One of North Texas’ favorite toe-tapping, highfalutin fundraisers has just hit the boards with news. Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s (DBDT) “The Big Dance” Co-Chairs Tiffaney D. Hunter and Ebonie Hughey Jackson announced that in celebration of the DBDT’s Dallas Black Dance Academy’s (DBDA) 50th anniversary year, the event will take place on Saturday, June 1, at the Meyerson.
The event’s proceeds will provide a 40% reduction in tuition fees for more than 300 students enrolled in onsite academy training classes at DBDT’s Arts District facility.
As a highlight of the golden anniversary occasion, Tiffaney and Ebonie revealed that Dallas’ own Erykah Badu will serve as the honorary chair.
According to Erykah, “As a proud Dallas native, former Booker T. Washington dance major, global visual and performance artist, and parent to two children who have flourished through Dallas Black Dance Academy, this event holds a special place in my heart. I’m thrilled to serve as honorary chair for The Big Dance 2024 and have the chance to celebrate the remarkable legacy of the Academy.”
Over the years the Academy has “produced one of the first Presidential Scholars in dance in America, in addition to eight other Presidential Scholars who graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and trained at Dallas Black Dance Academy. Four Academy students have received full scholarships to the prestigious dance program at The Julliard School.”
In the past 12 years, 100% of DBDA senior students have “graduated from high school and attended college with many more Academy students having received the Texas Young Masters Award, the state equivalent to the national award.”
As for the evening’s theme, it will be Motown Sound with classics like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “My Girl,” “You Keep Me Hanging On,” “I Want You Back,” “Dancing In the Street,” “Upside Down,” and “The Tears Of A Clown,” performed by Jordan Kahn’s Manhattan Orchestra, with guests encouraged to “don outfits inspired by the iconic Motown era.”
If you haven’t had a chance to attend The Big Dance, you have missed an amazing display of musical and visual talent. It’s so incredibly contagious that guests who swear they have two left feet suddenly feel that good vibration and discover themselves dancing the night away.
Sponsors for The Big Dance 2024 include
- 2024 | Ain’t No Mountain High Enough Sponsor – The Eugene McDermott Foundation
- 2024 | Sounds Of Soul Entertainment Sponsor – Maiden Foundation
- 2024| Supreme Spirits Sponsor – Roxor Spirits
- 2024| Temptation Beer Sponsor – Smittox Brewing Co.
Tickets are available here.
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