DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE AT LIBRARY
By Tom Keener
Celebrate African-American history month with the acclaimed Dallas Black Dance Theatre. The Allen Philharmonic Orchestra and Bach to Books present this esteemed dance company at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, February 15, 300 N. Allen Dr. The audience will be treated to dance forms that include ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop and African dance.
Founded in 1976 by Ann Williams, the mission of Dallas Black Dance Theatre is to create and produce contemporary modern dance at its highest level of artistic excellence through performances and educational programs that bridge cultures and reach diverse communities. The program is free and no reservations are required.
In the spring of 2008, Allen Philharmonic Director Kathy Litinas collaborated with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre to present Peter and the Wolf for a third grade youth concert at the Lowery Freshman Center. Ms Litinas states, “I was so impressed with this dance troupe that I wanted them as part of our Cultural Connection program and the Allen Public Library’s African-American celebrations.”
Dallas Black Dance Theatre celebrates its 32nd season as the oldest, continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas. The ensemble, a contemporary modern dance company, consists of 12 professional, full-time dancers performing a mixed repertory of modern, jazz, ethnic and spiritual works by nationally and internationally known choreographers.
International performances have included the Festival International in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and tours in Austria, Ireland, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Canada, Japan and Uganda.
The Allen production will be under the direction of Allyne Gartrell. He brings twenty years of experience to the art of dance. A graduate of the Dekalb Center for the Performing Arts in Atlanta, Allyne attended Florida A & M University on an Instrumental Music zcholarship and later attended Florida State University as a sance major. A highly respected technique teacher in the disciplines of ballet, modern and jazz, Allyne currently serves as eehearsal director for Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
Allyne states that his role models are “Alvin Ailey, James Truitte, and Talley Beatty. He adds, “From each and every performance that we provide, we hope that the audience is entertained, educated, and finds an appreciation for the artistic value of Contemporary Modern Dance.
We always want to leave a small portion of our Spirit with each audience participant, so that they feel that at some point in the evening we were addressing only them. It becomes a little more personal, and intimate. With all that you do, do it with a Spirit of Excellence."
Other performers include Debra Bazile, La Mar Brown, Tyrone Buskey, Alexys Cobb, Stephanie Davis, Kia Hensley, Sandra Henderson, Yasmine Lockett, Brandon McGee, Marcus Nicholson, Courtne′ Holmes Shed, Patrick Keith and Zachary Orr.
Debra Preston of the library’s adult services This program is co-sponsored by the Library
For information, call Tom Keener at 214-509-4911.
