Academy from 2017-2020. She was also a featured choreographer for Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre's Emerging Choreographers program in 2017.
Reyes officially assumes the role of Artistic Director of DBDT: Encore! effective January 5, 2026.
ABOUT DBDT: ENCORE!
Founded in September 2000 by Ann Williams, DBDT: Encore! creates contemporary modern dance performances of the highest artistic quality while bridging cultures and reaching multicultural communities worldwide. 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 at international festivals in Canada, Mexico, and Chile, earning a distinguished global reputation.
For more details about DBDT: Encore!, visit DBDT.com/encore.
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.