Ann Williams To Speak Of Legacy At TWU Event

10/31/02

DENTON — Ann Williams, founder and executive artistic director of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, will share her story of overcoming adversity and achieving success in “Creating a Legacy: A Talk by Ann Williams” scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Texas Woman's University.

There is no cost to attend the presentation, which is scheduled from 1-2 p.m. in room 101 of the Blagg-Huey Library on TWU's Denton campus. Parking is available at Bell Avenue and Administration Drive. The lot is adjacent to the library.

The video-illustrated presentation is designed to encourage young professionals — regardless of their field — to plan for their legacy now; not later. Williams will speak of her personal experiences, from her days as one of the few minority students at TWU to her current status as director of one of the longest-lived professional dance companies in the United States to be directed by a woman.

The Dallas Black Dance Theatre, which she founded in 1975, also is the oldest continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas. The company has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Olympics, on Broadway and throughout Europe, Africa and South America.

Williams was the first African-American to earn a master of arts in dance in Texas. She currently is a member of the TWU Board of Regents and is past president of the TWU Former Students Association. She is a TWU Distinguished Alumna, and has been honored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in September 2002.

Williams also developed the Summer Youth Enrichment Camp to provide motivation, self-esteem and self-discipline to young people.

Williams will be accompanied by Melissa Young, assistant director of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre and head of the academy teaching staff.

Williams will take questions from the audience following the lecture.

The event is presented by the TWU School of the Arts Department of Dance. For more information, call (940) 898-2085.

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For Further Information Contact:

Karen Treat
Senior Copywriter
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: ktreat@twu.edu