In partnership with

“Making dances is an act of progress; it is an act of growth, an act of music, an act of teaching, an act of celebration, an act of joy.” -Alvin Ailey

Two Heroes. One Dance: For this edition of sports gram I want to talk about Dance, Evolution, Inspiration and maybe a little about the other DEI. I like to think of dance as where art and athleticism combine. I also believe that dance has the power to make great change. Monday our scholarship committee will choose the next class of Team DC scholars. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the numerous dancers that have received a Team DC Scholarship, and the countless volunteer hours of scholarship committee member that Terry Chasteen an accomplished dancer and instructor.

I also want to talk about two of my long-time inspirations in the dance world. Paul Taylor & Alvin Ailey.  As we close out Black History Month it couldn’t be more important than to highlight the accomplishments of Alvin Ailey. Ailey’s work would become synonymous with the black cultural experience, and he became one of the most important choreographers of the 20^th century. His ballet “Revelations” would become one of the most performed ballets in the world. In the early 1960s Ailey was invited by John F Kennedy’s State department to tour selected works internationally as a form of cultural exchange.  Ailey was threatened with bankruptcy if he showed any signs of effeminate or homosexual behavior while on the state department tours.

Queer and closeted for most of his early career, Paul Taylor’s work often included themes on the natural world and man's place within it; love and sexuality in every gender combination; life, death and what may follow; and iconic moments in the history of the nation. He would often collaborate with other queer visual artists of the time including Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, and Ellsworth Kelly.

Ailey and Taylor met in 1959 while Ailey was creating a duet for Martha Graham Dance Company principal dancer Matt Turney and Ailey. The piece was called “Creation of the World”.  Taylor and Ailey would also dance this role together. Many of Taylor’s pieces have also been performed as part of the repertoire of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. 

I was 8 when I was selected to dance with a touring company at one of their local stops in Minneapolis. It was version of Paul Taylors “Polaris”. Polaris explored the idea that the same exact choreography by different bodies, people of different races, ethnicities, different ages, and different genders would change the meaning of a performance. While leaving the choreography unchanged the lighting, music and costuming could change radically altering the piece. Although created over 50 year ago “Polaris” as dance is a representation of what diversity, equity and inclusion can mean. This one piece would forever change my life and shape the person that I have become. 

Artistic expression that comes out of the most hostile of times often becomes a defining element of the era. Interesting to think of my heroes in a very different time facing a different type of adversity and creating art in a hostile world. I have seen many works by Ailey and Taylor all at the Kennedy Center. Both of their legacies live on in those that continue to make art in the face of hostility.

There is an attempt to remove diversity equity and inclusion from every corner of the government which has included a rather hostile takeover of the Kennedy Center. You may have heard that without warning the Kennedy Center canceled a performance by the Gay Men’s chorus of Washington during World Pride.  Rather selfishly I wondered how this would affect my tickets for Paul Taylor Dance Company this weekend. Shocked it isn’t canceled. I guess someone didn’t do their research.  I’m going to go see a company formed & named after a queer dancer at the Kennedy Center. I’ll tell you all about the inspiration next time.

Dance, Evolve, Inspire,

-Patrick

As we talk about inspiration we want to recognize Educators and Coaches that inspire LGBTQ+ athletes. Each year at our Night of Champions Gala we honor a coach or educator from our community with the Clark Ray Horizon Award. This award recognizes those educators, coaches, athletic directors, and staff who have demonstrated support for LGBTQ high school students, particularly those students who compete in sports.

Dr. Demarco “Marc” Brooks has dedicated over 15 years to the field of education, serving as a middle school and high school social studies special education teacher. Throughout his career, he has also held significant leadership roles, including Dean of Students and Assistant Principal.

With a passion for cheerleading, Dr. Brooks has coached for over 24 years, including high school teams in Fairfax and Prince George's County. He has also served as head coach at prestigious institutions such as George Washington University, Howard University, and George Mason University, while also coaching all-star cheerleading at Phoenix Elite All Stars in Chantilly, VA.

Academically accomplished, Dr. Brooks holds a BA in History, an MPA, a Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership. His commitment to community involvement is evident through his participation in three Team DC organizations, including being a founding member of Cheer DC, as well as involvement in CAPS Softball and DC's Different Drummers.

Please Join us at Night of Champions to honor the incredible person that is Dr Marc Brooks. The Night of Champion Gala will take place April 5th at 6PM at the Hilton National Mall Wharf. Get tickets now…

JOIN TEAM DC AT ONE OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

Pride Night OUT at the Wizards Tickets now on Sale
Wizards vs Pistons
Thursday, March 27

Join Team DC and our partners the Washington Wizards as they take on the Pistons and as we celebrate our 12th annual Pride Night OUT Thursday March 27th at Capital One Arena. Pregame activities start at 5PM at District E in Gallery Place. 7PM tip off.  Team DC is selling early bird tickets now through January 30th.   Each ticket includes a $5 donation to Team DC's Programming fund. Tickets purchased through Team DC do not have any fees attached and offer a significant savings.  We have special access to a fan tunnel experience, and space for 12 children ages 6-12 to escort players on to the court and stay for the national anthem. Tickets start at $27

Night of Champions Gala 
Saturday, April 5

Team DC’s annual event to honor local LGBTQ+ sports leaders as well as the recipients of the 2025 College Scholarships. 

Join our 45+ member organizations and Team DC as we celebrate a Night of Champions. Team DC will honor a new class of college bound LGBTQ+ athletes. We will also celebrate local LGBTQ+ leaders and educators making a difference in our community.

Cocktail and silent auction reception 6:00PM, dinner and awards 7:30.
Hilton National Mall/Wharf,  480 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024

Do you own a business or know someone who does? Donate to our Silent Auction at Night of Champions Gala to support our scholarship program.

Would you like to volunteer for our planning committee? Contact [email protected] to join the our ranks as we plan our Night of Champions Gala.

20th Anniversary Night out at NATS June 5th

20 Years in 2025. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of our Pride Night OUT at the Nationals. It’s also the 20th anniversary of Major League Baseball coming back to Washington DC. We are so excited because this is going to be our biggest year yet. This year the Nats are going all out for us and have designed a vintage style Jersey in Rainbow exclusively for people who purchase tickets through Team DC or Pride Night OUT Fevo. Sit with us in the Team DC section.

TEAM DC is proud to partner with Capital Pride Alliance and Interpride to bring one of the pillars of World Pride to DC. Team DC along with our members will host the World Pride Capital Cup on May 26th through June 4th 2025. Registration is now live at the link below, and you can check teamdc.org for more info coming soon

Receive Honest News Today

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Sign up today!

District Wrestling's 2025 Winter I season is underway! If you're new to the sport of freestyle and folkstyle wrestling, our practices are the perfect way to start. We offer experienced coaching in an inclusive and safe environment, and design our practices to be unintimidating and adaptable to all experience levels and physical abilities.

Everyone's first practice is free, so come by and check us out Mondays at 6:30pm at Frank Ballou High School! Visit DistrictWrestling.com to learn more and sign up! .

ASGRA's March Horseback Ride. Sunday, March 2 at 10 AM at Piscataway Riding Stables, 10775 Piscataway Rd, Clinton, MD 20735. $40 for ASGRA members/$45 for non-members. Enjoy an hour long ride through the woods, fields and streams of this 265 acre horse farm just 20 minutes from Washington, DC. For more information or to RSVP contact ASGRA President, Patrick Hunter at [email protected]

Hey Darters! Get ready, registration for Tuesday Night Flights at Nellie's will open Monday, March 3rd. https://rlsports.org/darts/

The Chesapeake & Potomac Softball (CAPS) league is having its first social event of the season. Please join us to find out more about our amazing league. The Spring season kicks off Sunday, April 6th. Registration is open. Both Open & Women’s+ Divisions. All skill levels are welcome. https://capssoftball.org

DCDD's Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Winter Guard are hard at work preparing for their upcoming performances! The DCDD Jazz Band will present their spring concert, "Fruits and Other Sweet Things", on Sunday, March 16 at 3pm at the MLK Library (free admission). The DCDD Symphonic Band will present their spring concert, "The Joy of Pride", on Saturday, March 29 at 7pm at Church of the Epiphany in downtown D.C.! There, they will be premiering "Gravity", commissioned in honor of late Symphonic Band Assistant Director Beth Smith. Tickets available at dcdd.org/events . Finally, the DCDD Winter Guard has upcoming contests at Sherando HS on Saturday, March 15, and at AIA North Championships on Saturday, March 29. Ticket information is available two weeks prior to each of those contests at atlanticindoor.org .

Play Ball! The Eastern Women's Baseball Conference is looking for interested players. Join one of our four teams in the DMV. Register at easternwomensbaseball.org or contact us at [email protected]./

Do you have extra love to give. The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) provides foster care for the youth of Washington D.C and Maryland. The need for safe, loving adults who can provide a stable home for children in foster care is in high demand and NCCF invites you to learn more about becoming a foster parent.

Please join us for our upcoming virtual orientation on March 19th, 2025, where you will get a crash course on what it means to be a foster parent with NCCF. Please RSVP here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FA4A92BAAF9C07-47635597-fporientation#/

NCCF Website: https://nccf-cares.org/become-a-foster-parent/

We are pleased to announce that the 13th annual DCFR Pride Run 5k will take place on June 1, 2025 starting at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and running along the iconic Pennsylvania Avenue 5k route. This year we are partnering with Capital Pride and Team DC as part of the Capital Cup Sports Festival and increasing our registration cap to 5,000 runners. We need your help to get there!

Registration opens on 1/20/2025. https://dcpriderun.com/

Have an item for the next Sportsgram?

Click here and provide content and an image.