Palm Beach State College's Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center (DHCAC) is truly a theatre for the community! Now celebrating its 29th Season, the DHCAC was Palm Beach State's first performing arts center. Built on a campus without a theatre department, it is a beautiful example of Palm Beach State's commitment to the arts in the Glades communities.
Outreach and partnerships have been important components of the programming at the DHCAC since it opened in 1982. In 1983, the Center opened its doors to the students of the Glades communities with the Theatre for Schools program. Now called the CAFE series (Cultural Arts for Education), this program usually serves over 18,500 students per year and is offered at almost no cost to the students.
In 1995, the DHCAC held its first week-long residency program with the Missoula Children's Theatre. Local children audition for approximately 50 roles and in just five days, they present a fully-choreographed musical production! In April 2010, the Missoula Children's Theatre returns for their sixteenth year! Other week-long residencies have included Ballet Folklorico "Quetzalli" de Veracruz, the Caribbean Dance Company of the Virgin Islands, Japanese storyteller Kuniko Yamamoto, and the Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre of New Zealand.
In the spring of 2007, the DHCAC partnered with Prime Time of Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council to bring Brian Williams and his Step Afrika! group to the Glades for several week-long workshops with eight local step teams. The 2007-2008 season saw the return of Step Afrika! to our theater for more workshops and performances.
 In December 2010, the DHCAC brought Mobilizing the Community to Belle Glade for three weeks. Sculpture artist, Kevin Reese, of School Sculptures based in Washington, DC, worked with the 4th and 5th grade students from five of the area's local schools to design and create three kinetic sculptures. The sculptures were given to the City of Belle Glade and were placed in Lyons Park in the northeast section of Belle Glade. The area was then landscaped by the Belle Glade Lions Club. The project was funded by the State of Florida and Palm Beach State College and was a collaboration between the College, the State of Florida, the City of Belle Glade, the Palm Beach County School District, Glades Day School, School Sculptures, Inc., the Belle Glade Lions Club and Xi Iota Alpha Sorority.
In addition to the Center's annual professional series, the DHCAC has been able to offer a number of special programs through partnerships with organizations like the Norton Museum of Art, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, the Florida Philharmonic, Palm Beach Opera, Very Special Arts, the Argentinean Arts Organization, the Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors and the New Gardens Band, to name a few. Over the years, numerous local community businesses, organizations, schools and non-profits have partnered with the DHCAC for performances, pageants, recitals, meetings, and other activities, truly making it a center for the community!
For additional information about the Center’s outreach and partnership, contact Leigh Woodham at 561-993-1160.
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