

Photo by Kent Barker

HONORARY CHAIRS
Mr. Sam Santiago & Mr. Enrique G. Cobian
CO-CHAIRS
Ms. Sharon K. King & Mrs. Veronica Torres Hazley
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LA VIDA ES UN
Carnaval!
“LIFE IS A CARNIVAL!”
The BIG Dance is a city-wide dance party worthy of the BIG D! The 2023 event will be an unforgettable night that features live music from traditional and contemporary local Dallas artists including the premier Cuban style orchestra Havana NRG!, the full experience salsa band Fusion Latina, and Mariachi Zacatecas. Maria Guerrero of NBC 5 is the emcee and Amanda Cristina Salsa will lead the dance floor with lessons in salsa and merengue styles. The night will include food and spirits, festive décor, and professional dance vignettes from Dallas Black Dance Theatre dancers to create the flair of Latin and Afro-Latin culture!
All proceeds will benefit Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s Academy by providing a 40% reduction in tuition fees for more than 300 students enrolled in our on-site academy training classes at our arts district facility. It also helps to support in-school dance residency programs for 2000+ students in 24 area DFW schools with student populations whose families are economically challenged and primarily Latino and Black.
Benefitting
DALLAS BLACK DANCE ACADEMY
Photography by Chris Jones
The 49-year-old Dallas Black Dance Academy has produced one of the first Presidential Scholars in Dance in America, nine Presidential Scholar recipients from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts have been trained at our Academy, and four Dallas Black Dance Academy students have been recipients of full scholarships into the prestigious dance program at The Juilliard School. Many more students have received the Texas Young Master award, the state equivalent to the national award. From 2012 through 2022, Dallas Black Dance Academy alumni have had 100% high school graduation and college attendance.
See the Lineup of Bands!
Havana NRG!
Fusión Latina
Mariachi Zacatecas

Including Salsa & Merengue Lessons
With Amanda Cristina Salsa
Honorary Chairs

Photo by Korami Fotografía
Mr. Sam Santiago & Mr. Enrique G. Cobian
Co-Chairs

Photo by Sederrick Raphiel
Ms. Sharon K. King
Chief Experience Officer, Castle Business Solutions, LLC

Photo by Alpha Business images
Mrs. Veronica Torres Hazley
Founder & CEO, Torres Hazley Enterprise, LLC
HOST COMMITTEE
Randall Bryant • Politics United Marketing
Angela Chapman • Bright Legacy Enterprises, LLC
Grace Cook • The McDermott Foundation
Amanda Cristina • LaBori Boxing
Catherine Cuellar • City of Dallas
Tammy Demery • Tammy S. Demery, LLC
Art & Gwen George • The George Development Group
Marissa Horne • Capital One
Mark N. Howard • Momentum Wealth Strategies, LLC
Misty Hoyt • Photography by Misty
Tiffaney D. Hunter • Tiffaney Dale Agency, LLC
Ebonie Zan Jackson • Community Volunteer
Stephanie Johnson • AT&T
Clem Maddox • Charter Spectrum
Terrence Maiden • Russell Glen Company
Valencia McClure • The Artistry of Essential Oils
Maria Mendez • Cigna
Kim Noltemy • Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Sheena Payne • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
Lawanda Penland Dunwell • The Raytheon Company
Jimmy Porch • Myriad Roofing & Construction LLC
Rozene Pride • Community Volunteer
Byron Reed • R.E.E.D Capital Group, LLC
Geralyn Richard • Libéte LLC
AnaChrista Robles • The Concilio
Don Short • New Artisan Spirits
Susy Solis • KLRD News
Gwendolyn Standberry Evans • GSE – The State Tax Experts
Paulette Turner • Integrated Leadership Concepts
Kim Whitaker • DFW International Airport
Cris & Julio Wong • Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Tiffinni A. Young • TAY Strategies, LLC
Randall Bryant • Politics United Marketing
Angela Chapman • Bright Legacy Enterprises, LLC
Grace Cook • The McDermott Foundation
Amanda Cristina • LaBori Boxing
Catherine Cuellar • City of Dallas
Tammy Demery • Tammy S. Demery, LLC
Art & Gwen George • The George Development Group
Marissa Horne • Capital One
Mark N. Howard • Momentum Wealth Strategies, LLC
Misty Hoyt • Photography by Misty
Tiffaney D. Hunter • Tiffaney Dale Agency, LLC
Ebonie Zan Jackson • Community Volunteer
Stephanie Johnson • AT&T
Clem Maddox • Charter Spectrum
Terrence Maiden • Russell Glen Company
Valencia McClure • The Artistry of Essential Oils
Maria Mendez • Cigna
Kim Noltemy • Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Sheena Payne • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
Lawanda Penland Dunwell • The Raytheon Company
Jimmy Porch • Myriad Roofing & Construction LLC
Rozene Pride • Community Volunteer
Byron Reed • R.E.E.D Capital Group, LLC
Geralyn Richard • Libéte LLC
AnaChrista Robles • The Concilio
Don Short • New Artisan Spirits
Susy Solis • KLRD News
Gwendolyn Standberry Evans • GSE – The State Tax Experts
Paulette Turner • Integrated Leadership Concepts
Kim Whitaker • DFW International Airport
Cris & Julio Wong • Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Tiffinni A. Young • TAY Strategies, LLC

