Today we’d like to introduce you to Dionna Harding.
Hi Dionna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Black Pearl Entertainment, Incorporated was founded by my good friend and fellow Montbello High School graduate, **Ray Jamison**. Ray had a vision of creating opportunities for local talent and helping talented artists connect with opportunities that could lead to **major entertainment deals and careers**.
Ray invited me and my husband to join him as partners. Our journey with Black Pearl began by hosting community events, including step and dance team events that brought young people and families together through entertainment and positive activities.
Eventually, Ray and his family relocated to Detroit, Michigan. Before leaving Denver, Ray asked my husband and me to take over the organization. My husband, who is a high school basketball coach, decided to dedicate his time and energy to coaching his team. Ray then asked me to take total control of Black Pearl Entertainment.
My answer was **yes**.
While Ray continued building Black Pearl in Detroit, I took on the responsibility of continuing the organization here in Denver. As I became more involved, I recognized a growing need within our community—not only for entertainment opportunities, but also for **community connection, positive youth development, creative expression, and opportunities for people to discover and develop their talents**.
I decided to take Black Pearl in that direction while remaining true to Ray’s original vision.
Today, Black Pearl Entertainment continues to **book artists and provide professional entertainment** for concerts, venues, weddings, community events, special events, and other celebrations. We also continue to support **artist development**, providing guidance and opportunities for upcoming models, musicians, performers, designers, and other creatives.
Over the years, Black Pearl has grown into an organization that combines **entertainment, talent development, and community engagement**. We create opportunities for people to showcase their talents while encouraging confidence, leadership, teamwork, positive decision-making, and community involvement.
Years later, Ray passed away. Before his passing, I made a promise to him that I would continue to move Black Pearl Entertainment forward, take it to another level, make sure the organization ran smoothly, and continue to grow the vision we started together.
I carry that promise with me today.
**Black Pearl Entertainment, Inc. is not just a business—it is a legacy.** Ray’s original vision was to help local talent reach greater opportunities. My vision has expanded that mission to also strengthen the community through entertainment, arts, mentorship, talent development, and positive opportunities.
We continue to honor Ray by doing both.
**His vision started Black Pearl. My commitment is to keep the vision alive, grow it, and use it to make a lasting difference in our community.**
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running an entertainment and community-based organization has not always been a smooth road. Sometimes people do not immediately understand the vision or see what you are trying to build. Like any organization, Black Pearl Entertainment has faced challenges, disappointments, and difficult seasons.
One of our greatest challenges came during **COVID-19**. The entertainment industry came to a standstill, and our ability to connect with people was greatly affected. For an organization like Black Pearl Entertainment, **relationships and community connections are everything**. Successful events require people to come together, support one another, and be present.
When events stopped, we lost that important connection with our audience and the community. There were no large gatherings, fewer opportunities to showcase artists, and fewer opportunities for people to come together and experience live entertainment. It created what I describe as a **drought**—not simply financially, but a drought in the connections, relationships, and community participation that are essential to making events successful.
It took time to rebuild those connections after COVID. We had to reconnect with our community, rebuild relationships, regain people’s confidence in attending events, and remind people of the importance of supporting local artists, businesses, and organizations.
Slowly, we began to rebuild.
That experience taught me just how important community is to everything we do. **An event is more than a stage, a performer, or a venue. It is the people who come together to support it.** Without an audience and community participation, it is difficult for artists to be seen, for events to succeed, and for opportunities to grow.
That is why community engagement has become such an important part of Black Pearl Entertainment’s mission. We want to create events and opportunities that give people a reason to come together, support local talent, celebrate one another, and strengthen the community.
We are still rebuilding, still growing, and still moving forward—but we never stopped believing in the vision.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Black Pearl Entertainment, Incorporated is an entertainment and community-focused organization that creates opportunities for artists, performers, models, designers, youth, young adults, and other creatives to showcase and develop their talents.
We specialize in **artist development, entertainment booking, event production, community events, concerts, fashion shows, talent showcases, and special events**. We book artists and provide entertainment for venues, weddings, concerts, community celebrations, and other events. We also work with upcoming models, artists, designers, and performers by helping them develop their skills, gain experience, build confidence, and create opportunities to be seen.
Black Pearl was originally founded by my friend and fellow Montbello High School graduate, Ray Jamison, with a vision of helping local talent reach greater opportunities and major entertainment deals. When Ray moved to Detroit, he entrusted me with continuing the organization in Denver. Over time, I recognized an additional need in our community and expanded Black Pearl’s work to include community involvement, youth development, positive self-esteem, leadership, and opportunities for people to connect through the arts and entertainment.
We are known for **bringing people together**. Whether it is through a concert, fashion show, community resource event, talent showcase, or another special event, we believe entertainment can be a powerful way to build relationships and strengthen communities.
One of the things I am most proud of is that **Black Pearl Entertainment has continued to survive, evolve, and serve the community through difficult times**, including the challenges created by COVID-19. Rebuilding after COVID took time because successful events depend on relationships, community participation, and people showing up to support one another. We had to reconnect with our audience and rebuild those relationships, and we continue to grow from that experience.
I am also proud that Black Pearl provides opportunities for people who may not always have access to traditional entertainment or industry connections. We believe talent exists everywhere, and sometimes people simply need someone to recognize their potential, give them an opportunity, and help them take that first step.
### What Sets Us Apart
What sets Black Pearl Entertainment apart is that **we are about more than entertainment**. We are about people.
We combine entertainment, talent development, and community involvement to create opportunities where people can **discover their talents, build confidence, develop leadership skills, make connections, and become more involved in their communities**.
We are willing to work with emerging talent and people who may not fit the traditional image of the entertainment industry. We believe in giving people opportunities to be seen, heard, supported, and celebrated.
Most importantly, Black Pearl Entertainment is built on **relationships, community, and legacy**. I continue to carry Ray Jamison’s original vision with me while building upon it and creating something that serves an even greater purpose.
**I am most proud that we kept going. We kept the vision alive, we continued to create opportunities, and we continue to bring people together.**
What are your plans for the future?
Our plans for the future are to continue creating opportunities for **models, artists, designers, performers, and other talented individuals who may have never believed they would have the opportunity to perform on a stage or be seen in the entertainment industry**.
There are so many talented people who have been overlooked or made to feel that they do not fit the traditional image of what the entertainment industry considers beautiful, marketable, or worthy of being showcased. Whether it is because of their height, weight, appearance, age, or simply because they do not fit the industry’s traditional standards, we believe **talent should never be limited by how someone looks**.
Black Pearl Entertainment will continue to provide a platform where people can step outside of those limitations, showcase their talents, build confidence, and experience what it feels like to be seen and celebrated.
Our focus will always be on **providing opportunities and creating venues where the “little guy” gets the opportunity they deserve**. We want to open doors for people who may not have industry connections, financial resources, or someone willing to take a chance on them.
We want to continue developing talent, creating stages, producing events, building partnerships, and connecting people with opportunities that can help them move forward.
Our goal is simple: **Give talented people a chance. Give them a stage. Give them an opportunity to be seen.**
Because sometimes, all someone needs is **one person to believe in them and one opportunity to show the world what they can do.**
That is the future of Black Pearl Entertainment—and that will always be a part of our mission.
Pricing:
- It depends what is needed for each event.
Contact Info:
- Website: black-pearl-entertainment-inc.business,site
- Instagram: @bpedenver
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/share/19aHVHHzJ6/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dionna-harding-8042b711/
- Twitter: @Bpedenver
Image Credits
image credits Rha’Jaun Burt-Harding, Za’Chira Lee-Harding, Zachary Jackson, Zora Jackson, Tuniesha Harris, Angela Moran, Tamika Barnes, Lamont Shanan and Tony Exum Jr
