15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION VIRTUAL

7:00 PM CDT / 8:00 PM EDT

A CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA TO TOUCH YOUR SOUL! The impact of inspiration

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SEASON SUPPORTERS

COVID RESILIENCE SPONSORS Anonymous Wells Fargo LKS Foundation Anonymous Mid-America Arts Alliance Communities Foundation of /North Texas Regional Arts Resilience Fund Giving Day Office of Arts and Culture–City of Dallas Chase Coronavirus Relief Fund Deedie Rose National Endowment for the Arts CARES Act TACA Emergency Arts Relief Fund Dallas Black Dance Theatre Board of Directors Sally Pian & Ira Silverman Henry C. Beck, Jr. Donor Advised Fund at Texas Lucy and Henry Billingsley Fund at Texas Women’s Foundation Women’s Foundation Kate Wilson Davis Fund at Texas Women’s Ford Reynolds Fund of the Southwest Foundation Community Foundation The Eugene McDermott Foundation Keron Wright PNC DR. CHARLES “CHUCK” DAVIS January 1, 1937 – May 14, 2017 Founder and Artistic Director, African American Dance Ensemble and DanceAfrica America

Spanning 4 decades of Dance was the incomparable Dr. Chuck Davis. Founder of the Chuck Davis Dance Co. and the African American Dance Ensemble, Dr. Davis has become a living legend. He received many accolades from Honorary Doctorates, to the Proclamations from the many different Cities and States around this country, he was one of our most beloved and honored treasures.

A Master Dancer, par excellence; World traveler, Teacher, Instructor, Friend and Benefactor and Protector for many of the under-served and often neglected communities, Dr. Davis brought the joy of the dance, the excitement of the rhythm and the intensity of humanity to everything he did.

Dr. Davis served this nation, not only as a Goodwill Ambassador to other countries, but he served with his time in the U.S. Navy and served this Nation to represent all mankind for the benefit of mankind. Showing and living, Peace! Love! Respect! For Everybody!

What made him a distinguished artist, was not the awards that proclaimed him so, what made him a distinguished artist was his ability to remain humble and constantly giving to those in need and tirelessly fighting injustice with the passion of the Ancestors that have gone on before him. Refusing to become one of those who forget, Dr. Davis constantly reminded us all, that we are standing, marching, kneeling and existing by the grace and will of the Merciful Creator and to give true obeisance to HIM, is to NOT forget the warriors of the past, and the Elders of today.

A constant teacher and creator is the legend that is, Dr. Charles “Chuck” Davis. His Mother’s Son. GUEST ARTIST BIOS Leo Hassan Leo Hassan is a storyteller and musician who has been sharing his talents for several decades. As a student of New York’s African Cultural Arts Movement of the 1960s, he was inspired by great teaching artists such as Chief Bey, Baba Olatunji, Mama Pearl Primus, Baba Ishangi and longtime friend and fraternity brother Baba Chuck Davis. After relocating to Dallas in the ‘70s, Leo organized “The Omari African Drummers and Dancers”, the first such group in the southwest. Years later, inspired by the rhythms and lessons of ancient Africa, Leo joined friend Tony Browne and others to create Bandan Koro African Drummers and Dancers, now one of Texas’ premier performing arts ensembles. In 2012, he was recruited as Artistic Associate for Dance Africa 35, Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Grand Reunion of its original performing

The DeSoto High School A Cappella Choir The DeSoto High School A Cappella Choir is the premier, auditioned Varsity mixed choir composed of freshman through seniors who exhibit high levels of commitment and dedication to DHS and its overall success. DeSoto High School is a 6A high school with an enrollment of 3,000. DeSoto, Texas is a suburban city found southwest of Dallas. The ensemble performs music from various musical genres and has competed in festivals throughout Texas, Toronto, Canada, Atlanta, Georgia, Nashville, Tennessee, Anaheim, California, and Orlando, Florida. In 2015, the choir participated in the Festival of Gold held in Washington DC and performed in the beautiful Strathmoor Center. In 2016, the choir traveled to London and toured performing in the cathedrals including Strathmoor and Warwick. In 2018, they had the honor of performing on the stage of Carnegie Hall and receiving a standing ovation. They are embarking on their Canada Tour in April 2019 competing at the World Strides Music Festival held at York University and performance at the Prince of Whales Theatre both in Toronto. Members of A Cappella Choir maintain a high academic standing while taking AP and Pre-AP classes. They are active in a multitude of school, community, and religious activities including: athletics, theatre, cheerleading, dance, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Texas Association of Future Educators, and various other organizations. The DeSoto High School Choral Department is a partnership between directors, administrators, parents, students as well as the community. They are committed to musical excellence, inspiring others through singing and developing members into musicians and leaders.

Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance Ensemble Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance Ensemble was founded by Tony Browne in 2009 as an outlet to study and share experiences associated with African culture and history to the community at large through the medium of dance, music and specialized presentations. Bandan Koro is a Malinke term meaning “under the tree” and traditionally, the large trees of Africa serve as gathering places for the community. In this tradition, Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance Ensemble brings the village to the stage, gathering audiences “under the tree” to celebrate life through African Arts. The ensemble presents community classes, specialized workshops, performances, and corporate engagement programs throughout the year.

Tony Browne Founder and Director, Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance Ensemble

Tony Browne is a performing artist, musician, instructor and engineer who received his Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University. Born in Seattle, Washington, Tony relocated to Dallas, Texas to pursue career growth and the opportunity to serve underrepresented communities. As the Founder and Director of Bandan Koro, Tony works tirelessly to serve the Dallas community by educating and inspiring through African arts and culture. His Trinidad and Tobago roots and the African influence on the Caribbean has inspired him to study the culture of Africa and the African Diaspora. He has intensively studied under the tutelage of over 15 master teachers that currently reside across the United States, Canada, West Africa and the Caribbean. He also houses resident artists when they visit Dallas, helping to facilitate opportunities for them to share their artistic and cultural knowledge with the Dallas community. Tony continues to play a key role in Dallas’ cultural events through Bandan Koro which he founded in the winter of 2009.

Step Afrika! Step Afrika! Founded in 1994 by C. Brian Williams, Step Afrika! is the first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping. The Company blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional dances from across the African continent; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor, and audience participation. Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. The Company reaches tens of thousands of Americans each year through a 50-city tour of colleges and theatres and performs globally as Washington DC’s one and only Cultural Ambassador. Step Afrika! has earned Mayor’s Arts Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education (2005); Innovation in the Arts (2008); and Excellence in an Artistic Discipline (2012); and was a featured performer at the for President Barack Obama and the First Lady. Step Afrika! now ranks as one of the top ten African American dance companies in the United States and is featured prominently at the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture with the world’s first stepping interactive.

C. Brian Williams Founder and Executive Director, Step Afrika!

C. BRIAN WILLIAMS, Founder and Executive Director of Step Afrika!, is a graduate of Howard University. After living in Southern Africa, Brian began to research the percussive dance tradition of stepping, exploring the many sides of this exciting, yet under-recognized American art form and founded Step Afrika! in 1994. Brian has performed, lectured and taught in Europe, South & Central America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Caribbean and throughout the United States. He is a founder of the historic Step Afrika! International Cultural Festival in Johannesburg, . Dallas Black Dance Theatre Artistic Director MELISSA M. YOUNG MELISSA M. YOUNG is a Honduran-American raised in Santa Ana, California. She attended Orange Coast College with a focus in Business Administration. She is a graduate of The Ailey School in . She trained in threae of their programs: Summer Intensive, Certificate Program and Fellowship. During her Fellowship studies, she was selected to train as an exchange student at Amsterdam School of the Arts (de Theaterschool) in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Overall, her professional training includes: , Modern (Horton and Graham), and Jazz techniques, as well as West African dance.

This marks Melissa’s 27th season with Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Young started her career at DBDT as a dancer for 11 years, then Rehearsal Director, Academy Director, Associate Artistic Director, Interim Artistic Director, and was appointed as Artistic Director on September 25, 2018. Her most notable performances include: The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors in New York City, and for the U.S. Ambassadors to Ireland and Zimbabwe. She has restaged and rehearsed the diverse repertoire of DBDT, which spans over 80 . She was an Assistant to the Choreographers, Hope Clarke for the Dallas Opera’s (2009) and Christopher L. Huggins for Dallas Theater Center’s production of The Wiz (2011).

Teaching master classes both nationally and internationally, Melissa specializes in the Dance Technique of Lester Horton. She was the primary Horton Technique Instructor for Dallas Black Dance Theatre from 1998–2017. As an Adjunct Instructor, she taught the Horton Technique at Dallas’ Southern Methodist University in 2004 and Texas Woman’s University in Denton from 2005–2008. She was on faculty (Horton Technique) at Ballet Center for Fort Worth and Dallas Youth Repertory Project, and continues to serve as a guest teacher at both schools. In 2014, Melissa was the Visiting Dance Artist for Abilene Christian University’s Department of Theatre. She taught ballet, modern and lyrical jazz techniques.

Melissa currently serves on the Next Generation Leadership Committee for the International Association of Blacks in Dance, Inc. She has served as an advisory panelist for City of Dallas/Office of Cultural Affairs, Young Audiences of Dallas, Texas Commission on the Arts and Arkansas Arts Council, as well as serving as a board member for the Dance Council of North Texas from 2010– 2013. In 2000, she was presented with The Dancer’s Award for her artistic excellence and dedication to Dallas Black Dance Theatre. She was chosen as one of “The Talented Tenth” by The Dallas Weekly in 2010, for being a Young and Emerging Leader. In 2014, she received an Award of Recognition from the South Dallas Dance Festival for her service to dance and in 2016, the Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence. In November 2017, Melissa received the Shining Star Award from the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance for her significant contributions to dance in Texas and beyond. During the 57th Annual South Central District Conference of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. in March 2018, Melissa was honored with the “We Speak Your Name” Career Achievement Award.

DBDT: Encore! Artistic Director NYCOLE RAY

Detroit native, Nycole Ray graduated from The California Institute of the Arts with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in dance and choreography. She received additional training as an exchange student at the London Contemporary Dance School in England. Mrs. Ray has performed with Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Bruce Wood Dance®, Walt Disney World Entertainment, Christopher and Friends directed by Christopher L. Huggins, The Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company II and the Zadonu African Dance Company. She has worked with noted choreographers such as Donald McKayle, Dianne McIntyre, Christopher L. Huggins, Alonzo King, Donald Byrd, Bruce Wood®, Rennie Harris, and Camille A. Brown. Nycole is the 2013 recipient of the Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence and the 2011 Artful Dancewear Teachers Scholarship from the Dance Council of North Texas. She is also a certified Dunham Technique Instructor. Nycole is a guest artist with Dallas Black Dance Theatre and has served as a past Rehearsal Director for the Bruce Wood® Dance Project, and Assistant Rehearsal Director for Dallas Black Dance Theatre. This marks her 11th season as the Artistic Director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s DBDT: Encore! and her 23rd season with Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

DBDT: Encore! Artistic Assistant / Booking Assistant RICHARD A. FREEMAN, JR. A native of Washington, D.C., Richard began his training with District of Columbia Youth Ensemble and . He received additional training from Duke Ellington School of the Arts, as well as Virginia Commonwealth University. He danced professionally with Elisa Monte Dance, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Arts Unlimited, and Grand Opera. Mr. Freeman has had the pleasure to perform in Operas/Musicals such as Casa Blanca, Brothers of the Knight, Dreams, Porgy and Bess, The WIZ and Rusalka. Some of his commercial credits include Mary Kay, Holiday Inn, and Chuck E. Chesse. Richard has choreographed works for the Atlanta Dance Connection, School, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, DBDT: Encore, Urban Souls Dance Company, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and I. M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA. Richard has been the resident choreographer for Dallas Black Dance Theatre as well as the ballet master for Spring Cypress Dance Center. He has performed works by world renowned choreographers such as , Talley Beatty, Ben Stevenson, , Christopher L. Huggins, Nejla Y. Yatkin, Alonzo King and many others. Along side performing he also teaches master classes and workshops across the nation. Mr. Freeman is currently the Artistic Assistant for DBDT: Encore! and the Booking Assistant for both DBDT, and DBDT: Encore! This is his 13th season with the company.

Academy Director KATRICIA EAGLIN Katricia Eaglin is a Dallas native and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She received her BFA in Dance with a minor in Business Foundations from the University of North Texas and earned a Master’s in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. Mrs. Eaglin is former dancer of DBDT from 2005–2015, Director of the Academy’s premier Allegro Performing Ensemble since 2012 and an Academy instructor since 1997. Katricia has also done choreography for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, DBDT: Encore!, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts as well as other dance programs in the Dallas community. While a member of DBDT, Ms. Eaglin performed with the Dallas Opera’s Porgy and Bess in 2008 and Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s collaboration with Dallas Theatre Center in The Wiz in 2011. She also performed for the King of Ghana and Winnie Mandela. Mrs. Eaglin currently serves as Dallas Black Dance Academy’s Academy Director. Dallas Black Dance Theatre Presents DanceAfrica Dallas 2020

Celebration 15! Past, Present and Renewed Future

Baba Chuck Davis, DanceAfrica Founder DBDT Council of Elders Step Afrika! Bandan Koro African Drum & Dance Ensemble DeSoto High School A Capella Choir Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) DBDT: Encore! DBDA Allegro Performing Ensemble DBDA Senior Performing Ensemble DBDA Junior Performing Ensemble

Ann M. Williams, Dallas Black Dance Theatre Founder Melissa M. Young, Artistic Director Nycole Ray, DBDT: Encore! Artistic Director/ DanceAfrica Production Director Richard A. Freeman, Jr., DBDT: Encore! Artistic Assistant/DanceAfrica Production Assistant Milton T. Tatum, Jr., DBDT Production Manager

Master and Mistress of Ceremony: Baba Leo Hassan & Melissa M. Young

DBDT Musicians: Len Barnett, Frank Moka, A.D. Roberts & Christopher Rollins DBDT Choral Director: Claude Alexander III Council of Elders Chairs: Alfreda E. Rollins & Sareatha Kirk Remembering Baba Chuck Davis

Peace, Love, Respect For Everybody!

Lift Every Voice and Sing Dallas Black Dance Theatre Choir

Hana Delong, Zenetta Drew, Richard A. Freeman, Jr., Marques Furr, Sierra Noel Jones, Lailah LaRose, Xavier Mack, Floyd McLean, Jr., Bianca Melidor, Zion Pradier, Nycole Ray, Terrell Rogers, Jr., Jasmine White-Killins & McKinley Willis

Jalibah’s Greetings Baba Leo Hassan & Melissa M. Young

The JALIBAH, oral historian/narrator, welcome all to this space where all important events take place including acknowledgement of you OMINPOTENT FORCE; HONORING THE ANCESTORS; HONORING THE ELDERS. AND HONORING, OF COURSE, YOU! ASE!!! ASE!!! ASE!!!

Pouring of the Libation Baba Leo Hassan

Memorial “If I could have one more dance with you, it would be the dance I always treasure”

The Council of Elders

Brenda Arnold Darensburg Diana Huguley Gabrialle Huguley Galen Johnson Sareatha Kirk Sharon Lawson Sabrina Moulaud Alfreda E. Rollins Latricia Willis

In Loving Memory of Luther Kirk III Wade in the Water DeSoto High School A Capella Choir Pamela Dawson, Director

London-Sunsirae Browder, Taylor Dunn, Trinity Edwards, Lailah El’Amin, Alexandria Ellison, Kiyanna Jackson, Devin Jenkins, Mikayla McNutt, Dawn Parish, Azaria Parker, Tamya Simmons *Alumni, Jayden Smith, Brooke Thompson, Noah Wade & Ethan White

Mandjani Dallas Black Dance Academy’s, Junior & Senior Performing Ensembles Sierra Noelle Jones, JPE Director De’Anthony Vaughan, SPE Director

Choreographers: Sierra Noel Jones & De’Anthony Vaughan Costumes: Nycole Ray Dancers: JPE – Tori Davis, Blake Evans, Khloe Garrison, Cassandra Jones, Shaila Parker & Aniya Whitaker

SPE – Carra Collins, Ashlynn Chew, Chinara Edwards, Trennedi Hurse, Hannah Lowe & Sydney Williams

Mandjani Dallas Black Dance Academy’s, Allegro Performing Ensemble Katricia Eaglin, Director

Choreographer: Katricia Eaglin Costumes: Katricia Eaglin & Marion Springer Dancers: Saada Diggs, Peyton George, Moria Perry, Jordan Pipkins, Sania Robinson, Kendall Stone Homage to the Source: AFRICA (excerpt) Dallas Black Dance Theatre & DBDT: Encore! Melissa M. Young, DBDT Artistic Director Nycole Ray, DBDT: Encore! Director

Choreographer: Baba Chuck Davis Costumes: Nycole Ray Dancers: DBDT - Claude Alexander III, Hana Delong, Lailah Duke, Sierra Noel Jones, Xavier Mack, Charles Michael Patterson, Zion Pradier, Sean J. Smith, De’Anthony Vaughan, Renee Walters, Jasmine White-Killins & McKinley Willis

Dancers: DBDT: Encore! - Ketreon Butler, Carmen Cage, Marques Furr, Floyd McLean, Jr., Bianca Melidor, & Terrell Rogers, Jr.

BANDAN KORO AFRICAN DANCE AND DRUM ENSEMBLE

Founder & Director: Tony Browne Artistic Director: Mikoyienne Whitley

Temate

Choreography: Jean-Claude Lessou Musical Direction: Tony Browne

Temate is an Ivory Coast dance and rhythm, celebrating the harvest. The movements represent the step by step work of cultivating the rice field. Watch closely for the clearing of the brush, planting of the seeds, and the harvest. Mane

Choreography: Mikoyienne Whitley Musical Direction: Tony Browne

Mane is a womans dance done by the Sousou people of Guinea. It is part of a family of dances referred to as Guinea Fare and celebrates a woman in her prime. Today it is performed for weddings and other celebratory events, performed by women and men.

Sorsornet

Choreography: Mikoyienne Whitley Musical Direction: Tony Browne

Sorsornet is a masked dance done by the Baga people of Guinea. It is said that the mask is a protector from evil and negative energy. The rhythm is played as the mask moves throughout the village.

Musicians: Tony Browne (Musical Director), Ixchel Frierson (Sangban), Ande Jones (Dundunba), Edward Dogbe (Djembe), Tim Patterson (Djembe)

Dancers: Tonya Compton, Leslie Gutierrez, Jennifer Isis Simon, Rodesia Scott, Adrian Templeton, Terrance Thomas & Mikoyienne Whitley STEP AFRIKA!

C. Brian Williams, Founder & Executive Director

Dancers: Mfon Akpan, (Artistic Director), Emanuel Chacon, Matthew Evans, Kiera Harley, Conrad Kelly, Ronnique Murray, Anesia Sandifer, Jordan Spry, Ta’Quez Whitted, & Jerel Williams

Solo

Traditionally, stepping is performed by groups, big and small. In this Solo, Step Afrika! investigates the form at its most intimate level.

Chicago

Chicago finds the rhythm in everyday situations. It is a percussive symphony using body percussion and up to 5 complex polyrhythms performed simultaneously in order to narrate a percussive dance “story.” Inspired by a summer spent in the Windy City, this ground-breaking work transforms the 100-year old, folkloric tradition of stepping into contemporary performance art. (Choreographed by: Jakari Sherman)

Special Note: Audience participation has been a part of the step tradition since its inception in the 1900s—members of the audience are invited to clap, stomp, cheer and participate in call and response with the Artists. DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE • STAFF

THE MISSION Our mission is to create and produce contemporary modern dance at its highest level of artistic excellence.

FOUNDER ANN M. WILLIAMS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MELISSA M. YOUNG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ZENETTA S. DREW

DBDT COMPANY DANCERS

Claude Alexander III Xavier Mack De’Anthony Vaughan Hana Delong Charles Michael Patterson Renee Walters Lailah LaRose Zion Pradier Jasmine White-Killins Sierra Noelle Jones Sean J. Smith McKinley Willis

DBDT COMPANY TEACHERS

Claude Alexander III Sean J. Smith Allan Kinzie Enrica Tseng Ceyhun Özsoy Michelle Zada Joshua L. Peugh

DBDT: ENCORE! ARTISTIC DIRECTOR NYCOLE RAY DBDT: ENCORE! DANCERS Ketreon Butler (Apprentice) Floyd McLean Jr. Carmen Cage Bianca Melidor Marques Furr Terrell Rogers Jr.

ARTISTIC Production Director / Facility Support Manager Milton T. Tatum, Jr. Academy Director Katricia Eaglin Executive Assistant to the Artistic Director Ebony McFarland Neiman Marcus Group Lead Outreach Teacher Shamonn Wise DBDT: Encore! Artistic Assistant / Booking Assistant Richard A. Freeman, Jr. DBDT Rehearsal Assistants Claude Alexander III & Sean J. Smith ADMINISTRATIVE Controller Mafe Massengale Registrar / Jr. Accountant DeAngela Christian Grant Manager Kristen Y. Vogel Development Coordinator / Executive Assistant to Executive Director Carli Conner Communications & Community Engagement Manager Ramona Logan Ticketing Sales Manager Meg Brooks Graphic Designer / Brand Manager Jonathan Harlos Jr. Graphic Designer / Video Editor Aleah Pilot OPERATIONS Director of Facitlites and Operations Kimberlie Page Facilities Coordinators Edward Brown / Richard Battle 2020–2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Dr. Marvin E. Robinson A. Shonn Brown Jack Skinner Chairman, Emeritus VP Governance/Nominating VP IT & Security Accommodations, Inc. Kimberly-Clark Corporation Oversee My IT, LLC Gilbert Gerst Carisma Ramsey Fields Kim Whitaker Chairman VP Marketing VP Development Bank of Texas JP Morgan & Chase Co. DFW International Airport Georgia Scaife Richard Lee Ann M. Williams President VP Audit Founder Retired, SuperMedia, LLC AlixPartners, LLP Dallas Black Dance Theatre Mark Cooks Clem Maddox Lisa Young ** Vice President VP Government Affairs VP Finance Wells Fargo Charter Spectrum Ernst & Young, LLP Lee McKinney Frank Samuels Treasurer VP Strategic Planning Retired, City of Dallas Retired, Accenture Paulette Turner Willow Sanchez Secretary VP Artistic Integrated Leadership Law Office of Willow Concepts, Inc. Sanchez, Counsel to the Arts

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Juanita Brown Stephanie L. Johnson Kymberley Scalia Downtown Business News AT&T HALL Group Joleen Chambers Marianne Lamont Boski Sharma Community Volunteer Texas Instruments Perot Museum of Nature & Science Angela Chapman Terrence G. Maiden Bright Legacy Enterprises, LLC Russell Glen Company Diane Stephenson American Red Cross North Greer L. Christian Rev. Claude Maples Texas Region Wells Fargo Community Volunteer Linda Todd Kellie Crewse Holly Mayer Xerox Corporation True North Advisors P.R.I.D.E. Rehab Jim Washington Kyle Davis Shelia McAfee The Dallas Weekly Locke Lord, LLP MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Petre White Robbie Douglas Heidi K. Murray VisitDallas Dallas Area Rapid Transit Leadership Women (DART) Freda Wright Kim Noltemy Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ann E. Dudley ** Dallas Symphony Orchestra Texas Retired, American Airlines/ American Eagle JeAnna L. Parker Keron Wright PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Wright Legal Services PLLC Lawanda Penland Dunwell ** The Raytheon Company Sheena Payne Global Payne Solutions Ella Goode Johnson Liaison, OAC/City of Dallas ** National Board Members DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE DANCERS

CLAUDE ALEXANDER III (Rehearsal Assistant) A native of Washington D.C., Claude comes to Dallas Black Dance Theatre after graduating from Towson University. He began his training with Spirit Wings Dance Co. and additionally with The Ailey School, Parsons Dance and DBDT’s Professional Summer Intensive on full scholarship. Claude has had the opportunity to guest with Dishibem, Dance RINK, Ballet Frontier of Texas, Tuzer Ballet, and Dance Iquail. Notably, Claude performed in the 2017 Command Performance Gala by TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND. He has choreographed two ballets for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Face what’s facing you! (2018) and A Tender Pardon (2019). This is his 11th season.

HANA DELONG Hana Delong, began her dance training in Orlando, FL. She studied dance at the Dr. Phillips High School Dance Magnet and the Orlando Ballet. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Adelphi University and was a scholarship student at The Ailey School. She has performed with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Memoria and Revelations Cast of 50 and has performed pieces by choreographers such as , Matthew Rushing, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Margo Sappington, and Ray Mercer. She was a member of DBDT: Encore! and this is her sixth season with the company.

LAILAH LAROSE native Lailah LaRose is a 2015 graduate of Howard University where she holds a BFA in Dance Arts. She owes her first experiences in dance to Destined 2 Dance Studio and Performing Arts of Oakland, CA. She has had the privilege to perform several works by many esteemed artists, notably, principal dancer, and mentor, Hope Boykin, of The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Lailah has had the opportunity to perform alongside legendary Operatic Soprano, Kathleen Battle, at the Winspear Opera House (Dallas, Texas) in 2018. She was a 2-year member of DBDT: Encore! where she was able to guest with the main company in various works, and is now overjoyed to be in her fourth season with Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

SIERRA NOELLE JONES Sierra Noelle Jones, from Fort Washington, MD is a 2015 honors graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance & Choreography. She graduated from Baltimore School for the Arts (2011) and received her training through Donna’s Dance A Company, The Dance Institute of Washington, and Dance Theatre of ’s Pre-Professional Residency program. Sierra has performed in works by Dianne McIntyre, Elisa Monte, Ulysses Dove, Matthew Rushing and Darrell Grand Moultrie. She also performed two seasons with DBDT: Encore! and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Sierra is ecstatic to be entering her fourth season with DBDT. XAVIER MACK Xavier Mack joins the company from Washington, D.C. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Modern Language & Linguistics from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC). Before dance, Xavier trained in gymnastics and received national and regional awards. He began his dance training at Divine Dance Institute, in Capitol Heights, Maryland. Xavier received summer intensive scholarships from and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Mack has performed works by Talley Beatty, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Dianne McIntyre, and Matthew Rushing. He is a former member of DBDT: Encore! and this is his fourth season with Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

CHARLES MICHAEL PATTERSON Born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago, Charles moved to the United States at the age of ten. He began his dance training at the Boston Arts Academy and after- school program Jeannette Neill studio. Charles received his Bachelor of Fine Art in Ballet Pedagogy from The Boston Conservatory on full scholarship. Mr. Patterson has been awarded scholarships to summer intensives such as Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and The Juilliard School. Charles accepted his first company contract dancing with Complexions Contemporary Ballet 2016– 2017 season as an apprentice. This is Charles’ third season performing with Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

ZION PRADIER A native of Lafayette, , Zion is an alumni of The Certificate Program at The Ailey School in New York City, New York. He received additional training from Dance Theatre of Harlem as a Merit Scholarship student, Complexions Contemporary Ballet Winter Intensive, and The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at as a scholarship student in the Collegiate Program. Zion has performed works such as Sinatra Suite by , Absolute Rule by Elisa Monte and David Brown, Awassa Astrige/Ostrich by Asadata Dafora, and other works by Darrell Grand Moultrie, Ray Mercer, and Juel D. Lane. This is Zion’s fifth season with Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

SEAN J. SMITH (Rehearsal Assistant) A proud Canadian, Sean trained with Goh Ballet Academy, Ballet British Columbia’s Mentor Program and The Ailey School. He has performed with Bruce Wood Dance Project, Rhythmic Souls Tap Company and African American Repertory Theater. Sean has performed with Dallas Theater Center in The Wiz (2011) and Hairspray (2018). Sean has taught the Lester Horton technique for Ailey Athletic Boys (AAB), Dallas Black Dance Academy, and Southern Methodist University. Sean has choreographed two works for Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Monologues (2013) and Interpretations (2017) and one work for DBDT: Encore!, Dollhouse (2015). This is Sean’s 11th season with DBDT. DE’ANTHONY VAUGHAN Born in Kansas City, MO, De’Anthony was drawn into dance by his grandmother at the age of three. She ran a performing arts school and introduced him to all forms of dance. He attended Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey and the School. He continued his training in New York City at The Ailey School on scholarship. Prior to joining Dallas Black Dance Theatre, he was a member of the Von Howard Project. This is Mr. Vaughan’s seventh season with the company.

RENEE WALTERS Renee began her journey in dance through a variety of styles within the competitive dance genre. She later went on to purse her studies with a more classical concentration at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and ’s Pre-Professional program. Renee received additional training from the summer intensive programs at , , as well as summer and winter intensives at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Renee graduated from University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor in Human Behavior and Intercultural Communications in May 2018. During the latter part of her college years, she danced with 6 O’Clock Dance Theatre and was a founding member of Zion Dance Project. Renee is extremely grateful to be returning for her third season.

JASMINE WHITE-KILLINS A native of Cincinnati, OH, Jasmine began her dance training at the Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts. In addition to earning her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University and minor in Arts Management, Jasmine has studied on scholarship at The Ailey School, Martha Graham School, Academy and other intensives across the country. Jasmine performed two seasons with DBDT: Encore! and is an instructor at both Dallas Black Dance Academy and Texas Ballet Theater. She is currently the director of the Senior Performing Ensemble within DBDA. This is Jasmine’s sixth season with DBDT.

McKINLEY WILLIS Ms. Willis is a Dallas native, and began her training with the Dallas Black Dance Academy and Özsoy’s School of Ballet. She is a graduate of Booker T. Washington HSPVA, and in the midst of her time there she received the Texas Commission on the Arts Young Masters scholarship. In 2015 she received her Bachelor of Fine Art in Modern Dance Performance with a minor in Health and Exercise Science from the University of . She made her debut with the Bruce Wood Dance Project in 2011 as an apprentice, and again as a performing member in 2015. This is her sixth season with Dallas Black Dance Theatre. DBDT: ENCORE! DANCERS

KETREON BUTLER (Apprentice) A native of Plaquemine, Louisian a, Ketreon Butler began his dance training under the direction of Sharon Mathews at Baton Rouge Magnet High School. He was then awarded a full scholarship to train at the Dancer’s Workshop and Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre under the artistic direction of Sharon Mathews and Molly Buchmann. He has trained on full scholarships at The , The Debbie Allen Dance Academy, The National Choreography Intensive, and The American Ballet Theatre. In 2015, he was awarded the Regional Dance America: Choreography Award for his piece Yearn. This marks his second season as an apprentice with DBDT: Encore!

CARMEN CAGE A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Carmen began her pre-professional training at the Jacksonville Center for the arts and the Douglas Anderson School of the arts. She is a 2018 graduate of SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance, and a minor in Arts Management. Carmen has performed renowned works by Kevin Wynn, Doug Varone, Martha Graham, Trisha Brown, Christopher L. Huggins, Levi Marsman and José Limón. She has completed intensives at The Ailey School, Dance Italia, Movement Invention Project, Bates Dance Festival and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. She has performed at the Kuandu Arts Festival in Taipei Taiwan, New York live Arts, , and Peridance Capezio Center. This is Carmen’s third season with DBDT: Encore!

MARQUES FURR Marques Gregory Furr of Nashville, TN & DC/MD/VA area graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance with a minor in Musical Theatre from the University of the Arts. He began his formal training at the Nashville School of the Arts. He danced with Eleone Dance Theatre for three seasons. Mr. Furr traveled on Broadway with the production of Ragtime and is the recipient of the Tennessee Dance Festival’s Kitty Sharp Ballet Award. He has studied on Scholarship at The Dance Theater of Harlem, Ballet X and received the Oprah Winfrey Foundation Scholarship at The Ailey School for summer studies in 2018. He has performed the works of Juel D. Lane, Robert Battle, Gary D. Jeter, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Beth Gill, Kyle Clark, Dara J. Meredith, Amy Hall Garner, Lamar Baylor, Nora Gibson, Wayne St. David, Shawn-Lamere Williams, Thaddeus and Tonya Wideman-Davis, Molly Misgala, and E. Leon Evans. This is his second season with DBDT: Encore! FLOYD MCLEAN JR. A native of East Orange, NJ, began his pre-professional dance training at Sharron Miller’s Academy for The Performing Arts In Montclair, NJ and The Cicely L. Tyson High School of Performing and Fine Arts. He has trained at The Dance Theater of Harlem, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, NYU Future Dancers and Dance makers and Dallas Black Dance Theatre intensives. Floyd is a 2018 graduate with a BFA in Dance from Point Park University where he was awarded the Don Craig Scholarship. He has trained with and danced in works by Garfield Lemonius, Jason McDole, Kiesha Lalama, Joshua L. Peugh, Stephanie Batten-Bland, Doug Bentz, Christopher L. Huggins, and many more. This is his third season with DBDT: Encore!

BIANCA MELIDOR A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Bianca received her dance training at the Gwinnett Ballet Theater under the artistic direction of Lisa Sheppard Robson and Wade Walthall. Bianca furthered her training at Point Park University, with professors Jason McDole, Judith Leifer-Bentz, and many others. In 2018, Bianca graduated from Point Park receiving her Bachelor in Fine Arts with Magna Cum Laude. Having been part of a conservatory directed under Ruben Graciani and Garfield Lemonius, Bianca has had opportunities to work with choreographers such as Troy Powell, Sidra Bell, Helen Simoneau, Kiesha Lalama and many others along with performing works by Mark Morris and José Limón. In addition, Bianca has spent many of her summers training at intensives like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Mark Morris Dance Group, , , and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Along with her training, Bianca enjoys teaching students of all ages in ballet, jazz, modern, and Haitian folklore dance. Bianca is excited to participate in her third season with DBDT: Encore!

TERRELL ROGERS, JR. A native of Baltimore, MD, is a recent graduate from Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts under the direction of Garfield Lemonius. He began his dance training with the Ava Fields Dance Company under the direction of Ava Fields. He later received a full scholarship to study at Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory. He has attended summer intensives at Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. During his time at Point Park, he trained and performed works by master choreographers and teachers, José Limón, Lucinda Childs, Jennifer Archibald, Ori Flomin, Judith Leifer-Bentz, Garfield Lemonius, Jason McDole, and Kiesha Lalama. This will be Terrell’s third season with DBDT: Encore!

Photography by Brian Guilliaux REAL. LOCAL. The arts make us feel something deep in the core of our souls. It is imperative that great cities continue to support the arts at the local level. The strength of every community is measured by its commitment to the arts.

The Dallas Morning News is a proud supporter of Dallas Black Dance Theatre and its relentless excellence to contemporary modern dance.