DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE AMPLIFIES VIRTUAL ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM ACROSS TEXAS SCHOOLS IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Free Access Available to Title I Schools Statewide; Reduced-Cost Access for All Other Educational Providers Throughout February
Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) is bringing world-class dance directly into Texas classrooms this Black History Month with the return of its statewide virtual student matinee initiative. Made possible through support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Katherine Carmody Trust, the program offers complimentary virtual access to Title I schools across Texas, with reduced-cost access available to non-Title I schools and other educational organizations.
Throughout February, participating schools will have access to Bodies as Site of Faith and Protest by 2021 Guggenheim Fellow Tommie-Waheed Evans — a powerful work inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "We Shall Overcome" speech that examines the resilience and power of the Civil Rights Movement. The initiative reflects DBDT's ongoing commitment to broadening cultural literacy and expanding arts access across the state while introducing young audiences to the stories of perseverance, creativity, and cultural pride that define Black American history.
Choreographer Tommie-Waheed Evans describes the work's intent: " The importance of the Civil Rights Movement was that it gave hope for equality to all Americans, no matter their race, creed, or gender. Speeches from this era not only served as a vehicle for social change, but also for self-assertiveness. This work explored the idea of bodies uniting in protest through faith. Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech ‘We Shall Overcome’ becomes the embodiment of faith and protest; my research situates itself within the meta-textual location of moving bodies alongside and within his speech."
Each virtual student matinee is designed with educators in mind, incorporating TEKS-aligned performance features, opportunities for audience participation, and a comprehensive educational study guide to facilitate meaningful classroom discussions about Black History Month through the lens of African American culture, music, and dance.
Interested teachers and administrators can reserve access by submitting an application through DBDT. Upon approval, participants will receive a direct access link to bring the performance to their students.
For more information or to apply, contact Dallas Black Dance Theatre's Community Engagement team at marketing@dbdt.com.
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
Bodies as Site of Faith and Protest
by Tommie-Waheed Evans
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the historic Montgomery Bus Boycotts, DBDT presents Bodies as Site of Faith and Protest by Tommie-Waheed Evans. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “We Shall Overcome” speech this assertive work explores the resilience and power of the Civil Rights Movement.
Bodies as Site of Faith and Protest is funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes.
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.