The BIG Dance @ Dallas Black Dance Theatre
Photos by Derrick Waiters
—Ramona Harper
“La Vida es un Carnival!”
Life was definitely a carnival last weekend at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, transformed into a giant dance floor for Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s festive annual fundraising gala, The BIG Dance. This year’s gala theme “La Vida es un Carnival!” was an open call to try out your best salsa, merengue, and sexy bachata dance steps. But even if your Latin footwork and swivel hips were a bit rusty, dance lessons presented by the beautiful Amanda Alvarez (of Amanda Cristina Salsa) charmed everyone into having enough gusto (and courage!) to get out on the floor and dance the night away in a Latin groove.
The BIG Dance closed out the 46th season for the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, the largest and longest continually performing professional contemporary modern dance company in Dallas.
DBDT founder Ann Williams, the company’s visionary first Artistic Director, brought together the dancers and created the performances and educational programs that bridge cultures, reach diverse communities, and encompass ever-expanding national audiences. Now going into its 47th year, DBDT has succeeded in its mission and so much more—among the many accolades receiving national recognition for its “relentless excellence” with “An American Masterpiece Touring Artist” award from the National Endowment of the Arts.
DBDT’s Dallas Black Dance Academy, now in its 49th year, has also been making important contributions, not only promoting the art of dance but also helping young people embrace the discipline of body and mind, through dance, that can support them in all their life endeavors. Since 2012, 100% of Dallas Black Dance Academy students have graduated from high school and attended college, a statistic that can challenge any school program in the nation.
The DBDT’s fundraising goal is to continue providing opportunities for students to enroll in the Dallas Black Dance Academy. More than 300 students attend classes onsite at its facility in the Dallas arts district. Additionally, the Academy has a robust school outreach program in 24 area DFW schools with primarily Black and Latino student populations whose families are economically challenged. The program provides in-school dance training for more than 2,000 students every year.
The entertainment lineup for The BIG Dance was an evening exclusively of Latin music, traditional and contemporary. The Mariachi Zacatecas welcomed arriving guests, sporting colorful red Mexican bolero jackets and tight, studded black pants. The six-piece band took us back to old Mexico with the romantic mariachi sound as they roamed through a receptive crowd.
Emcee Maria Guerrero of NBC 5 welcomed guests along with introducing Enrique G. Cobian and Sam Santiago, honorary chairmen for The BIG Dance, and Veronica Torres-Hazley and Sharon K. King, co-chairs for the event.
Emcee Guerrero informed the audience that “all of the proceeds for the evening go toward reducing tuition fees by 40% for the students enrolled at the Dallas Black Dance Academy.” This was a party with a purpose.
The night got livelier and quite a bit louder with non-stop contemporary Latin dance music by the fantastic Fusión Latina, a well-known Dallas salsa band that performed the first part of the night, followed by Havana NRG! (New Rhythm Generation!) performing salsa-merengue favorites. This exciting band has been on the Dallas music scene for over 20 years performing diverse Latin sounds including cumbia, cha cha cha, and bachata music.
The BIG Dance was a wonderfully entertaining evening of dance lessons, with a fun dance contest as the reward. (Winners won tickets to DBDT’s 2024 season.) Food and spirits flowed all night amid an elegantly festive décor that filled the beautiful surroundings of the Meyerson Symphony Center—along with spontaneous dance vignettes performed by members of the DBDT Company.
A big reveal came near the close of the evening as Sharon K. King, co-chair, announced the theme for The BIG Dance 2024, “The Motown Sound.” Spontaneous gasps of excited anticipation erupted from an audience of committed DBDT supporters.
With champagne glasses held high, a toast to the Dallas Black Dance Theatre closed out a lively and thoroughly enjoyable evening to support an important cause. Azucar!
When: June 3, 2023
Where: Morton H. Meyerson Center, Dallas, TX
Web: dbdt.com
