Relaxed and Sensory Inclusive Performance: The Fairytale Project

A Relaxed and Sensory Inclusive Performance

Presented by the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts with Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective

“The Fairytale Project” is a historically inspired tale about a modern-day family reconnecting with their East Texas roots through a series of peculiar encounters with the past. Loosely based on the love story of Jim and Winnie Shankle—founders of the Texas Freedom Colony, Shankleville—the narrative follows their descendants as they rediscover what truly matters: family, faith, love, and legacy. This intergenerational production blends dance, music, and storytelling to explore themes of migration, memory, and cultural pride. Originally premiering in 2022, The Fairytale Project has toured across Texas towns and received national recognition on NPR’s All Things Considered.

Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective, founded in 2018 by Stacey Allen, is a professional dance company composed of a multigenerational collective of women dance and multidisciplinary artists. Our mission is to create and support art and wellness initiatives through the lens of Black women and girls. Since its founding, Nia’s Daughters has grown from performing in nontraditional theater spaces to presenting work in multidisciplinary art settings, while remaining rooted in storytelling that centers the lived experiences of Black women and girls. In addition to performance, the company is deeply committed to arts education as a tool for building cultural competency and empathy. We offer residencies, masterclasses, workshops, and interactive storytimes based on Stacey Allen’s original children’s books, A Little Optimism Goes a Long Way and D is for Dance: Dancing Through the Diaspora, in school districts, community centers, places of worship, and beyond.

About Relaxed and Sensory Inclusive Performances

The Hobby Center is committed to deepening understanding of our shared humanity and creating a safe, welcoming experience for all audiences.

Relaxed and Sensory Inclusive Performances include adjustments like modified lighting in audience spaces, designated quiet and activity areas in the lobby, encouragement to move and enter/exit as needed, sensory supports (like fidgets and ear plugs/muffs), trained volunteers, and more.

Buy Tickets