EVENTS
See what’s going on with Black Box Dance Theatre- past and present.
March Veterans Movement Classes
Black Box Dance Theatre offers ongoing movement and writing classes for veterans across North Carolina. No dance experience is required—just a willingness to move, reflect, and be part of a supportive community where healing and growth unfold through art.
Asheville, NC
Wednesdays, 12:30-2:00
March Community Drop-In Class
Artistic Director Michelle Pearson teaches this month's modern dance community drop-in class. Dancers will engage in technically rigorous movement, expressive artistry, and thoughtful physicality in a supportive, professional environment.
We Lift Each Other Screening & Talk Back, AB Tech
Join us for a documentary film screening with live performance and conversation featuring Black Box Dance Theatre (BBDT), a Raleigh-based modern dance company known for powerful storytelling, emotionally compelling performances, and a deep commitment to using movement as a catalyst for connection—building bridges across communities, disciplines, and lived experiences.
Camp Lejeune Day of Dance
Black Box Dance Theatre brings dance and dialogue to the veterans and families of Camp Lejeune. The day will consist of a series of movement classes led by Core Company members, as well as the sharing of documentary film, We Lift Each Other, featuring BBDT’s work with veterans as a nationally recognized model for exploring the power of art to change lives.
Company Choreography Concert
Black Box Dance Theatre is a collective of dancers, choreographers, and community-makers that boldly shape the Triangle dance scene. This April 17th and 18th, join us for two nights of celebration- witness the creation, collaboration, and connections formed by BBDT Company Choreographers through the origination of brand new dance works.
Featuring new works by Company Members: Cortney Vartanian, Kate Gupton, Payton Chopp, Jill Guyton Nee, and Shadidja Parker, as well as an excerpt from a revived PATRIOT: We Lift Each Other, choreographed by Artistic Director, Michelle Pearson, and performed by BBDT Company Members in collaboration with female veterans.
April Community Drop In
Guest artist Shekinah Brown finishes out our spring drop-in series with a dynamic and artistically challenging contemporary class. In this class you can expect to play with diverse initiation point of movement, texture, and improvisational elements, all with a killer soundtrack to match. Join us for our last regularly scheduled spring drop in class of the year.
THE RIALTO THEATER: We Lift Each Other Documentary Screening
A nationally recognized story with Raleigh roots.
Join us Saturday, May 2 at 7PM at the historic Rialto Theater for a free public screening of We Lift Each Other — a powerful documentary about the transformative work of Raleigh-based Black Box Dance Theatre with veterans across North Carolina.
Suggested donation. Open to all.
Dance Lab
Discover how dance can humanize and advance scientific research and how physics concepts can be expressed through dance in an immersive, day-long dance laboratory. Designed for high school and undergraduate students, or teachers looking to expand their understanding of dance integration. This intensive invites you to investigate big ideas through the body—using movement as a way to explore, question, and make meaning.
Participants will work alongside both scientists and dancers, collaborating directly with Dr. Sarah Watzman, Principal Investigator and associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Cincinnati, and Michelle Pearson, Founder and Artistic Director of Black Box Dance Theatre (BBDT). Supported by the National Science Foundation, the intensive explores quantum physics through rigorous physical practice and creative inquiry—translating complex science and the human stories behind it into an original, evening-length performance piece.
NC Governor's Working Group Summit
Black Box Dance Theatre’s Michelle Pearson and Alfredo Hurtado present at The North Carolina Governor’s Working Group to unite federal, state, and local government agencies, community organizations, and partners to address the health, wellness, employment, legal, and financial needs of Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF).
We Lift Each Other Screening & Talk Back, Craven Community College
Join us in Orringer Auditorium for a 4:00 p.m. documentary film screening with live performance and conversation featuring Black Box Dance Theatre (BBDT), a Raleigh-based modern dance company known for powerful storytelling, emotionally compelling performances, and a deep commitment to using movement as a catalyst for connection—building bridges across communities, disciplines, and lived experiences.
February Community Drop-In Class
Join company member, Payton Chopp in a modern class that progresses from strengthening floor work, plie-heavy endurance builders, to a high-speed combo. Class will be in the dance studios in Weatherspoon Athletic Center on Meredith's campus.
MAKE-UP January Community Drop-In Class
Through dynamic phrase work, strength-based warm-ups, and masterful teaching, Cortney guides students through this contemporary class. Join BBDT company dancers and the extended professional community as we kick off our first community class of the year.
February Modern With Morton
Take class with BBDT founding member, Natalie Morton, on the first three Sundays of each month at a drop-in or bundle rate. Explore a blend of Contemporary, Jazz, and Modern dance styles to build dynamic alignment and strength.
February Veterans Movement Classes
Black Box Dance Theatre offers ongoing movement and writing classes for veterans across North Carolina. No dance experience is required—just a willingness to move, reflect, and be part of a supportive community where healing and growth unfold through art.
Asheville, NC
Wednesdays, 12:30-2:00
We Lift Each Other Screening & Talk Back, East Carolina University
The ECU Alumni Association and the College of Fine Arts and Communication invite alumni, students and friends to a special screening of We Lift Each Other, a powerful documentary exploring how the arts foster healing, connection, and resilience within veteran communities.
January Community Drop-In Class
Through dynamic phrase work, strength-based warm-ups, and masterful teaching, Cortney guides students through this contemporary class. Join BBDT company dancers and the extended professional community as we kick off our first community class of the year.
January Veterans Movement Classes
Black Box Dance Theatre offers ongoing movement and writing classes for veterans across North Carolina. No dance experience is required—just a willingness to move, reflect, and be part of a supportive community where healing and growth unfold through art.
Asheville, NC
Wednesdays, 12:30-2:00
January Modern With Morton
Take class with BBDT founding member, Natalie Morton, on the first three Sundays of each month at a drop-in or bundle rate. Explore a blend of Contemporary, Jazz, and Modern dance styles to build dynamic alignment and strength.
BBDT Winter Intensive
Join Black Box Dance Theatre for our 2nd annual Winter Intensive on December 28th, 29th, and 30th. Sign up for single drop-ins, full tuition, or a 5-class pack. End the year dancing with us!
December Veterans Movement Classes
Black Box Dance Theatre offers ongoing movement and writing classes for veterans across North Carolina. No dance experience is required—just a willingness to move, reflect, and be part of a supportive community where healing and growth unfold through art.
Asheville, NC
Wednesdays, 12:30-2:00
November Community Drop-In Class
Former BBDT Core Company dancer, Lukman Awad, returns for this special community class, "Moving Beyond the Binary." Join Lukman in exploration of our relationships to our own bodies and the bodies of others with a new perspective.
Veterans Movement Class
Black Box Dance Theatre offers ongoing movement and writing classes for veterans across North Carolina. No dance experience is required—just a willingness to move, reflect, and be part of a supportive community where healing and growth unfold through art.
Asheville, NC: Wednesdays 12:30-2:00
Free Screening- We Lift Each Other
Enjoy a free screening of We Lift Each Other, a Black Box Dance Theatre film from the documentary anthology series, I Feel Myself To Be Part of Something.
Under the guidance of founder Michelle Pearson, the dancers of Black Box Dance Theatre travel across North Carolina, employing modern dance as a means of building community and fostering resilience with active-duty military, veterans, and their families. The film follows the company through a week-long residency with a group of veterans, including Brothers & Sisters Like These, from Asheville, NC, culminating in an emotional public performance.
A Q&A will follow the screening with subjects of the film.
Community First Premiere: We Lift Each Other
In celebration of Veterans Day, Arts Impact Collaborative is proud to present the Community First premiere screening of We Lift Each Other, a documentary film featuring the North Carolina-based modern dance company Black Box Dance Theatre and their work with Asheville veterans in the summer of 2023, which culminated in a moving public performance at the Wortham Center.
Veterans Movement Class
Black Box Dance Theatre offers ongoing movement and writing classes for veterans across North Carolina. No dance experience is required—just a willingness to move, reflect, and be part of a supportive community where healing and growth unfold through art.
Asheville, NC: Wednesdays 12:30-2:00
November Modern With Morton
Take class with BBDT founding member, Natalie Morton, on the first three Sundays of each month at a drop-in or bundle rate. Explore a blend of Contemporary, Jazz, and Modern dance styles to build dynamic alignment and strength.
October Community Community Drop-In Class
BBDT company member Slim Parker teaches a fast-paced contemporary fusion class. In this class, you can expect to sweat, smile, and groove to some great music!
October Modern With Morton
Take class with BBDT founding member, Natalie Morton, on the first three Sundays of each month at a drop-in or bundle rate. Explore a blend of Contemporary, Jazz, and Modern dance styles to build dynamic alignment and strength.
Veterans Movement Class
Black Box Dance Theatre offers ongoing movement and writing classes for veterans across North Carolina. No dance experience is required—just a willingness to move, reflect, and be part of a supportive community where healing and growth unfold through art.
September Community Drop-In Class
Get ready to pas-de-bouree across the floor to a fun and funky playlist in this high energy Contemporary Jazz class with Company Member, Liz Sanford! This style blends classic jazz foundations with contemporary based aesthetics and release.
September Modern With Morton
Take class with BBDT founding member, Natalie Morton, on the first three Sundays of each month at a drop-in or bundle rate. Explore a blend of Contemporary, Jazz, and Modern dance styles to build dynamic alignment and strength.
August Community Drop-In Class
Join Mindy Demchak for this “good old-fashioned sweaty modern class”. This is the first community class of our monthly series where BBDT dancers share their expertise as we invite dancers from across the Triangle to join us in movement, training, and community.
United Arts Wake County 2025 Artists in Schools Expo
Interested in booking Black Box Dance Theatre to perform at your school with support from United Arts Wake County? This annual Artists in Schools Expo brings together artists and community members who schedule cultural arts programming, bringing the booking right to you! The Expo is an annual trade-style event that features approximately 80 Artists in Schools artists, including Black Box Dance Theatre.
25-26 Season Audition
The reach and needs of our work are expanding, and so must our company. Black Box Dance Theatre is seeking dancers for the following two opportunities for the 25-26 season:
School Show Cast in BBDT CORE Company
Extended Professional Company
Summer Drop-In Series
Join Black Box Dance Theatre for a day of dance and community at our Summer Drop-In Series. Learn and collaborate with masterful movers from the company, Kate Gupton, Steven James Rodríguez Velez, and Artistic Director, Michelle Pearson, for three class offerings.
PATRIOT'S PATH: The Theseus Legacy Encore Performance
Part history, part personal reflection, and all profoundly human, this evening of high art invites audiences to witness the intersection of myth and memory in an immersive, heartfelt exploration of what it means to serve, struggle, and return home.
ECHOES & INNOVATIONS: An Evening of Company Repertory
Join Black Box Dance Theatre for an evening of performance that demonstrates all facets of our work in the world. This program will include repertory from BBDT's in-school performances, work with veterans, creative repertory, and a premiere of BBDT's Kate Gupton's new work set on our extended professional company.
Spring Community Drop-In Series
Join Black Box Dance Theatre this May with a series of Spring Community Drop-In Classes. Learn and collaborate with masterful movers from the company: Cortney Vartanian, Natalie Morton, and special guest, Kendall Teague from Asheville, NC.
