Yee-Haw!

Bruce Wood Dance Dallas saddles up for cowboy-themed 15th anniversary gala

It was all cowboy boots and sequins at Gilley's Dallas on March 29, where supporters of Bruce Wood Dance Dallas turned out in their glam Western best for the company's annual fundraising gala.

This year's 15th anniversary celebration was themed after late founder Bruce Wood's Cowboy Songs, his heartfelt tribute to the spirit of the Lone Star State.

That cowboy can-do attitude was apparent before guests even walked in the door — a giant longhorn steer named Gus was benignly parked in front of the famous event space in Dallas' Cedars neighborhood, posing for pictures with awestruck attendees (some of whom were even brave enough to climb on up into the saddle).

Bruce Wood Dance Dallas 2025 gala Honorary gala chairs Nancy and Richard Wallace.Photo by Natalie Bracken

Inside, BWDD executive director Gayle Halperin and artistic director Joy Bollinger welcomed the dance company's supporters, along with gala chair James Lynn Williams and honorary chairs Nancy and Richard Wallace.

A relaxed cocktail hour gave guests the chance to buy raffle tickets for artwork, jewelry, hotel stays, and numerous ticket and performance packages from DFW's top theater, music, and dance troupes. All proceeds from this, as well as funds raised throughout the night, benefit BWDD's dancers and education programs.

Cheery red-and-white checkered tablecloths and sunny sunflowers decorated the long picnic tables at dinner, as guests sat under a canopy of bistro lights. A hearty meal of barbecued chicken, brisket, beans, and salad was topped off with mini apple pies, lending the whole experience a community barn-raising feel that encouraged conversation and new friendships.

Spotting chatting over dinner rolls were Dallas Arts District executive director Lily Weiss, singer Denise Lee, Arts Mission Oak Cliff co-founders Lola and Todd Lott, TACA president and executive director Maura Sheffler, Resource Center CEO Cece Cox, Bruce Wood Dance Dallas associate producer Larry Lane, Heritage Auctions co-chairman James Halperin, Texas Ballet Theater executive director Vanessa Logan and artistic director Tim O'Keefe, and Bruce Wood Dance Dallas board members Rubi Deslorieux, Phil Clemmons, Amanda Lenox, and Rodger Kobes.

Bruce Wood Dance Dallas 2025 gala The friendly dinner set-up was laidback and fun.Photo by Natalie Bracken

Photo by Natalie Bracken

Megan Ruth Bowdon Wilkinson and Cat Rigdon.

Reflections and toasts from BWDD's artistic team were complemented by a heartfelt tribute by former company dancer Harry Feril, which led into a record-breaking paddle raise of $119,000. This surpassed the $100K goal that Williams had set for a donation match, doubling the company's total for the night.

Dinner guests then joined general ticket-holders in the main performance space, where carnival games beckoned before the show's start.

But first it was time to present the 2025 BRUCE Award to Read and Steve Gendler, in recognition of their unwavering support for the arts in Dallas. Their decades of advocacy and philanthropy have been instrumental to the growth of BWDD, as well as numerous other organizations including TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND, The Hockaday School, andTexas Ballet Theater.

Bruce Wood Dance Dallas 2025 gala Cowboy Songs "Cowboy Songs."Photo by Amitava Sarkar

Then, the performance. The Bruce Wood Dance Dallas company of dancers were joined by a trio of guest artists: Broadway composer and music director Joseph Thalken, Broadway performer Jeremy Landon Hayes, and Grammy-winning singer and musician Ginny Mac, all backed by a country band.

Cowboy Songs premiered in 2003 at Bass Hall in Fort Worth, and is set to music that ranges from Lyle Lovett, Irving Berlin, and Wylie Gustafson to the theme from Lonesome Dove.

Following this high-kicking performance, guests were then invited onto the main floor for a lesson in two-stepping from 14-time Country Dance Champion Tony New.

Bruce Wood Dance Dallas' next performance is with Verdigris Ensemble in SHAMS, running May 23-25 at Moody Performance Hall.

dance fundraisers bruce wood bruce wood dance dance company gilleys dallas cowboy songs galas

Giving Unmasked

Dallas arts lovers go incognito to TACA's inaugural Masquerade gala

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Maura Sheffler, Shakespeare Dallas actor, Purvi Patel, Bill Albers, Shakespeare Dallas actor.

The inaugural TACA Masquerade, presented by The Eugene McDermott Foundation, transformed The Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum into a vibrant celebration of Dallas’ performing arts community, marking a powerful new chapter in TACA’s mission to fuel a thriving arts ecosystem.

With nearly 250 guests, performers, artists, and volunteers in attendance at the late November event, the evening blended immersive performance, culinary indulgence, and philanthropic impact, raising more than $275,000 in support of TACA’s work across North Texas.

Chaired by Purvi and Bill Albers, the gala embraced its “Masquerade” theme by inviting guests to don extravagant masks while they moved through a multi-sensory experience where performances unfolded throughout the venue.

Rather than a traditional stage-and-seating format, the night showcased Dallas’ extraordinary artistic depth through a lineup of featured performers and "Behind the Masque" artists, allowing attendees to encounter art up close and in unexpected ways.

The evening featured compelling performances and artistic moments from Avant Chamber Ballet, Pegasus Contemporary Ballet, KNOwBox Dance, Verdigris Ensemble, Rosana Eckert Jazz Quartet, Joel Olivas, Echo Theatre, Firehouse Theatre, Kitchen Dog Theater, Shakespeare Dallas, Teatro Dallas, Theatre Three, and collaborators from Cedars Union, The Dallas Opera, and more. Together, these artists represented the breadth of disciplines that define Dallas’ cultural landscape, from dance and theater to music and interdisciplinary performance, reinforcing TACA’s role as a connector and catalyst for creative excellence.

In addition to ticket sales and sponsorships, fundraising efforts were amplified through the Behind the Masque Campaign and a highly anticipated raffle featuring exclusive arts experiences generously donated by Dallas cultural institutions.

Guests vied for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that included a private behind-the-scenes tour of the Nasher Sculpture Center, a VIP experience for MOMIX: Botanica, and a Christmas Pops guest conductor experience with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Other standout offerings included a sneak peek at an opening-night experience for Ragtime at Dallas Theater Center, a two-night stay at Hall Arts Hotel paired with tickets to the “Constellations” exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art, VIP box seats for The Dallas Opera’s The Little Prince at the Winspear Opera House, and an intimate voiceover lesson and recording session with Dallas Children’s Theater.

Additional experiences ranged from an after-hours gallery gathering at Dallas Contemporary and a behind-the-scenes dance experience with Bruce Wood Dance Dallas to a Blue Man Group experience for eight at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

Complementing the artistic energy was an elevated culinary experience that encouraged guests to mingle and explore. Food stations offered such delectable options as red wine-braised short rib with mascarpone polenta, zucchini noodle puttanesca, deconstructed chicken cordon bleu, and indulgent warm chocolate chip cookie and brownie skillets that ended the evening on a sweet note.

It was clear that Dallas' arts supporters did not want to mask their financial support: The event raised more than $275,000 to further TACA's mission of fueling a vibrant arts community.

With plans already underway to return next fall at The Bomb Factory, the inaugural Masquerade set the tone for what promises to become a signature event.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Maura Sheffler, Shakespeare Dallas actor, Purvi Patel, Bill Albers, Shakespeare Dallas actor.

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