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 continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas, DBDT is the fourth-largest Black dance company in the nation, the ninth-largest contemporary modern dance company, and ranked 40th among the nation’s leading ballet companies.

Located in the thriving downtown Dallas Arts District, DBDT has performed worldwide for over 4.5 million arts patrons and 2.7 million students in 31 states and 16 countries on five continents. The performances include two Olympics (1996 & 2012), the nation’s most prestigious venues (Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Broadway, Jacob’s Pillow), and for such luminaries as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and South African President Nelson Mandela. Since the pandemic began in 2020, DBDT performances have also been viewed virtually in over 30 countries. 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).

Founded in 2000 by Ann Williams, DBDT: Encore! is the professional training company for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, consisting of ten classically trained and highly skilled dancers from around the nation to keep up with demand and continue to serve its local community. DBDT: Encore! supports Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s ever-expanding local, regional and national performance schedule. The Company reaches thousands annually with diverse programming that provides valuable dance education programs in schools, conducts outreach activities in community venues, collaborations with cultural institutions and presents performances for universities, corporations, and festivals.

For more details about Dallas Black Dance Theatre visit www.DBDT.com.