Dallas Black Dance Theatre Pushing Boundaries with Wireless Headphones

Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) makes history in its Director's Choice Series during its 40th Anniversary season, reinventing the concert dance experience utilizing headphones. The world premiere of The B-Side will allow audience members to select from three original musical scores as they view the dance. It's part of the Director's Choice Series, November 4-6, 2016, in the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

Choreographer Tiffany Rea-Fisher, the Artistic Director for Elisa Monte Dance, came up with the idea for The B-Side several years ago, but did not consider creating it until Dallas Black Dance Theatre commissioned her to do a work for its 40th Anniversary.

"This is the company that likes to push boundaries, take risks and likes to be on the cutting edge of the industry, so I felt it was a perfect marriage," said Tiffany Rae-Fisher who has set works for DBDT in the past. "I think DBDT founder Ms. Ann Williams understands longevity and what it takes to last. She has been able to do that because she is not afraid of the future or the next generation coming up and she embraces it which is a rare quality."

New York City Composer Michael Thurber is developing the three different musical scores for the dance concept. Tiffany chose the title The B Side, because the first musical score will have the familiar feeling of a Motown B Side. The second will be more acoustic and the third will have an electronic synthesized feel to it.

Director's Choice goes from high-tech to historical reflection of some nostalgic dance themes in the world premiere of Tribute. Matthew Rushing, of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, is choreographing Tribute, a dance that chronicles 100 years of African American dance masters, including Talley Beatty, Donald McKayle, Pearl Primus, and Alvin Ailey. Rushing utilized some of the thoughts and comments of DBDT dancers in developing the dance. Mr. Rushing's choreography has been selected as a recipient of a grant from the TACA Donna Wilhelm Family New Works Fund.

DBDT will also restage Christopher Vo's touch (listen). The dance is described as an organic work with a calming effect, almost like a meditative movement journey.

Director's Choice will be held Friday through Sunday, November 4-6, 2016, at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre Center in the Dallas Arts District. For more details, visit www.attpac.org.

For group season subscriptions and group sales, call (214) 871-2390.

2016-2017 | DIRECTOR'S CHOICE

Presenting Sponsor

For the eighth consecutive year, the Director's Choice Series is presented by Texas Instruments (TI). "TI is delighted to again sponsor this Director's Choice Series as Dallas Black Dance Theatre celebrates its 40th Anniversary Season," said Andy Smith, director of corporate philanthropy at Texas Instruments. "Dallas Black Dance Theatre consistently presents engaging, thought-provoking performances that enhance the quality of performing arts for North Texas residents and visitors."

2016-2017 | Co-Sponsors

Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee

Silent Events

2016-2017 | Choreographer Sponsor

TACA Donna Wilhelm Family New Works Fund

2016-2017 | 40th ANNIVERSARY SEASON SPONSORS

Legacy Sponsor: Harold Simmons Foundation

Season Sponsors: Office of Cultural Affairs - City of Dallas, Texas Instruments, NBC 5, Yellow Cab, The Downtown Business News, I Messenger, American Airlines and The Dallas Weekly.

2016-2017 | Season Supporters

Season Supporters: Northpark, Texas Commission on the Arts, Art Works, National Endowment for the Arts, Lexus, OverseeMyIT, The Dallas Examiner, The Dallas Post Tribune, Elite News, BEHR Group Holdings, and AT&T Performing Arts Center.

About Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Founded in 1976 by Ann Williams, Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) is the oldest professional Dance Company in Dallas. It has become the largest minority arts organization in Dallas and the 10th largest in the nation. 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. With an ever-expanding national and global audience, the company employs a diverse, multi-ethnic troupe of dancers performing for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Located at the eastern end of the thriving downtown Dallas Arts District, Dallas Black Dance Theatre is a nationally and internationally recognized professional modern Dance Company. DBDT engages the cross-cultural community through contemporary modern dance presented from the African American experience.

During its 40-year history, the Dallas Black Dance Theatre has a tradition of sharing its talents with the world starting in 1991 when the company performed in Lima, Peru and did a 10-city performing tour in Italy. DBDT has performed for two Olympic Cultural events, on five continents, in 15 countries and 31 states for 4 million arts patrons and 2.6 million students, grades K-12; and annually serves more than 100,000 people, including more than 20,000 youth.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre is comprised of five companies and an Academy. Dallas Black Dance Theatre's professional company, DBDT, consists of 12 full-time professional dancers performing a mixed repertory of modern, jazz, African and spiritual works by national and international choreographers. The company members hail from across the country, from California to Washington D.C., as well as from overseas, from British Columbia and Trinidad/Tobago.

DBDT: Encore! (formerly DBDT II) features eight artists of rising excellence from across the nation that support DBDT's growing local and regional educational outreach.

For more details visit www.DBDT.com

Dallas Black Dance Academy, the official school of Dallas Black Dance Theatre, celebrates 43 years of providing dance instruction to the community. Over 500 students participate weekly in 50 dance classes of ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and African at DBDT studios. The academy has three performing ensembles; Allegro, which is DBDT's premier academy ensemble, Senior Performing Ensemble, and Junior Performing Ensemble.

DBDT offers community outreach services to some 40,000 people annually through workshops, master classes, lecture/demonstrations, residences, mini-performances and student matinees that are designed level-specific for elementary, middle and high schools as well as college and university students. 20,000 of those reached are students in grades K-12 including 44 Dallas area schools and two Boys and Girls Clubs. The rest are in college, as well as community, recreation, and social service agencies. For more details visit https://dbdt.com/academy

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