On Friday, November 6, the Museum of Durham History will bring together contemporary dance and the power of personal storytelling for an evening celebrating Durham’s creativity, culture, and community history. The Museum will host a performance by KT COLLECTIVE Dance Company as part of the inaugural Durham FRINGE Festival, followed by a gathering celebrating the completion of the 2026 Durham Elder Storyteller Project.

Both events will take place at the Museum of Durham History, 500 W. Main St. The dance performance begins at 4:30 p.m., with the Elder Storyteller Project celebration following from 6 to 8 p.m.

The events offer two distinct ways to experience Durham’s cultural life: through contemporary performance in a historic downtown setting and through the firsthand memories of longtime residents who have witnessed the city’s evolution.

KT COLLECTIVE Brings Contemporary Dance to Durham FRINGE

At 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 6, KT COLLECTIVE Dance Company will present a contemporary jazz dance performance in the outdoor gazebo at the Museum of Durham History. The company will return for an encore performance at the same time on Saturday, November 7.

The performance is part of the inaugural Durham FRINGE Festival, a citywide celebration featuring artists, performers, and distinctive creative experiences throughout downtown Durham. The festival invites audiences to encounter the city’s creative community in a variety of spaces and settings.

The Museum’s location at 500 W. Main St. offers a fitting backdrop for the performance. Once Durham’s bus transfer station, the site served as a gateway to downtown and its bustling cultural life, connecting families and visitors with the city’s theaters, businesses, and entertainment venues.

Today, the Museum continues to explore those stories through its recently launched exhibition, Playhouses and Picture Palaces: The Historical Theaters of Downtown Durham. The exhibition traces the history of the places where generations of Durham residents gathered to experience live performances, music, and movies. From grand movie palaces to neighborhood theaters, these venues helped shape the city’s social and cultural identity.

Located within walking distance of the Carolina Theatre and Durham Arts Council, the Museum is a natural stop for festivalgoers exploring downtown and discovering the places that have contributed to Durham’s creative life.

Learn more about the Durham FRINGE Festival at durhamfringefestival.org.

Celebrating the Durham Elder Storyteller Project

From 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 6, the Museum will host a special gathering celebrating the completion of the 2026 Durham Elder Storyteller Project. Community members are invited to hear stories from Durham’s past, connect with fellow history enthusiasts, and enjoy food and refreshments.

With support from neighborhood friends and community partners, the project interviewed 16 longtime Durham residents from six neighborhoods: Southside, West End, Trinity Park, Walltown, Old West Durham, and Morehead Hill. All six neighborhoods are part of the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership.

Durham-based videographer Bill Erwin produced hour-long interviews capturing the experiences, memories, and perspectives of these longtime residents. Together, the interviews offer a window into everyday neighborhood life dating back to the 1930s, documenting how families and neighbors built communities, navigated change, and worked to preserve their neighborhoods’ heritage in the face of outside pressures.

These personal accounts illuminate the history of Durham through the voices of the people who experienced it. Their stories offer insights into the relationships, traditions, and shared experiences that give neighborhoods their character—and help ensure that this history is preserved for future generations.

The interviews are publicly available, with video, audio, and transcripts being preserved for future generations. During the November 6 celebration, attendees can watch a rotating selection of interview clips on a large screen and take home information about the project and how to access the full collection.

The project was funded by Duke University’s Doing Good Employee Giving Program. The Museum of Durham History served as its fiscal and technical partner.

A Shared Celebration of Durham’s Stories

Although dance and oral history may seem like different forms of expression, both offer ways to connect with a community’s identity and shared experience. One brings stories to life through movement and performance; the other preserves the voices and memories of people whose experiences have shaped the city.

Together, the November 6 events reflect the many ways Durham’s history and culture continue to be expressed, remembered, and shared. From the theaters and performance spaces that entertained generations to the neighborhoods built and sustained by their residents, Durham’s cultural heritage is not simply a story of the past. It remains a living part of the community.

The Museum of Durham History welcomes residents, visitors, festivalgoers, and anyone interested in Durham’s stories to join us for this special evening.

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Event Details

KT COLLECTIVE Dance Company – Durham FRINGE Festival

• Friday, November 6, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. (encore performance)
• Outdoor gazebo at the Museum of Durham History
• 500 W. Main St., Durham

Durham Elder Storyteller Project Celebration

• Friday, November 6, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Museum of Durham History
• 500 W. Main St., Durham
• Food, refreshments, and a selection of oral history video clips

Both events hosted at the Museum of Durham History are free and open to the public. We hope you’ll join us!