DBDT: Encore! - Rising Excellence has always been a catalyst for showcasing young artists. In a first for Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s organization, dance/choreographic duo Derion Loman and Madison Olandt jointly created The Long Wait, a drama of cosmic proportions for DBDT: Encore! that will make its world premiere. This relevant and revealing work is an introspection of the human spirit refusing to give up even when it can’t see the finish line.

Diaspora synthesizes DBDT: Encore! with the volunteer musicians of the New Texas Symphony Orchestra. The Encore! company performs to NTSO live in a new work choreographed by Nycole Ray and Richard A. Freeman, Jr. The new work is based on a West African percussion song named “Diaspora” by composer Conni Ellisor.