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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The presentation of a 2017 Texas Medal of Arts Award |
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to the Dallas Black Dance Theatre provides a welcome opportunity to |
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honor the organization's founder and artistic advisor, Ann |
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Williams, for her lifelong support of the arts; and |
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WHEREAS, The signature event of the Texas Cultural Trust, the |
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Texas Medal of Arts Awards honor the achievements and creative |
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talents of leaders in the arts, as well as those whose generosity |
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has provided artistic opportunities for Texans of all ages; and |
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WHEREAS, Ann Williams founded the Dallas Black Dance Theatre |
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in 1976, with the goals of encouraging an appreciation of dance |
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among minority youth and helping them use dance as a form of |
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creative expression; and |
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WHEREAS, Under her leadership, DBDT has grown to include a |
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fully professional company of multiethnic dancers who perform |
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modern, jazz, ethnic, and spiritual works across the country and |
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around the world; a second troupe, known as Encore!, is made up of |
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semiprofessional dancers and is involved in local and regional |
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educational outreach programs; in addition, DBDT operates a |
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training school, Dallas Black Dance Academy, which teaches ballet, |
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tap, modern, jazz, and ethnic dance to more than 475 students every |
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week; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Williams served as the artistic director of the |
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Dallas Black Dance Theatre until 2014, and she continues to remain |
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deeply involved as its artistic advisor; she is also a founding |
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member of the Dance Council of North Texas and the International |
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Association of Blacks in Dance, and she has further shared her time |
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and talents as a panelist for numerous organizations, such as the |
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Texas Commission on the Arts, the Dallas Center for the Performing |
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Arts Foundation, and the Houston and Arkansas Arts Councils; and |
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WHEREAS, This distinguished Texan has garnered myriad |
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accolades over the course of her career, including an Arts |
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Community Alliance Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts and |
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induction into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame; in 2005, she was |
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honored as part of the Masters of African American Choreography |
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series at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; and |
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WHEREAS, Through her vision and leadership, Ann Williams has |
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built an enduring cultural institution while inspiring a love of |
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dance in countless Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Ann Williams for her immeasurable |
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contributions to dance and dance education and congratulate her on |
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the occasion of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre's receipt of a 2017 |
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Texas Medal of Arts Award; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Williams as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Giddings |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 560 was adopted by the House on March |
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2, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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