As they prepared for the leadership transition, Virginia Johnson and Robert Garland spoke about their deep, shared history with Dance Theatre of Harlem, their commitment to continuing the work of Arthur Mitchell, and their hopes for the future of DTH’s company and school.
When Robert Garland becomes artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem on July 1, he follows in the footsteps of founder Arthur Mitchell and retiring artistic director Virginia Johnson. He’s stepping into an important role: In addition to being a leading classical company that’s toured worldwide, DTH has had a significant impact on the field of dance and the larger American cultural landscape.
In 1984, Dance Theatre of Harlem co-founder Arthur Mitchell took one of ballet’s oldest surviving ballets, Giselle, and gave it a uniquely American twist: He moved the ballet’s setting from medieval Europe to an Afro-Creole community in 1840s Louisiana. The resulting production, Creole Giselle, featured an all-Black cast and was hailed by critics as a […]
As Dance Theatre of Harlem turns 50, Arthur Mitchell’s company has proven to be just as tenacious and resilient as he was. At times it looked like it wouldn’t make it. But with the spirit of the phoenix it rises again. Rachel Papo “I feel like we are still trying to live up to the […]
You don’t need to convince us that dance can be a powerful vehicle for change. But in case you had any doubts, Dance Theatre of Harlem‘s new promotional video is all the proof you need. As part of their 2018 New York season, DTH will be hosting a gala on April 4 to commemorate the […]
Dance Theatre of Harlem is busy preparing for the company’s Vision Gala on April 4. The works on the program, which takes place on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reflect on the legacy of Dr. King and his impact on company founder Arthur Mitchell. Among them is the […]
Recently, I went to see Black Panther. When the aircraft penetrated the invisible force-field cloaking the fictional African nation of Wakanda—a country unmolested by European colonization, one that is powerful, prosperous, thriving and the most technologically advanced society in the world—I literally gasped. Evan Narcisse, a pop culture critic who co-writes “The Rise of the […]
Since moving from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to New York City in 2008, Dance Theater of Harlem’s Ingrid Silva has used her family’s recipes to energize her throughout the rehearsal day. That means lots of white rice, black beans, chicken and steak. While some consider this too heavy for dancing, for her, the concentrated nutrition […]