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

HOST COMMITTEE