Dallas DanceFest Refreshes the Labor Day Dance Traditions
tinguished leaders in the field. N
Dallas DanceFest (DDF) offers two evening concerts featuring exceptional works curated to reflect vibrancy, vitality, diversity, and excellence. DDF grew out of The DallasMorning News Dance Festival, begun in 1985 with performances by Dancers Unlimited Repertory Company, Ballet Dallas, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre,which spanned twenty seasons before conclud- ing at Annette Strauss Artist’s Square in 2004.
DDF has resurrected the spirit of this beloved Labor Day tradi- tion and upgraded production values bymoving the former outdoor event to the superb venue of Dallas City Performance Hall (DCPH). Because of the conveniences of the Dallas Arts District, DCPH’s backstage facilities, and 750-seat proscenium theatre, DDF now boasts a new level of artistic excellence for artists and audiences alike. DDF is a production of the Dance Council of North Texas.
Twelve companies have been chosen fromapplicants from across the country, to join Resident DFWCompanies and Guest Artists to create Dallas DanceFest. The task of selecting the finalists fell to three distinguished adjudicators, Acia Gray, Willie Shives and Parisa Khobdeh. Each is a leader in their dance field and brought their broad knowledge and high stan- dards to critique the applicants.
Adjudicators AciaGray
Acia Gray is Artistic Director of the only professional tap repertory company in the country, Tapestry Dance Company of Austin, Texas. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including induc- tion to the Austin Arts Hall of Fame and Dance Council Honors’ own Tap Legend Award in
2008.Ms. Gray authored the acclaimed book, The Soul of Your Feet—A Tap Dance Guide for RhythmExplorers.
Texas-raisedWilly Shives became Artistic Director of Ballet San Antonio in 2015, after an outstand- ing 16-year career with the Joffrey Ballet, dancing both classical and contemporary works.Willy Shives has receivedmany prestigious awards, including the Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence at the 2004 Dance
Willie Shives page 18
August-October 2016
www.thedancecouncil.org ParisaKhobdeh
ow in its third year, Dallas DanceFest and Dance Council Honors and Silent Auction are combined to create an exhilarating festival that showcase outstanding dance per- formances and celebrate exemplary contributions of dis-
Council Honors and The Chicago Tribune’s Chicagoan of the Year Award. He was featured in dance documentary Joffrey:Maverick of American Dance.
Parisa Khobdeh, born and raised in Plano, Texas, trained locally at Kathy Chamberlain’s Chamberlain School of Ballet and with Gilles Tanguay at Dance Consortium. While attending the American Dance Festival on the DCNT Tom Adams scholarship,Ms. Khobdeh became an ardent follower of the Paul Taylor Dance Company. She made her premiere with the Paul
Taylor Dance Company at ADF in 2003. Since then, Paul Taylor has created two works on her.
Resident DFWCompanies and Guest Artists Dallas DanceFest audiences are treated to performances by:
Dallas Black Dance Theatre – Anyone who has seen DBDT performknows what a strong, vibrant and talentedmodern dance company they are.Whatmanymay not realize is that DBDT dancers are also wonderful ambassadors for the city, state and country, taking the name of Dallas all over the world. Their performances do Dallas proud, wherever they perform.
DallasBlackDance Theatre
Texas Ballet Theater – There’s no question that TBT has become the pre-eminent classical ballet company in the region, with Ben Stevenson, O.B.E. at the helm. So TBT’s latest pro- gramof contemporary pieces, with nary a tutu on the stage, was a revelation. The company’s technique was superb and the
DANCE!NORTHTEXAS a publicationof the dance council ofnorthtexas vol. 19 •no. 3
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