Dallas, Texas (February 9, 2026) – Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) invites audiences to experience the power of cultural legacy and artistic excellence with Kaleidoscope, February 13-15, 2026, at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. Perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day weekend and Black History Month, this year’s Cultural Awareness series offers a meaningful way to celebrate love, resilience, and the rich tapestry of Black American history.
Kaleidoscope features three powerful works that honor pivotal figures and moments in Black history:
“The Nina Simone Project” by renowned choreographer Dianne McIntyre returns, capturing the legendary artist's regal presence through movement inspired by her signature fusion of classical, jazz, and soul. McIntyre's choreographic style draws from cultural histories and personal narratives, featuring both Simone's beloved classics and lesser-known gems in a rich tribute to her enduring legacy.
In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the historic Montgomery Bus Boycotts, DBDT presents “Bodies as Site of Faith and Protest” by 2021 Guggenheim Fellow Tommie-Waheed Evans. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "We Shall Overcome" speech, this emotional and thought-provoking work explores the resilience and power of the Civil Rights Movement through Evans' unique lens of blackness, spirituality, queerness, and liberation.
“Bodies as Site of Faith and Protest” is funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes.
Rounding out the program is “Awassa Astrige/Ostrich” by Asadata Dafora, a groundbreaking solo originally performed in 1932. This historic piece combines traditional African dance with Western modern production, transforming the stage into African grasslands where a warrior becomes the king of birds through rhythmic drumming and the haunting melody of the flute.
Sold-out student matinees bring Black History to young audiences
Before the public performances begin, DBDT will present three sold-out student matinees on February 12 and 13, made possible by the Katherine Carmody Trust. These special performances will feature a performance of “The Nina Simone Project” and include special audience participation and dancer Q&A segments, bringing the transformative power of Kaleidoscope to hundreds of students.
Living Witness Speaker Series Returns Friday, February 13
Friday's performance features the return of the Living Witness Speaker series with an intimate pre-concert conversation with Reverend Peter Johnson, a prominent civil rights leader whose activism has shaped Dallas for over four decades, and Charles O'Neal, President of the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce.
Reverend Johnson marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., participated in the Birmingham and Selma campaigns, and has been instrumental in protecting Fair Park residents from displacement. The reception offers audiences a rare opportunity to hear firsthand testimony from a living witness who embodies the resilience, dignity, and justice that Kaleidoscope honors through dance. Reception tickets are available for an additional $20 with performance ticket purchase.
Kaleidoscope runs February 13-15 at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. In-person and streaming tickets are available now at DBDT.com.
LEGACY SPONSORS
Harold Simmons Foundation
CATALYST SPONSORS
Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, Texas Instruments, Communities Foundation of Texas
SEASON SPONSORS
City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture, The Shubert Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, Holloway Family Foundation, Anonymous, Norma & Don Stone, The Blessing Family Endowment, Hillcrest Foundation, Rea Charitable Trust, Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, W.P. & Bulah Luse Foundation, Texas Metro News, American Airlines, Oversee My IT, The Dallas Post Tribune, Genesis Inspiration Foundation, Trendy Africa, Lexus, Arts & Culture Texas, DeDe in the Morning, The Dallas Morning News, fyi50+, ROXOR Spirits, Gracepoint Media
ABOUT DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE
Founded in 1976 by Ann Williams, Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s mission is to create and produce contemporary modern dance at the highest level of artistic excellence through performances and educational programs that bridge cultures and reach diverse communities. As the largest and oldest professional dance company in Dallas, DBDT is the fourth-largest Black dance company in the nation, ranks in the top 10 largest contemporary modern dance companies in the U.S. and is included among the nation’s 50 largest ballet companies by Dance Data Project. Located in the thriving downtown Dallas Arts District, the nation’s #1 Arts District (USA Today), DBDT has performed worldwide for over 5 million arts patrons and 3 million students in 33 states and 16 countries on five continents. The performances include three Olympics (1992, 1996, and 2012), the nation’s most prestigious venues (Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Broadway, Jacob’s Pillow and Joyce Theatre), and for such luminaries as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and South African President Nelson Mandela. Since 2020, DBDT performances have been viewed virtually in 43 countries and expanded to include virtual student matinees and cultural literacy programs. Since 2021, the virtual education performances have been viewed by nearly 200,000 K-12 students across 28 districts throughout the nation. The Company has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as an American Masterpiece Touring Artist (2008) and received the Texas Medal of the Arts Award for Arts Education (2017).
For more details about Dallas Black Dance Theatre, visit DBDT.com.
