A brand-new name is joining Las Vegas's contemporary dance scene this month, and it's throwing itself a party to mark the occasion. Bateman Dance Theater will host its inaugural gala, titled Unapologetic, on October 24 at TM Dance Complex, 5090 W. Patrick Ln., with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the performance beginning at 7 p.m.
Tickets start at $25 and the event is open to all ages, according to Las Vegas Weekly. The gala doubles as a season launch and a fundraiser, with the evening built around contemporary dance performed by the company's professional artists alongside a more traditional gala experience: wine, a live auction and tables from local vendors.
Beyond the performance itself, organizers are framing the night as a chance for attendees to get closer to the people behind the curtain. The gala includes opportunities to connect directly with the artists and to learn about the company's broader vision, the same report notes.
Who's Behind Bateman Dance Theater
Bateman Dance Theater is a nonprofit contemporary dance company founded by Kedric Bateman and Rachel Murray in Las Vegas, per the Las Vegas Weekly listing. Bateman serves as the company's founder and artistic director. The troupe describes its mission as creating bold, story-driven work rooted in human experience, exploring ideas and perspectives through movement.
Unapologetic marks more than just a one-night fundraiser — it's billed as the beginning of Bateman Dance Theater's inaugural season in Las Vegas. Proceeds from the gala are earmarked to support that first season directly, funding performances, new work, the company's professional artists and what organizers describe as continued growth in the Las Vegas arts community, according to Nevada Arts Council.
A Crowded Field for Local Dance Nonprofits
Bateman Dance Theater enters a local arts landscape where nonprofit galas remain a familiar tool for funding new work. Culture Shock Las Vegas, for instance, describes itself as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dance troupe and youth outreach program with more than two decades in operation, a longevity that underscores just how new Bateman Dance Theater's own venture is by comparison.
Other Las Vegas nonprofits have leaned on similar gala formats this year to raise funds and visibility. The Shine a Light Foundation, for example, held its own annual fundraising gala, Beneath the Neon, in April at Notoriety in downtown Las Vegas, an event organizers said was designed to bring together community leaders in support of the city's hidden homeless population, according to Nevada Business Magazine.
For now, the details specific to Unapologetic — ticketing logistics, auction items and the full lineup of vendors — haven't been spelled out beyond what's listed in the Las Vegas Weekly calendar entry. What is clear is the date, the venue and the stakes: this is the night Bateman Dance Theater formally introduces itself to Las Vegas audiences, with the company's entire first season riding on what comes next.
