Everything is lining up!

This February, the Friends of Dreamland will be hosting the first Dancing into Dreamland since the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic. We are so excited! And everything is lining up for another extraordinary event.

We are working hard right now to make sure that all the compliances are met for the elevator. As it is operational, there are still some fire codes and the like to consider before the public is allowed to use it. Our long-time emcee, Poolboy, has agreed to return in 2022. Our judges David Miller, Christen Pitts, and Amy Kelley Bell have signed on. We are so widely thankful for all our gracious hosts, but Amy deserves an extra special shout out for her return this year, as she no longer lives in Arkansas.

So far, these are the dancers for Dancing into Dreamland 2022:

Ann Bryan/Mark Short...Exhibition Cha-Cha

Hope Benoit/Reese Austin...East Coast Swing

Stefano Santamaria/TBA...Bachata

Byrdie Byrd/Tre Wentling...West Coast Swing

Arushi Devgan/Kurt Messer...Latin Fusion

Casey Barker/Dolores Sims...Country Routine

This list has not been finalized and we still have acts to fill. If you are interested in competing, please reach out!

We are also still accepting sponsors. We have three major sponsorship levels.

If contributing to the restoration effort in a major way is something you are interested in, contact me at friends@dreamlandballroom.org

General Admission tickets are on sale at dreamlandballroom.org.

Interested in volunteering? Let me know, we have duties to fill!

See all you Dreamers on February 12th!

Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy

Dancing into Dreamland Past

Dancing into Dreamland (DID) has been the primary fundraiser for the Friends of Dreamland (FOD) since its founding. This unique event has always combined the usual elements of a fundraising gala with a dance competition. For 10 years, the Friends of Dreamland celebrated uninterrupted every November. Sponsors, patrons, Friends, dancers, emcees, judges, and volunteers all gathered in support to the Dreamland Ballroom’s restoration.

In the beginning, DID was held at the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock, AR. Dreamland Ballroom at the time was unfit for an event of this caliber. Mercedes Ellington, David Miller, Leslie Harper, and Stephen Buckley were judges that first year in 2010. Lawrence Hamilton and Renee Shapiro were the emcees. The winners that year were Allison Stodola Wilson and Jonathan Bostick from Ballet Arkansas and Shuffles and Ballet II. The next year, David Miller returned as a judge and Lawrence Hamilton and Renee Shapiro were back as emcees. Christen Pitts joined the judges and would become another staple in the DID crew along with David Miller. The 2011 winners were a group of junior high girls from Dance Dynamics proving that any talented dancer(s) could win this competition! 2012 was the first year that DID was held in the Dreamland Ballroom.

Over the years, many dancers, emcees, and judges came and went. Sericia Cole became a judge in 2013 until 2017. David Miller has judged every year of DID. In 2016, Amy Kelley Bell joined David and Sericia at the judge’s table. In 2014, Lawrence Hamilton tragically passed away. Local radio personality Poolboy came through that year and has emceed every year since. Join by Craig O’Neal in 2017. Many dancers over the years have competed and won People’s Choice and/or Judge’s Choice. Check out the full list of past winners here.

The dedication, by not only the Friends of Dreamland board, but these volunteers and dancers have shown to the Dreamland Ballroom restoration is astounding. We could not be more grateful. This devotion is in large part responsible for the grant awards the Friends of Dreamland have received three times since 2018. We were able to show that we “put our money where our mouth is.” And could be trusted to use the granted funds responsibility and to preserve this vital African American cultural asset.

So, thank YOU!

For information on Dancing into Dreamland 2022, visit our website or Facebook page. Let’s celebrate how far we’ve come and continue the work of preserving the Dreamland Ballroom and its legacy.

Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy

DID’22 is BACK

Tickets are on sale for the 11th Dancing into Dreamland on February 12th, 2022. That’s right, DID’22 is changing up the formula a bit with a Valentine’s gala in the Dreamland Ballroom. Don’t worry, all the things you love about our long-standing fundraiser are still in the mix. A night of revelry in the centenarian structure culminating around a friendly dance competition with food, drink, & a silent auction. Attendees will have the pleasure of viewing several spectacular dances of varying genres and vote for their favorites via text. A panel of celebrity judges will pick their favorite act who will be awarded a special cash prize!

What’s new? An elevator, centralized air conditioning, refurbished windows, a new handicap accessible bathroom, and a fresh face! Join us February 12th for this monumental celebration of 12 years of advocacy, fundraising, and dreaming by YOU, the Friends of Dreamland.