By Chris Shull
Special to the Star-Telegram
FORT WORTH -- Texas Dance Theatre was one of the successes of the 2009-10 performance year. While most area performing groups tightened their belts because of the woeful economy, Wil McKnight launched a brand-new dance company.
The Fort Worth-based troupe, which performs contemporary ballet by local and national choreographers, announced its 2010-11 season Tuesday.
Texas Dance Theatre will increase performances from five to eight, presenting Friday-Saturday pairs in November and April at the Eisemann Center in Richardson and the Scott Theatre in Fort Worth.
The paired programs, though different, will repeat featured world premieres each night, including in November a new ballet by Fort Worth-based choreographer Bruce Wood. Other choreographers will include Dallas-Fort Worth-based dancers Leslie Hale and Jon Shields; the company's assistant artistic director, Emily Hunter; and McKnight.
"I wanted to do shorter pieces; newer, more contemporary stuff," McKnight said of his inspiration.
"I especially love the Balanchine style. I wanted to make sure the dancers were very well trained and had that ballet foundation.
"Then we take that and push it in a different direction."
McKnight said more performances in the upcoming season -- and the repetition of new pieces -- will hone the technique and artistry of his small cadre of dancers, many of whom teach and perform as freelancers around the area.
"Last season the dancers were working so hard for just one performance," McKnight said. "And I would see things that could be improved upon."
And he hopes that playing four nights each at venues on opposite sides of the Metroplex will give arts lovers more opportunities to become fans of his company.
McKnight founded Texas Dance Theatre in 2008. Its first performance was in spring 2009; its first full season followed between September and April, when the company performed four separate programs at the Scott Theatre and once at the Eisemann Center. Every concert featured one or two world premieres.
While comfortable directing the company's artistic elements, McKnight admitted naivete about business operations.
"The whole first season I really didn't think about the economy," he said. "If I had known, I might have been very discouraged and not gotten to this point."
He understands that his focus must expand.
McKnight said the budget for the upcoming season will be slightly less than last season's $250,000. The company has nearly $10,000 in debt.
Although he vows to pay more attention to dollars and cents, he remains optimistic about Texas Dance Theatre's direction.
"We've started to build a following," McKnight said. "But where we stand now, we need that to reflect more in the actual ticket sales and in donations."
