Happy 108th Birthday, Taborian Hall!

Taborian Hall turned 108 years old July 14th.

Back in 2018, I wrote an essay for Brave Magazine called "Dreams Come True" about what this building means to me and what it took to get the National Parks Service grant that would change everything for the Dreamland Ballroom. If you haven't read it, or if it's been a while, it's worth revisiting. [Read it here.]

A lot has happened since then.

That first $499,668 NPS grant funded the construction of the elevator addition, making the third floor accessible for the first time in decades. In 2020, a second grant of $499,723 completed the elevator installation, added an ADA compliant bathroom, restored windows, and finally gave the ballroom a real HVAC system. A third grant of $498,000 followed in 2021, funding historic restoration work including hardwood floors, replicated tin ceiling tiles, stage apron restoration, and historically accurate house lighting.

In 2025, Dreamland hosted more events than any previous year, its first full year of ADA compliance since the ballroom closed in 1968. The Arkansas Festival Ballet performed on the Dreamland stage twice. The Swing Band Reunion brought a full ensemble for a Salute to the Legends of Dreamland. Weddings, receptions, art shows, and community gatherings filled the calendar.

This spring, the Beyond the Divide project brought a month-long pop-up market and community events to West 9th Street, with Dreamland right in the middle of it all.

The building my mom fell in love with through a broken front door in 1990 is very much alive. Happy birthday, Taborian Hall.

Pave the Way Sale Extended Through July 31st!

Brick pavers honoring Grady McCoy, Jr.

Good news if you missed the birthday sale announcement: we're extending the half-price Pave the Way brick paver sale originally ending July 14 (Taborian Hall's birthday), now ending July 31st.

A Lil' Brick (4"x8", up to 3 lines of text) is $99, normally $200. A Big Brick (8"x8", up to 6 lines of text) is $250, normally $500.

This extension feels especially meaningful to us. Last July, when my grandfather Grady Lee McCoy Jr. passed away on July 3rd, several people chose to honor him with a personalized paver here at Taborian Hall rather than sending flowers. I think that says something about what this place means to people. A flower fades, but a brick in this sidewalk connects someone's memory to a 108-year-old building that has meant so much to so many people in this community.

If you've been on the fence, this is your window. Put a name here that matters to you. Honor someone, celebrate something, or just make your presence known on West 9th Street. Now you have a few more days to think of the perfect sentiment.

Order online at DreamlandBallroom.org/pavetheway, or call 501.255.5700 to pay by check. Make checks out to Friends of Dreamland and send to 800 West 9th Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. Friends of Dreamland is a 501(c)(3) and your donation is tax deductible.

Pave the Way Bricks are Half Price for Our Building’s Birthday!

Engraved bricks are placed on the sidewalk to the Dreamland Ballroom elevator addition.

On July 14th, Taborian Hall turns 108 years old. When the Knights and Daughters of Tabor dedicated this building in 1918, it was the most expensive structure built in Little Rock, funded entirely by the Black community in Arkansas. That feels worth celebrating.

So, June 30 through July 14 2026, we're putting our Pave the Way brick pavers on sale at half price.

A Lil' Brick (4"x8", up to 3 lines of text) drops from $200 to $99. A Big Brick (8"x8", up to 6 lines of text) drops from $500 to $250. Your inscribed brick gets set into the sidewalk surrounding Taborian Hall, permanently connecting your name to one of the most significant buildings in Arkansas history.

People have put family names on these bricks, honored loved ones who grew up on West 9th Street, and a few have gone with something a little cheeky. However you choose to mark your support, the idea is simple: your name stays here long after we're all gone.

Order online at www.DreamlandBallroom.org/pavetheway, or call 501.255.5700 to pay by check. Make checks out to Friends of Dreamland and send to 800 West 9th Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. As always, Friends of Dreamland is a 501(c)(3) and your donation is tax deductible.

Don't wait too long on this one!

Juneteenth in Da Rock at Dreamland!

June 20th marks the 2026 celebration of Juneteenth here on 9th St. in downtown Little Rock.

I will be offering tours of Taborian Hall and the Dreamland Ballroom at 11 AM and noon on June 20th as well. If you are at all interested in the history of this space, I hope you’ll come down and jump back in time with me as we explore the rich history here. We will also debut some new additions to the Dreamland Mini Museum that I can’t wait to show off! The tour takes about 45 minutes-1 hour.

And if you just need a break from the heat, the first floor of Taborian Hall and the Dreamland Mini Museum will be open between noon and 10 PM that day.

Opening Ceremony on April 8

We are moving through March and the Beyond the Divide Project here on 9th Street is growing by the day!

An Opening Ceremony for the project will kick-off the month-long popup market on April 8th. Over twenty local businesses will occupy the West end of 9th St. accompanied by outdoor art and events by Mosaic Templars, The Hall, studioMain, Downtown Little Rock Partnership, AR Jazz Heritage Foundation, Arkansas Festival Ballet and the Dreamland Ballroom!

Keep an eye on the Beyond the Divide project page for details as they come. Following the above organizations on their various socials will also keep you in-the-know this spring!

Progress Beyond the Divide

Last week, Dreamland hosted a workshop for the Beyond the Divide project coming to 9th St. this spring. Each city awarded this grant was in attendance to discuss their challenges, assets, and plans for their districts. I’m happy to say we are considered an “asset” here on 9th St.!!

The highlight of the workshop for us was the street mural the attendees painted on the road outside Taborian Hall/Dreamland Ballroom. The mural reference the pink and white diamond motif in Dreamland and is such a welcome pop of color.

We can expect a transformation come March and April for the corridor. A temporary change in traffic flow, shops, art displays, and public projects inspired by the history of The Line. Encouraging all of us to think about what we want for the future of 9th St. and experience what works and maybe what doesn’t. What an opportunity!!!

Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy

Get Your Tickets to DID '26!

We have another great lineup for Dancing into Dreamland this February 14th! 

This year we have aerial and ambient performances from the Arkansas Circus Arts, Latin dances, waltz, hip-hop, interpretive dance, and ballet. The event will be emceed by Poolboy (of Alice 107.7) and Hana Settles (from Saracen Casino Resort) with judges Loey Lauren Adams, Christin Pitts, and Brian Earles amidst a fabulous party in a spectacular ballroom!

Dancing into Dreamland is a truly a one-of-a-kind event in Little Rock and we hope to see you there with your Valentine! Buy tickets or sponsor the event; or contact me, Matthew McCoy, if you have any questions about this incredible evening in the Dreamland Ballroom. 

Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy

Happy New Year!

We accomplished so much this year.

2025 was the first full year the Dreamland Ballroom was ADA compliant and open to the public since Club Morocco closed in 1968. As such, we were able to host more fundraisers, community events, meetings, and private events this year than any previous year: 

Starting off, we rang in the New Year with the Dunbar Neighborhood Association while honoring renown Arkansas composer, Florence Price. 

On Feb. 15 we held another successful Dancing into Dreamland, where Josue & Carissa Deleon won our Judges Choice award and "The Illusion of Aerial" (Haley and Mackenzie) won People’s Choice. 

In the spring of 2025, we raised money for the Friends of Dreamland while celebrating local designers and models during the Met Gala. 

Over the summer, we established two incredible relationships: Firstly, with the Swing Band Reunion at their Salute to the Legends of Dreamland show in July (WATCH THE VIDEO); and secondly, welcoming the incredible dancers of the Arkansas Festival Ballet onto the Dreamland stage for not one but two events, showcasing their talented performers and programs (WATCH THE VIDEO -Ballet in the Ballroom).

And of course, Dreamland welcomed weddings, receptions, Christmas parties, art shows, festivals, and markets into the room as well! Every event helps to build a better ballroom that ultimately serves a wider range of audiences and events. 

What’s to come: 

• Dancing into Dreamland 2026 on Feb. 14, 2026. Our annual Valentines gala falls on Valentines Day this year! GET YOUR TICKETS now for a date night like no other! Contact me for sponsorship opportunities.

• A mini museum on the first floor alongside the Dreamland Lounge that will help to share the legacy of this building and its historic significance to Little Rock.

• More shows by the Arkansas Festival Ballet and the Swing Band Reunion!

• Keeping up with the Beyond the Divide project, reconnecting with the heart of 9th St.

2026 is going to be a big year for the Dreamland Ballroom! Stay tuned and …

Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy

Ernest Banks Joins DID

We have exciting news for Dancing into Dreamland (DID) 2026. 
 
Ernest Banks, principal of studioMAIN and design lead for the Beyond the Divide campaign, has joined as Event Chair. Ernest brings vision and leadership to both DID and our mission to preserve Dreamland Ballroom as a vibrant gathering place for the community. 

This February 14th, celebrate in a venue where music legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Ray Charles once played. 

• Saturday, February 14, 2026

• Doors 7:00 PM, Program 8:00 PM

• Dreamland Ballroom, 800 W. 9th St., Little Rock

What to expect: 

• Live dance competition featuring all styles from ballet to bachata, waltz to hip-hop

• Celebrity judges + audience text voting (you pick the People's Choice winner!)

• Signature cocktails + heavy hors d'oeuvres

• Open dancing after the competition

• Arrive early: Dreamland Lounge (1st floor) opens at 5 PM for cocktails

Tickets & Tables:

• General Admission: $110

• Tables for 6–9: $800–$1,200 (sponsorship recognition included)

• Private boxes for 12: $2,500 (Presenting Sponsor level with radio mentions, advertising recognition, program listing, and website link)

Buy Tickets/Sponsorships Here

 

9th Street Walk Audit

On Saturday (12/13/2025), Dreamland hosted an ‘audit’ for the pop-up project coming to West 9th St. in the spring of 2026, Beyond the Divide.

There was a great turnout that included Little Rock folks from all walks of life and professions. Lots of people, lots of ideas floating around, and we are so grateful to have this project come to the neighborhood and can’t wait to see more from it. Check out the links below to learn more about Beyond the Divide:

• If you were there, please look over this W 9th St. Post-Walk Audit Survey

• Beyond the Divide Project Page

• Beyond the Divided Project Baseline Survey

There will be another community event for this project in mid-January (15th & 16th). Mark your calendars, more details to come!

Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy

W. Ninth Street Community Meeting at Mosaic Templars

Monday, Oct. 20 I was fortunate enough to be invited to a meeting at Mosaic Templars. There a group of individuals and organizations met to discuss the future of W. Ninth St – where we’re at, where we’re going, and where we’d like to go. It was wonderful to hear about all the great work Mosaic Templars does – Juneteenth in Da Rock, educational programing, and so, so much more. I saw many community leaders I knew with the Dunbar Neighborhood Assoc., city and state representatives – current and former, StudioMain, Downtown Little Rock Partnership, and other folks from local businesses in the corridor. And, of course, I met new people eager to see progress in this area.

These meetings will be happening quarterly to keep us connected and facilitate a range of place-making plans for this historic part of our city. So, make sure to keep in touch with us and all the aforementioned organizations to stay in the loop and learn how you can support the development of W. Ninth St.

It is incredibly inspiring to see people understand the significance of the history here, recognize the opportunity it presents us to connect with each other, and build something as great as what was or maybe something even greater!

Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy

Coming together!

Swing by W. 9th St. to see the newly landscaped entrance of Dreamland Ballroom! Drive by at your leisure or come by Chris Jones’ campaign launch event this Thursday, Oct. 9th to see it! We worked hard over the weekend to get plants in the ground and add to the brick pathway. One more piece to the Dreamland puzzle in place – many more to come!

Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy

Construction Update

Bricks are in! The new pathways and walls help to frame the driveway, with swells and pumps to regulate the water. FlagandBanner.com has even restored the 80’ flagpole, which can be viewed through the round windows in the ballroom. 

Earlier this summer, the Friends of Dreamland missed their very first grant opportunity. I suppose it was too much to ask for a 100% success rate on federal grant applications. This work would have helped us shore up the basement and really overhaul the parking lot – for ADA compliance, beautification, and drainage. Undaunted, we’ve done what we’ve always done here: What we can! And we are pleased with what we’ve put out so far and are excited to do a little landscaping over the fall. 

Keep Dreaming, Matthew

Ballet in the Ballroom: Success!

What a great event Saturday with Arkansas Festival Ballet! We drank, we laughed, we danced!  If you missed this one, there will plenty more to come. This is only the beginning of what will hopefully be a long and mutually beneficial partnership between our organizations! 

Follow along with us and our friends at AFB to keep in the know about future shows and events. And keep supporting the Dream so we can continue to support local artists and performers!

Salute the Legends Recap

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Swing Band Reunion and the Friends of Dreamland. It was a one-of-kind evening for a one-of-kind place! We are so grateful for the talent the SBR brought to the Dreamland stage and can’t wait for more!

If you haven't already seen, Brooke Buckner with THV11 provided coverage of that magical evening!

Thank You! Juneteenth 2025

We are so very grateful for the turnout this Saturday for our affiliate event during Juneteenth in Da Rock! We hope everyone enjoyed the moment to rest and refresh in the shade and that you learned something while here!

A big thank you to Steve and his friends from the Swing Band Reunion for the incredible music, what a draw! We hope you’ll join the Friends of Dreamland in welcoming the entire ensemble to the Dreamland stage on July 25th for a Salute to the Legends of Dreamland.

There is always something coming up here at Dreamland these days!

If you missed the tours this weekend, our mission is, in part, to share the legacy of Dreamland so call or email me, Matthew McCoy, to schedule a historic tour. Drop-in tours are difficult to accommodate so please reach out and we’ll set it up!

Arkansas Festival Ballet will partner with the Friends of Dreamland on August 9th for Ballet in the Ballroom. The Ballet will announce their season while we toast to the new partnership!

Participate in Dancing into Dreamland 2026 by completing this online form: DID26 Dancer Application. If you don’t dance, share the link with someone you know does! Or send them our way!

Preserving and Increasing FOD's Art Collection!

First things first, thanks to your contributions to the Artifact & Memorabilia Fund, we were able to frame another Brewer Painting! The largest one yet.

Recently, the Friends of Dreamland was lucky enough to receive another donated work of art from local artist John Goodwin. The donated painting, Dreamland, depicts what can best be described as the ‘feeling’ of the Dreamland Ballroom, especially if you know anything about its legacy and/or have seen it all dressed up for a party. The painting is an excellent example of Goodwins artistic focus on wonder and whimsy. This painting is featured in the 50th issue of Artistonish, a monthly art magazine.  We are so grateful to John for loving Dreamland and trusting us with his work. Another fabulous piece for our collection of Arkansan art!

John Goodwin earned a BFA in Graphic Design from Louisiana Tech University and lives in Little Rock. Most of his career was spent working in sales for the photography, pre-press and printing industries, where he specialized in fine art reproductions, but he is now working as a full-time artist himself.

His art is meant to convey a sense of wonder and whimsy, and his influences come mostly from music and pop culture. He is a collector of Silver Age comic books, and that graphic sensibility shows in his paintings as well. He uses strong, pure colors that pop and it’s not uncommon for him to use musical notes, impact marks, star shapes, swirls, and other graphic elements commonly found in comics. They add a touch of fantasy to an image that might be considered somewhat realistically rendered to create a fantasy realism.

John was the official artist for the world renown King Biscuit Blues Festival for three years in a row and has also produced poster art for other music festivals. His work has been featured in the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance's Arts & The Park outdoor exhibit, in the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum’s “Inclusive” exhibit, and in multiple online group exhibitions by Gallerium and HMVC Gallery New York. His artwork has been published in the international art magazine Artistonish, and he has paintings in the permanent collection of the Delta Cultural Center Museum.

Dreamland by John Goodwin

Frozen in Time

Construction Update!

If you’ve ever been on a tour of the Dreamland Ballroom with me, you’ve likely heard me say something like, “our aesthetic vision for the space is to ‘freeze it in time’ not necessarily take it back to what it looked like 80-100s years ago.” We love the old room and all its one-of-a-kind character. So, for us, that means leaving exposed brick and lathe, chipped and broken plaster and paint, and making sure the new and old blend. All while making sure everything is safe, sound, and up to code. It’s been quite a balancing act these last few years!

Right now, the new is being blended with the old. Distress painting of the new stage, sheetrock walls, and the big back balcony are all underway. Bringing a little color and life back to the old and new.

Molds are currently in progress as well for the 4 unique plaster ornaments around the stage proscenium. The large medallion missing from the top, the top and bottom border, and the small medallions that ensconce the round lights.

All is on track to be complete for this fall and we can’t wait to show off the work we’ve been doing!

Keep Dreaming, Matthew

haunted The Dreamland Ballroom, Swade Productions

A while back I did an interview with the folks at Swade Productions for a haunted Arkansas series they’re doing. Sitting down with them, I realized just how many ghost stories I grew up hearing about here.  Later they actually spent an evening in Taborian Hall ghost hunting and filming.

The episode has aired! You can check that out here: haunted The Dreamland Ballroom

Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy

Make sure you don’t miss Juneteenth in Da Rock!

Guided tours of the Dreamland Ballroom and Taborian Hall will run at 11 AM and 1 PM on Saturday June 15th. Tours generally last about an hour. We are very excited to share the legacy of this historic space with you on Saturday and hope to see you there!

 If you can’t make the tour times, volunteers will be stationed in the ballroom from 11 AM-4PM to show off the many improvements and restore features the Friends of Dreamland have been working on since our first grant award in 2018.

See you Saturday and keep dreaming, Matthew McCoy