UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures: Fourth annual Dance with the Dead is Oct. 24

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Poster by Robert Wilkens

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(Oct. 16, 2014) -- Texans need look no further than their own history to find a score of heroes, villains, kooks and quacks. With a tapestry of fascinating, infamous and notorious people adding their unique stories to Texas' past, Halloween will get interesting at the Institute of Texan Cultures with the fourth annual Dance with the Dead event on Oct. 24.

The Halloween celebration and costume contest featuring famous dead Texans will be 8 p.m. to midnight, Friday, Oct. 24 at the Institute of Texan Cultures. Last year, participants dressed as aviatrix Bessie Coleman and Navy Cross recipient Doris Miller, who told their stories and took home honors.

"We've had a phenomenal time putting this event together each year," said event coordinator Elizabeth Collette. "Not only do we have a night of entertainment ahead, but we get to hear some great stories from partygoers who've sought out the little nooks and crannies of Texas history to find amazing, insane and disreputable characters from our state's past."

The dance floor will be filled with the likes of the Barrow gang, Buddy Holly, Selena, Marvin Zindler and others. The Stan Wayne Band will play a variety of musical styles guaranteed to keep the floor packed with revelers.

Among the evening's activities, ghost tours of the museum are on the schedule. Home to the horse-drawn Castroville hearse and other artifacts, there are claims the Institute of Texan Cultures is haunted.

Brad Klinge and Kris Ratliff, previously on the Discovery Channel's "Ghost Lab," will offer briefings on the paranormal happenings purported to occur at the museum. Museum floor manager Willie Mendez and public safety officer Troy Simchak, who have also investigated paranormal reports, will lead tours of the museum's "hotspots."

"We can't necessarily say the ITC is haunted," said Mendez, "but we've had guests and employees mention some pretty curious things."

Different from previous years, the 2014 dance has sold tables and incorporated silent auction items into the event. There will be a cash bar and heavy hors d'oeuvres.

Returning for another year will be an art slam, with artists assembled by Robert Wilkins, who painted the image for this year's event poster. The artists will have the span of the evening to prepare pieces based on the Dance with the Dead theme. Past renderings have included a variety of Dia de los Muertos and musical motifs. In addition Wilkens, along with Raul Servin, who painted a previous dance poster, have curated the museum's Dia de los Muertos art display.

"When cultures intersect, we see an evolution of traditions," said Lupita Barrera, the museum's director of education and interpretation. "We've blended the themes of Halloween and El Dia de los Muertos into a single event. We have the opportunity to enjoy the museum, the music and the company of Texas legends long past."

Dance with the Dead tickets are $25 ($20 for museum members), and a ghost tour can be added for an additional $10 ($5 for museum members). The Institute of Texan Cultures is on the UTSA HemisFair Park Campus, 801 E. César E. Chávez Blvd., a short distance from the Alamo and the River Walk.

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To order tickets, call 210-458-2300 or visit the UTSA Giving website.

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