NBC 5, Telemundo 39, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) invite you in the celebration of five decades of contemporary modern dance and community impact. DBDT, the oldest continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas, announces its 50th anniversary season, “50 Years in Motion.” Tickets for the season are on sale now.

Founded in 1976, DBDT has spent 50 years pursuing its mission to serve their community and inspire minority youth to see dance as an art form and a viable professional path. That mission, reflected in the company’s “Relentless Excellence” ethos, has carried DBDT from its earliest years to its standing today as a cornerstone of Dallas arts and culture.

The season’s home series is organized into three programs, GENESIS, INHERITANCE and UNCHARTED, each built around a different chapter of DBDT’s story. GENESIS looks back to the company’s founding and early repertoire, INHERITANCE reflects on the artists and works that have carried the company’s legacy forward, and UNCHARTED turns toward the future with new commissions and choreographic voices that will shape DBDT’s next fifty years.

Tickets for the 50th anniversary season are available now at www.DBDT.com or by calling (214) 871-2313.

2026-2027 50th Anniversary Season:

DanceAfrica
October 9–10, 2026 | Moody Performance Hall | 7:30 PM
Celebrate the rich tapestry of African culture in the heart of Dallas with DanceAfrica! The stage comes alive with traditional and contemporary African dance, driven by the pulse of live drums and performances by Dallas Black Dance Theatre, DBDT: Encore, Allegro, Senior, and Junior Performing Ensemble, plus special guest artists Lancaster High School DC3, Voices of Empowerment, and African drum and dance ensemble, Bandan Koro.

After the performance, join in our beloved Bantaba tradition, a communal dance experience where dancers, drummers, and audience move together as one in a celebration that bridges cultures and generations in a single universal rhythm.

Festival & Marketplace
October 10, 2026 | Klyde Warren Park | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Bring the whole family for a day of discovery as Klyde Warren Park transforms into a gateway to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Africa! Browse handmade artisan crafts, explore offerings from local vendors, and enjoy a variety of dance all day long with performances by dance troupes from across the DFW Metroplex.

GENESIS | Director’s Choice Series
November 6-7, 2026 | 7:30PM | Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre
Every story has a beginning. Experience where it all started with the iconic works that laid the foundation for Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

Behind The Scenes
November 23–24, 2026 | 12:00 PM | DBDT Studios
November 23, 2026 | DBDT & DBDT: Encore
November 24, 2026 | Dallas Black Dance Academy Performing Ensembles
Join us for a FREE program at DBDT Studios that gives an exclusive look into how our productions go from the studio to the stage. Suitable for all ages, this hour-long presentation features workshops by Dallas Black Dance Theatre, DBDT: Encore and Dallas Black Dance Academy Performing Ensembles.

Black On Black
December 4–5, 2026 | 7:30 PM | DBDT Studios
What happens when dancers become their own choreographers? Find out with an evening unlike any other where our companies take creative control to share original works at our home studios in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. After the performance, close out the night with an afterparty featuring live DJ entertainment.

Espresso Nutcracker
December 12, 2026 | 7:00 PM | Majestic Theatre
Snow falls, candlelight glows, and the Majestic Theatre transforms into a world of holiday wonder as Dallas Black Dance Academy students bring this treasured holiday tradition to life. Clara’s magical Christmas dream unfolds through waltzing flowers and dancing snowflakes set to a soundtrack that pairs Tchaikovsky with Duke Ellington’s celebrated take on this beloved tale. This narrated, hour-long production reminds audiences young and old what’s possible with a little Christmas magic.

INHERITANCE | Cultural Awareness Series
February 12–14, 2027 | 7:30PM & 3:00 PM | Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre
A new generation of dancers embody the works that established Dallas Black Dance Theatre in the contemporary landscape, celebrating what’s been passed down and what’s still to come.

50th Anniversary Gala
February 13, 2027 | 6:00PM | Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre
Celebrate fifty years of Ann Williams’ dream at Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s 50th Anniversary Gala.

Rising Excellence
April 16–17, 2027 | 7:30PM | Moody Performance Hall
The future of dance takes center stage for DBDT: Encore’s home series showcase. Join the emerging talent of the next generation of dance excellence as they command the stage with fearless passion, technical mastery and boundless energy.

UNCHARTED | Spring Celebration Series
May 14–15, 2027 | 7:30PM | Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre
Step into the unknown as Dallas Black Dance Theatre debuts its first program devoted exclusively to world premieres, ushering in the next fifty years of relentless excellence.