South Dallas Cultural Center

Samantha Peltier  Reporting II Published in Dallas South News Blurb: The South Dallas Cultural Center is a place where South Dallas artists of any kind can create and showcase their art along side many other artist who specialize in African art. South Dallas Cultural Center Promotes All Types Of Art Four dancers, ranging in age from 15 to 25, performed modern style steps around a studio room in the South Dallas Cultural Center to perfect their art Wednesday afternoon. The studio is filled with the sound of a recording of a solo guitarist running slowly up and down a chord progression. Loris Beckles, the dancer's teacher and artistic director of Beckles Dancing Company, sings the beat of the song, exchanging the counts of one through eight for  grunts of emotion. This act of passion helps his students feel the music and portray it in their dance. "The choreographer is a source of information. You need to get that information and interpret it," Beckles tells to his students to help them better understand what the dance means. When a break is called after an hour of class, the students rehydrate and smiles start to crack on to their faces. Soon they begin laughing and chasing each other through the halls. When the break is done and class begins again, though, the students are composed and ready to learn. The South Dallas Cultural Center houses more than just the Beckles Dancing Company. It showcases multiple disciplinary art forms from the African culture. It is a

Samantha Peltier  Reporting II Published in Dallas South News  place where Dallas artists of any kind can create and showcase their art along side many other artists who specialize in African American art. People of all ages can come into the center and see theater, dance, physical art, film and lecture series. There are also a number n umber of free and reduced classes for people who live in Dallas. The South Dallas Cultural Center was founded by a group of local South Dallas artists who had nowhere to showcase or perform p erform their art. Harold Steward, performing arts coordinator for the center, said that the artists wanted a place that was a city operated o perated and funded to call home. "We opened 26 years ago and have kind operated since then as a place where the community is here," said Steward. The center was created with funds from a 1982 bond program. The 24,000 squarefoot facility located in Fair Park cost $1.5 million to construct. It includes a 120-seat  black box theater, visual arts gallery, dance studio and a digital recording studio. Steward said that African art is mostly contemporary instead of ancient, because most of the things that Africans made were to make their lives easier. They had a definite utilitarian use for art. Steward said that the reason why things such as baskets and irons are considered art is because they are not things that you can buy at the corner store and  just use. They are unique. One part of the community that the cultural center has helped is the Beckles Dancing Company. They are a resident dance company with practice and performing space at the center. Beckles said that the cultural center is a nice support system for them.

Samantha Peltier  Reporting II Published in Dallas South News "We provide a training ground for younger dancers to learn, hone their skills, and  be ready for a dance school or company later," said Beckles. Beckles wants his students to be able to adapt to the needs of any dance company, which includes training in ballet, modern, and African dance. The dance company has free, paid and scholarship classes for the youth of south Dallas. "We don't have a sign reading 'free classes' but if someone recognizes your y our talent they can suggest for you to come to our class," said Beckles. Performing at the center also has a profound effect on the artist. Stephanie Hawell, a 25-year old graduate of Sam Houston State University, dances with the Beckles Dancing Company at the center c enter and said that it started to bring back ba ck memories of when she was a child. She used u sed to come down to the center on school field trips or with members of her church at every once in a while. "Now that I get to perform here I get to be a part pa rt of that history making as well," said Hawell.

Samantha Peltier  Reporting II Published in Dallas South News Source List Loris A. Beckles, Artistic Director of Beckles Dancing Company. in person interview. Sep. 18. Email: [email protected]

Harold Steward, Performing Arts Coordinator for SOuth Dallas Cultural Center. In  person interview Sep. 17. Phone: 214-671-0058

Stephanie Hawell, Dancer at Beckles Dancing Company. In person interview Sep. 19. Contact: [email protected]