03.24.21 This month our capital campaign was Magical Musical March. We explored the Chitlin Circuit and the Line, the talent that graced the Dreamland stage, and the effect that history had on Dreamland’s story. If you missed any one of the campaigns, you can catch up on those here.
The musical legacy of the Ballroom is undoubtedly impressive. The grandeur of the big-name performances and the rich local culture that kept those famous artists coming while creating and sustaining its own talent. Something spectacular and unique thrived on The Line. The 9th Street community knew what music could do for them…whether they felt good or bad.
For the Friends of Dreamland, and all those who have a vested interest in the future of the Dreamland Ballroom, incorporating this musical legacy into the ballroom’s modern utility is a ‘no-brainer.’ If you listen, the room itself still sings. Dreamland’s brick and plaster walls bounce sound waves around while the tin tiles reflect those sounds back to the performers on the stage, effortlessly bathing the entirety of the Ballroom’s occupancy in sound.
Soon, the Dreamland Ballroom’s accessibility issues will be a thing of the past. Public events, like a concert or dance, will begin and allowing us to weave the broken legacy of Dreamland back together. Though the room is an excellent sound bath, modern sound and lighting equipment will be necessary. Performances have changed a lot…even since the 1960s, when the ballroom was last active. So, there is still work to be done--but at least the work is about to get a lot more fun!
Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy
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