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Workshops, residencies, and performance, Black Box Dance Theatre brings it all to schools across the state of North Carolina. Learn more about our expert teaching artists and opportunities to bring dance to your school.
Bringing transformative dance experiences to K-12 students and educators across the state of North Carolina is an essential aspect of Black Box Dance Theatre’s mission. We specialize in arts-integration, seeking to combine cultural topics, in-school studies, and personal development with the power of dance. You may be surprised at how much movement can teach us about topics like math, physics, and history!
Through workshops, residencies, and performances, our professional teaching artists and company members encourage students and teachers to embody their own stories through movement and meaningful connection. Over the past 10+ years of partnership with schools, we have found that dance brings communities together, increases student confidence, and opens up bright futures in the arts to those who had never thought it an option.
Workshops are single day classes filled with movement, connection, and arts-integration learning. Help your students understand topics like physics, math, or United States history with the power of dance. Give your teachers new instruction methods to bring back to their classroom. Witness how one just day of dance can seriously change lives.

2026 Raleigh Medal of Arts Awards

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We Lift Each Other Documentary Screening, Fayetteville Technical Community College

Raleigh Medal of Arts Awards

We Lift Each Other Documentary Screening, High Point University

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We Lift Each Other Screening, NC State University

We Lift Each Other Documentary Screening, UNC Charlotte

Events — Black Box Dance Theatre

NC State University Honors Forum: Lecture Demonstration

NC State University Honors Forum: Lecture Demonstration (FREE)

PATRIOT — Black Box Dance Theatre

BBDT Summer Intensive

Arts in Schools Expo

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Triangle Review June 22 2023 Issue Part 6 Nancy Gardner Rich S MADE IN NC Review

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MINDY DEMCHAK

NATALIE MORTON

ALFREDO HURTADO

KATE GUPTON

CORTNEY VARTANIAN

PAYTON CHOPP

Austin Kohler

Michelle Pearson

Marissa Schroeder

Slim Parker

Oh boy, you’re in for a treat 🍬 For this month’s Third Sunday, we’re bringing you BBDT Administrative Director and former Company Member, Mindy Demchak! Come kick it with Mindy for a classical modern dance class next weekend on Sunday, November 15th from 1-2:30PM at Arts Together @artstogether 💫 Sign up at the link in the bio! Photo by @ashley_white_photography_ #BBDT #BlackBoxDanceTheatre #ModernDance #RaleighDance #DropInDanceClass

Might wanna think twice on that one 🤔 Just in case you missed it, veterans DO dance. And in fact, we do it weekly. Join us on Sundays from 3-4:30PM at Arts Together (@artstogether) for free and ongoing movement classes. Welcome to veterans, active-duty, guardsmen, spouses, military families and military-connected community members. As part of our residency with NC State LIVE (@ncstatelive), we will meet at NCSU Talley Student Union on Nov. 15 and Dec. 6 instead of Arts Together! Same time, same great people. #VeteransDance #UnitedArtsWake #WakeArts #RaleighArts #NCArtsCouncil This program is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission. Black Box Dance Theatre is supported by United Arts Wake County. This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Had of our share of the Sunday scaries last weekend during our Musical Theatre Third Sunday class with Liz 🧟🎃 See you next month for class 👀 #BBDT #BlackBoxDanceTheatre #DropInDanceClass #RaleighArts #RaleighDance

Congratulations to Michelle Pearson, Artistic Director of Black Box Dance Theatre, on receiving the 2026 Raleigh Medal of Arts Award 🌟 Thank you to the City of Raleigh for recognizing our AD, and congratulations to all of the amazing awardees! #RaleighMedalOfArts #2026RaleighMedalOfArts #RaleighArts #BlackBoxDanceTheatre

Meet the Dancers 🪩 Each month, we’re introducing you to the company members of Black Box Dance Theatre! This month, meet MARISSA SCHROEDER! Marissa is a contemporary dance artist from North Carolina with a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has trained at multiple professional programs, including American Dance Festival, Hubbard Street Chicago Dance Intensive, and B12 Dance Festival. Marissa is excited to deepen her artistic work with ShaLeigh Dance Works, Arts Together/Rainbow Dance Company, and of course, Black Box Dance Theatre! Check out Marissa’s full bio on our website 👓 #BBDT #BlackBoxDanceTheatre #RaleighDance #RaleighArts #ModernDance

Celebrate the one and only, Michelle Pearson, this month at the Raleigh Medal of Arts Awards on October 19th, 7pm 🌟 Raleigh Arts and University Theatre at NC State will present the 2026 Raleigh Medal of Arts Awards at @ncstate’s Stewart Theatre with pre-show festivities starting at 6pm. This event is FREE- tickets must be reserved and are first come, first served. Visit the link in our bio to register for your seat today! #RaleighArts #RaleighArtsPartners #NCArtsCouncil #2026RaleighMedalOfArts #RaleighMedalOfArts

Just two weekends away from our October Third Sunday class with Company Member, Liz Sanford 🥳 Kick ball change and chassé through the day with Liz in her favorite dance style: musical theater! Expect high heart rates, sunny dispositions, and a welcoming space. See you Sunday, October 18th from 1-2:30PM at the @artstogether studios! Sign up at the link in our bio 🔗 #BBDT #BlackBoxDanceTheatre #RaleighArts #RaleighDance #DropInDanceClass

Yes, you heard that right! FOUR FREE DOCUMENTARY SCREENINGS of “We Lift Each Other” this Fall 🍁 Catch us at: ▪️UNC Charlotte on Oct. 7 from 2:30-4pm at Lab Theatre: Robinson Hall ▪️High Point Univeraity on Oct. 15 from 3:30-5:30pm at Hayworth Fine Arts, Pauline Theatre ▪️NC State University on Nov. 11 from 6:30-8pm at Witherspoon Student Center Cinema ▪️Fayetteville Technical Community College on Nov. 12 from 6:30-8:30pm at Cameo Art House Theater ALL FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Find more info on the events page of our website 🔗 #WakeArts #UnitedArtsWake #NCArtsCouncil #Arts919 #RaleighArts

Military Movement Workshops are full steam ahead into October 🚂 Take a peek at the creativity, collaboration, and connection we are finding together 👀 Veterans, active-duty service members, guardsmen, spouses, military families, and anyone connected to the military- come move with us! Class meets every Sunday from 3-4:30pm at Arts Together @artstogether, except for the following dates which will be held at @ncstate through our residency with @ncstatelive! October 11 • November 15 • December 6 Check out the “classes” tab on our website for more info 🔗 See you this Sunday at @artstogether for class! #WakeArts #UnitedArtsWake #NCArtsCouncil #Arts919 #RaleighArts This program is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission. Black Box Dance Theatre is supported by United Arts Wake County. This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

WOAH September is flying by 💨 Our very first THIRD SUNDAY is done! Big thank you to our dear friend, Slim Parker (@_janedeaux), for kicking things off with some groovy contemporary fusion 💫 See you next month for more! #BBDT #BlackBoxDanceTheatre #RaleighDance #RaleighArts #DropInDanceClass

Meet the Dancers 🪩 Each month, we’re introducing you to the company members of Black Box Dance Theatre! Up first: AUSTIN KOHLER 💫 Our newest company member, Austin is a graduate of East Carolina University with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography. While at ECU, he was awarded an Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award for choreography. He is passionate about bringing artistic visions to life, creating innovative choreography, and motivating performers to achieve their highest potential. Read Austin’s full bio on our website, and please welcome him to BBDT for his very first season! #BBDT #BlackBoxDanceTheatre #RaleighDance #RaleighArts #ModernDance

Go pee before show write that down write that down ✍️ What’s your pre-performance ritual? #BBDT #BlackBoxDanceTheatre #RaleighDance #RaleighArts #DancePerformance

THIRD SUNDAYS (noun): A monthly, 90 minute community drop-in class occurring every third Sunday of the month, taught by a BBDT Co. Member in their favorite style. “Do you want to come to Third Sunday with me this month?” See also: community, movement, joy We are so excited to introduce Third Sundays starting September 20th from 1-2:30PM over at the gorgeous @artstogether. Slim Parker will be kicking things off for us with a groovy contemporary fusion class 🤩 Link in the bio to sign up! See you soooon! Photo by @ashley_white_photography_ #BBDT #BlackBoxDanceTheatre #RaleighDance #DropInDanceClass #RaleighArts

Spread the news 📰 Black Box Dance Theatre is offering FREE weekly workshops to veterans, active-duty service-members, guardsmen, spouses, and military families to move, connect, and create. As part of our partnership with NC State Live (@ncstatelive), we’ll gather at NCSU Talley Student Union Rm 3285 on the following dates: Sep 13 • Oct 11 • Nov 15 • Dec 6 All other classes will be held at Arts Together, 114 St. Mary’s St (@artstogether). Always Sundays from 3-4:30PM no matter the location. Visit the link in our bio for more info 🔗 We can’t wait to see you for our first workshop on September 13! #RaleighArts #NCArtsCouncil #UnitedArtsWake #WakeArts #Arts919 This program is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission. Black Box Dance Theatre is supported by United Arts Wake County. This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Welcome to the Black Box Dance Theatre 26/27 season 🔲🔳 It will be one of our busiest years yet- an NC State Live (@ncstatelive) artist residency, the expansion of our work in NC schools, a series of PATRIOT performances across the state, weekly classes for dancers and veterans, the awarding of the Raleigh Medal of Arts to our Artistic Director- we have A LOT going on. And we sure do hope you’ll be part of it. Stay tuned friends 🤍 Photo by @ashley_white_photography_ #BBDT #BlackBoxDanceTheatre #RaleighDance #ModernDanceCompany

Did you know that our Artistic Director, Michelle Pearson, was just awarded the 2026 Raleigh Medal of Arts? 🌟🌟 We are so proud of our dear friend Michelle and can’t wait to celebrate her 🎉 As the founding AD of BBDT, she has created a culture of collaboration that connects artists, veterans, educators, students, scientists, and community members, grounding every facet of our work in and beyond the state of North Carolina. But we know that she would tell you it’s all just the miraculous marvels of modern dance. Congratulations to Michelle and all the other awardees for receiving the City’s highest honors in the arts! Read more at the link in our bio 🔗 #BBDT #BlackBoxDanceTheatre #RaleighArts #RaleighMedalOfArts #HealingArts

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