Our History
{254}DANCEFEST was founded in 2012 under the wing of Cultural Arts of Waco, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its founder, Brooke Schlecte, envisioned a festival where dance would be celebrated alongside music and visual arts—a true weekend of performing arts for the community.
The very first {254} took place at the Waco Convention Center, with performances staged on a simple padded Marley floor surrounded by black draped walls. From those grassroots beginnings, the festival has grown into a professionally produced event, thanks in large part to a strong partnership with McLennan Community College. This growth reflects both a commitment to artistic excellence and a dedication to shaping the future of dance in Central Texas.
From the start, {254}DANCEFEST has emphasized community connection. Classes, workshops, and choreography exchanges have brought together dancers and studios from across the region, sparking collaboration and inspiring the creation of many unique and beautiful works.
Today, as the festival continues to expand its reach—bringing professional dancers and choreographers to Waco—it remains firmly rooted in its original mission: to foster creativity, provide opportunities, and celebrate the joy of dance within the wider Waco community.
Our Vision
Our vision is to bring professional and pre-professional contemporary dance to Central Texas, creating opportunities for audiences to experience innovative performance, choreography, and collaboration beyond the scope of popular culture. We are dedicated to fostering artistry that both challenges the boundaries of contemporary dance and honors its rich traditions.
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
Hannah Ernest Requa is a dancer, teacher and choreographer residing in Waco, TX. In 2O23 she became the director of {254}DANCEFEST and has steered it to becoming a mainstay in the arts community for both Waco and central Texas by showcasing professional level contemporary dance.
Originally from Fort Collins, CO she began her training at Canyon Concert Ballet. She graduated from TCU with a BFA in Ballet and Modern Dance. After graduation she continued her studies with Paul Taylor Dance Company and with the Lou Conte Dance Studio at Hubbard Street Dance in Chicago.She was a company member of Bruce Wood Dance in Dallas for two seasons. She then joined Corpus Christi Ballet as a principal soloist. As a freelance artist she has performed extensively in the United States and in France. She was a guest company member with Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston for the past year. She is currently a company member of Ventana Ballet in Austin.
Hannah has taught in a wide range of roles and environments, sharing her expertise with dancers of all levels. She has served as a guest lecturer at Texas Christian University, a guest choreographer at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, a master teacher at the Bailando International Dance Festival, and an adjunct faculty member at Baylor University. In addition, she has been on faculty at Joy’s School of Dance, where she continues to collaborate with students on special projects, including choreography for the Waco Children’s Symphony Performance and the creation of a new work for {254}NextGen.
She is passionate about sharing the beauty and importance of dance with those around her. She is honored to be a part of the Waco Symphony Orchestra's outreach program Healing Harmonies, which brings the healing power of music and movement to local Waco hospitals. As an advocate for parents in the arts, she is part of Mei/Co Dance's series "The Mama Project" which creates works and dance films highlighting the journey of a mother in dance.
When not in the studio Hannah can be found having dance parties in her kitchen with her husband and two children.
Support {254}
Donations can be made under the WCAF via givebutter
All donations are tax deductible.
Production:
Stage Manager: Sarah Matzke
Sound Engineer: Melissa Lohr
Lighting designer and Engineer: Riley Lohr
House Manager: Melanie Wheat
Director: Hannah Requa
Administration:
Hannah Requa, BFA Ballet & Modern Dance
Joseph Taylor: Associate Professor of Theatre
Movement and Dance.
McLennan Community College
Doreen Ravenscroft, President
Cultural Arts of Waco
Tyler Vansyckle, IT & Digital Media Specialist
Cultural Arts of Waco
