Celebrating 40 Years of Community Impact The Dance Council of North Texas
by Katie Dravenstott
accomplished this through free dance events, publications, social media, scholarships and awards as well as through the organiza- tion’s dedicated members.
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We have asked some dance studio owners in North Texas to share how the Dance Council has impacted their businesses, how the dance industry has changed over the years and their thoughts on the future of dance in North Texas.
The crowd goes wild at Dance for the Planet in Annette Strauss Artist Square
“At Gotta Dance we love the resources that the Dance Council pro- vides for North Texas,” says Cindi Lawrence Hanson, owner of Gotta Dance in Plano, TX. “It helps our school in two ways: by pro- moting our programs and performances and by giving us availabili- ty to other dance activities we can enjoy,” Hanson adds.
Kelly Lannin, director of the Ballet Conservatory in Lewisville, TX, says she views the Dance Council as a lifeline for all of those in the dance profession. “It gives our students and companies a forum to communicate what we are working on and provides a network of professionals to work with and support,” Lannin says. “The Dance
Council also provides opportunities for our dancers and dance com- panies to perform and receive scholarships which have a very posi- tive impact on our businesses and students,” she adds.
These studio owners couldn’t talk about their businesses without reflecting on some of the changes they have witnessed within the dance community over the last few decades.
“The Dallas dance community has experienced many ups and downs throughout the past 35 years I have been in business,” says Kathy Chamberlain, owner of Chamberlain School of Performing Arts in Plano, TX. “I am thankful that there is a renewed interest in dance, i.e. The Bruce Wood Dance Project, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Texas Ballet Theater, the incredible dance TITAS brings to Dallas, local cultural dance performing companies, outstanding uni- versity and college dance performances as well as the local pre-pro- fessional and civic dance companies.”
Many studio owners say they are optimist about the future of dance in North Texas. “The future of dance is bright with more people embracing both classical and contemporary; traditional and abstract dance forms as well as movement to music,” Hanson says. “As more people realize the enjoyment value of this art form I expect it will continue to find a healthy share of viewers in our community.”
or the past 40 years the Dance Council of North Texas has been working hard to bring dance to the forefront of the North Texas arts community. The Dance Council has
Dance Council of North Texas Co-Founder Natalie Skelton page 14
August 2012
www.thedancecouncil.org
Ben Stevenson, OBE, accepts his Honors Award from Jerry Bywaters Cochran in 2004 DANCE! NORTH TEXAS a publication of the dance council of north texas
vol. 15 •
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