Dallas Black Dance Theatre Launches Legacy Series
First performed in Dallas in 2018, Bodies as Site of Faith and Protest – a performance based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s “We Shall Overcome” speech – will kick off the Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s Legacy Performance Series Saturday, June 20.
King’s words come to life in the work, which is choreographed by Tommie-Waheed Evans. Saturday’s performance, which is virtual, will provide a live Zoom experience that allows the audience to engage with the choreographer and dancers in real time.
Bodies as Site of Faith and Protest explores the idea of bodies uniting in protest through faith. The dance takes on added theatrics as the dancers sing, with DBDT principal Claude Alexander III leading a cappella songs during the performance.
“It’s an embodied map of a process that pushes towards action,” explained Evans. “Through that work, we take a visceral walk down memory lane and (re)learn the road to freedom.”
The Legacy Performance Series virtual experience will run the full ballet from DBDT’s 2018 premiere. Evans will speak about his timely work, which reflects national historical times and is relevant today. In addition to behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, DBDT dancers will candidly share their perspectives about the process and journey to performing this work.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s live performances and events have been canceled since mid-March due to the current public health crisis. DBDT dancers have been collaborating with the marketing department, while practicing social distancing from home, to produce dance video projects to motivate and inspire patrons in a campaign called #DBDTatHome on social media.
“Exploring new ways to reconnect with our extended DBDT family challenges us to grow as the times require,” said Dallas Black Dance Theatre Artistic Director Melissa M. Young. “Bringing the Legacy Performance Series into the fold reminds us that we stand on the mighty shoulders of our past, and each experience provides a source of inspiration as to why we should continue to simply do the work. The combination of enjoying live conversation from the choreographer and company dancers, viewing rehearsal moments and performance all-in-one is a priceless opportunity. In conjunction with our return to theater-life as we know it to be (in the coming months), we hope to continue these digital gatherings as we move into the future.”
Tickets to the event, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 20, are $20. For details, go to DBDT.com.
