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editor’s letter Linda James


live it.We feel it in our bones.However, it is reassur- ingwhen research validateswhatwe knowto be true.And it is gratifyingwhen our dancers, organiza- tions, programs and events enjoy the local, state and national recognition they haveworked so hard to earn.


T


The recent State of theArts report, released by the TexasCultural Trust, substantiates that the arts and culture industries in our region are increasingly contributing to the economic and educationalwell being of our community. The arts create jobs and boost tax revenues. Survey results document that theNorth Texas region generatedmore than $1.5 billion in taxable arts and culture sales in 2013.


The positive influence of the arts can also be seen in the shining faces of our youth and reflected in their test scores. State assessment tests docu- ment that studentswho are trained in the arts consistently out perform studentswho have not had the advantage of arts education. The Texas Cultural Trust survey found thatmiddle school students inRegion 10— which encompassesCollin,Dallas,Ellis, Fannin,Grayson,Hunt, Kaufman,Rockwall, and a part ofVan Zandt counties—who are exposed to the arts passed the STAAR tests at 20.3 percent higher rates than their peers.


Dancers in our area are fortunate. The caliber of the training offered at North Texas dance studios and schools iswell known throughout the


Bigger and Better Step by Step


he impact of the arts on theDallas-FortWorth community is big and getting bigger every day. For those of us in the arts, this is not news.We


nation.OnMarch 27, 2015 in conjunctionwithDiavolo’s performance through TITAS Presents,DiavoloArtisticDirector JacquesHeimheld an audition for prospective companymembers.Acknowledging thewealth of local talent,Heimstated, “I have to audition here!“


The quality of dance education in our region ismade possible in part by the experience of our teachers and the longevity of our dance institu- tions.At the January 14, 2015 TexasMedal ofArtsAwards ceremony held inAustin,Booker T.WashingtonHigh School for the Performing andVisualArtswas presentedwith the TexasCultural Trust’s inaugural ArtsEducationAward for its thirty-nine year history of providing exem- plary arts training.


For decades, numerous studios in the region have also been responsible for training the next generation of young artists.Celebratingmilestone anniversaries this year are:Chamberlain PerformingArts, 30 years; Ozsoy School ofBallet, 25 years; PowerHouse ofDance, 20 years; and DallasBlackDance Theatre II, 15 years.


Fromeducation outreach to dance programming,DanceCouncil of North Texas is explodingwith exciting activity.DCNT,with its forty-plus years of promoting and supporting dance, is experiencing unprecedent- ed growth.Beginningwith the revival of theDallasDanceFest over the LaborDayweekend to the summer’swildly popular Vitruvian Salsa Festival,DCNT continues to expand its reach and improve upon its serv- ices benefitting theNorth Texas dance community.


Let’s revel, roll up our sleeves and get back towork. It’sworking!


page 4


May-July 2015


www.thedancecouncil.org


DANCE!NORTHTEXAS


a publicationof the dance council of northtexas vol. 18 • no. 2


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