Historic Dreamland Ballroom to Host Annual Dance Competition Fundraiser Nov. 6th
Little Rock, Ark. (PRWEB) November 05, 2015 -- On November 6th, the Dreamland Ballroom will host its 6th Annual Dancing into Dreamland dance competition and fundraiser. The annual fundraiser is to generate funds for improvements and renovations to the historic 99-year-old building located at 800 West Ninth Street in Little Rock, Ark.
Prior to the dance competition, actor and singer Ryk St. Vincent will introduce a preview trailer of the AETN/PBS documentary about the Dreamland Ballroom. The documentary film chronicles the unique cultural history behind the Taborian Hall and her Dreamland Ballroom that touched and brought together a community during the height of segregation in the American South.
Since its inception in 2009, the non-profit Friends of Dreamland have brought awareness about this historic building through tours and events, UALR has published a book and AETN has filmed the afore mentioned documentary about Dreamland. Structural renovations include the addition of 2 bathrooms, flooring, restoration of the box seats and balcony, new electrical, lighting and stairs. Currently fundraising continues to add heating, air conditioning and an elevator to make Dreamland accessible to all.
This year’s fundraiser will begin at 7 p.m. doors open at 6:30 p.m. for check-in and the event will last until 10 pm. Celebrity judges will choose the overall winner of the dance competition while guests will vote for their favorite dancers to receive the People’s Choice Award via text voting.
A silent auction with more than $20,000 in auction items will be up for grabs during the event. Guests will enjoy hors d'oeuvres along with drinks and an hour long free dance will be open for any and all guests to cut a rug.
Dreamland Ballroom is housed on the third floor of Taborian Hall built in 1916, sharing the building with Arkansas' Flag and Banner.com which occupies the first and second stories. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and hosted such musical legends as Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong. Louis Jordan, Redd Foxx and a host of other legendary artists throughout the years.
In the 1970s through the 1980s the building fell into disrepair and was rescued in 1991 by Arkansas’ FlagandBanner.com’s owner Kerry McCoy. The Friends of Dreamland non-profit was formed in 2009 and has been working to save and restore this piece of Little Rock’s cultural history ever since.
The Friends of Dreamland invite the public to attend. Tickets are available online at DreamlandBallroom.org. Guests can order tickets online securely via PayPal at http://www.dreamlandballroom.org/did2015.html. Dress in party attire the night of the event.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Friday, November 6 at 800 West 9th Street, Little Rock, Ark. Entrances are on the State Street side of the building.
The Friends of Dreamland is a 501(c)(3) corporation. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Visit http://www.dreamlandballroom.org or call 501.255.5700 for details.
FlagandBanner.com headquarters are on the first two floors of Taborian Hall, the Dreamland Ballroom is on the 3rd floor.
Tammie McClure, FlagandBanner.com, http://www.flagandbanner.com, +1 501 375-7633 Ext: 117, [email protected]
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