2022 Founders’ Week Celebration | February 7 – 13
Fifty-three years ago Arthur Mitchell and master teacher Karel Shook co-founded Dance Theatre of Harlem to challenge perceptions and create new opportunities. We enjoyed presenting a week of events to celebrate our founders and are committed to uphold the values they established – access, opportunity and excellence! Thank you for joining us for the celebration and we are grateful for your continued support of Dance Theatre of Harlem.
In case you missed any of our YouTube events, the videos will remain available on our YouTube channel and can also be found here until the end of the month.
Schedule of FREE Events
(All activities are Eastern Standard Time)
Monday, February 7
Thank you for joining us for Ballet Barre & Basics Open Class with Company Artist Sanford Placide.
Wednesday, February 9
ICYMI – Hitsville and Harlem in Conversation
On January 22nd, DTH’s Resident Choreographer Robert Garland’s new ballet Higher Ground featuring the music of Stevie Wonder, premiered at the Detroit Opera House. In advance of the engagement, The Michigan Opera Theatre streamed a conversation on Facebook with Chairwoman and CEO of Motown Museum, Robin Terry and Mr. Garland about the history of each institution and the upcoming world premiere of the ballet.
Friday, February 11
Arthur Mitchell’s Harlem Walking Tour
Born and raised in Harlem, Arthur Mitchell sought to transform his community with the creation of Dance Theatre of Harlem and, 53 years later, the institution he founded continues to be a cultural treasure for the community, as well as a beacon for Harlem to the world.
Guided by Sharon Duncan, DTH’s Director of Individual Giving, Arthur Mitchell’s Harlem is a walking tour of several locations in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem that were a part of Mr. Mitchell’s life. The tour was filmed pre-pandemic, in September 2019 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Mr. Mitchell’s passing.
Saturday, February 12
Thank you for joining us for Ballet for Everyone Open Class with former DTH Principal Dancer Charmaine Hunter.
Charmaine Hunter’s long and illustrious career in ballet began with her training at the Hartford Ballet School. Still in high school, she moved to New York to work with Arthur Mitchell at Dance Theatre of Harlem. During the 25 years she was a member of the company she electrified audiences with her performances in the title roles of John Taras’ The Firebird and Michael Smuin’s Medea. While still performing Ms. Hunter also served as Ballet Mistress. Read Ms. Hunter’s full bio here.
Sunday, February 13
Founders’ Week Sunday Matinée
Thank you for joining us for a special Founders’ Week Sunday Matinée featuring LIVE excerpts from Robert Garland‘s Brahms Variations, Firebird, choreographed by John Taras and Louis Johnson‘s Forces of Rhythm, hosted and produced by Company Artist Christopher Charles McDaniel.
Yumiko is a sponsor of DTH’s Dancing Through Barriers® Arts Education and Community Outreach activities
Founders’ Week Special Offer
In celebration of Founders’ Week, we are happy to share a special ticket offer for our upcoming performances at the City Center Dance Festival, April 5, 8-10.
Use Code DTH53 and get Center Orchestra seats for just $75 (originally priced at $125). This offer applies to April 8-10 performances only and will expire on February 28th.
Company Artists Ingrid Silva, Daphne Lee and Alexandra Hutchinson. Photo by Rachel Neville.