The DC Cowboys Dance Company, an all-male, gay dance company, performed around the world from 1994 to 2012. They provided jazz-style, dance entertainment spanning several musical genres (contemporary, country, club dance party, pop, to classic Broadway.) Kevin Platte, founder and Artistic Director, started the dance company in August 1994 after seeing a similar troupe in California. In 1996, Platte added a charitable element with a mission to provide free entertainment to any HIV/AIDS charitable organization. Over the years, the company raised funds for HIV/AIDS organizations by sharing the profits of their calendar sales.[1]
Performance highlights included America's Got Talent television show, season 3, NBC, semifinalists (2008);[3] the Closing Ceremonies of the Gay Games VII at Wrigley Field in Chicago (2006); The Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary (2009–2012); Dales'
Great Getaway television show, ITV London, England (2012); The Podge and Rodge television show,
RTE, Dublin, Ireland (2010).[1] They were an Arts grant recipient from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts (1996).[4]
At the time of their closing, they had had 82 dancers, or "cowboys", and raised thousands of dollars with 455 performances.[5] Their last performance was at the DC Pride Parade in 2012. The National Museum of American History's Archives Center acquired their records in 2013.[1]
