Dance Theatre of Harlem

Dancing Through Barriers® residencies provide schools and other service organizations with quality arts education programs. Designed in collaboration with our partners, each residency utilizes ballet and current educational practices to provide students with instruction and educational activities that are developmentally appropriate and responsive to their needs. Dancing Through Barriers® residencies can be designed with any combination of the services listed below and may last for any length of time.

Residency Services

Dancing Through Barriers® Residencies

Dancing Through Barriers® residencies can be designed with any combination of the described activities and may run the course of a few weeks or the entire school year. The following are examples of a 15-week residency and a 30-week residency.

15-Week Residency
1 Professional Development Workshop for Teachers (4 hours)
1 Video Assembly
Movement Classes (2 classes/day x 1 day/week x 15 weeks = 30 classes)
Accompanist
1 Culminating Lecture Demonstration (with the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble)

30-Week Residency
1 Professional Development Workshop for Teachers (4 hours)
1 Video Assembly
Movement Classes (2 classes/day x 1 day/week x 30 weeks = 60 classes)
Accompanist
1 Culminating Lecture Demonstration (with the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble)

These are suggested residencies, and may be altered to fit your schedule and budget.

Movement classes may also involve:
• Viewing videos of DTH Company Rep
• Dance & creative writing (language arts)
• Movement to demonstrate fractions/spatial elements/telling time/other age appropriate concepts
• Preparation of students to perform at an assembly
• History of Dance
• History of DTH

Other residency activity options
• Field trips for DTH tour (groups under 50)
• Field trips to watch Company Dress Rehearsal
• Ensemble Dancer as mentor for particular class

Description of services

Lecture Demonstration
This is an informal demonstration on the art of classical ballet. A virtual performance right in the school. It begins with a narrator leading the students through the process of making a dancer. Specific exercises are demonstrated and the reasons for them explained. The dancers begin at the barre and end with partnering techniques and lifts. Similarities between ballet dancers and professional athletes are discussed. Narration is interspersed with excerpts performed by the dancers from eclectic repertoire. Numerous opportunities for teachers to develop lessons in many subject areas are identified. Audience interaction is encouraged when appropriate. Each “performance” is geared specifically towards the particular age group present.

Video Assembly
A combination of live action and videotaped performance footage, this assembly features a moderator and tow dancers. It provides an insider’s view of DTH: its origins, the career path of people in the ensemble, a dancer’s daily schedule, and the organization’s mission. A discussion of the ballet history, terminology and a demonstration of technique are accompanied with videotaped performance segments. Each assembly concludes with a question and answer session.

Class Discussions
Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble and staff members lead a classroom discussion about the history and creation of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the triumphs and challenges the organization has experienced and the role that DTH plays in today’s cultural scene. Discussion is accompanied by video footage of DTH performances. Particularly appropriate for social studies classes in grades K-12.

Master Class
Master classes are conducted for students with previous background in dance and may vary in level of training from beginning to advance. These classes may be held in conjunction with a Lecture Demonstration or Video Assembly, or offered as a separate activity. The master class, taught by a DTH Master Teacher emphasizes classical technique as taught a DTH, focus and discipline.

Movement Class
This is a class designed primarily for students who have little or no previous exposure to dance. The exercise in this activity focus on coordination, agility, memory, counting and musicality. Students are led through a series of stretching and strengthening exercise. Individual creativity is fostered, yet the students are also encouraged to be supportive of one another and to work as a team. Throughout the class, listening and comprehension skills are stressed. A series of movement classes may culminate with a piece set on the students to perform in an assembly.

Family Workshop
This class is designed primarily for students and their parent/guardian who have little or no previous exposure to dance. Participants are led through a series of stretching and strengthening exercise; utilizing simplified technique of ballet, modern, jazz and ethnic dance. Opportunities for parent/guardian and child to share learning experience.

Athletic Workshop
This workshop demonstrates the correlation between strength/coordination training for dancers and for athletes. Participants are led through a warm-up, a “center barre” of ballet-based exercises and various jumps. Combinations of movement across the floor are introduced. Emphasis is on the stretching and strengthening of the body and improving athletic performance. The effectiveness of these exercises to specific sports such as football, basketball, and rock climbing is highlighted.
Workshop for Dance Teachers
Workshop for classroom teachers is led by DTH Master Teacher. Instruction is given in theory and technique as practiced at the Dance Theatre of Harlem School. DTH Ensemble members will also be present to demonstrate.

Professional Development Workshop
Led by a DTH Master Teacher, various arts-in-education/physical education concepts are explored in an interactive format. Specific emphasis is placed on integrating physical education and /or dance and related arts across the curriculum. Sample lesson plans are developed and shared.
Dance Theatre of Harlem Site Visit Tour
Dance Theatre of Harlem offers a guided tour of the building that includes narration on history, how DTH operates not only as a professional dance company and school, but also as a business, question and answer session, viewing a short video and opportunity to watch either the Ensemble in class or rehearsal.

Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble Performances
Students and parents are encouraged to see live performance, informal performances are offered through the Dance Theatre of Harlem Open House, which fall on the second Sunday of each month, November thru May. These performances may include the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble and/or other invited artists.

Career Day Presentations
DTH Staff and dancers come to your school or institution to give a presentation on careers in dance and the arts. This presentation uses the personal stories of DTH artists and staff as an entry point for engaging the students in an examination of arts careers. The program usually lasts about an hour and can be tailored to the specific needs of your school or organization.