April 18: Divine Nine & HBCU Night
Join us on Saturday, April 18th, 7:30pm at New York City Center for our annual Divine Nine & HBCU Night in partnership with the National Pan-Hellenic Council of New York City, Inc. and The NY Chapter of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College (NY-NAASC). This evening provides a unique opportunity for Dance Theatre of Harlem, members of the Divine Nine, along with HBCU alumni, faculty, and students to celebrate our collective history and culture, and to recognize the outstanding service and dedication of these organizations and institutions to the communities they serve.
All are welcome regardless of affiliation.
The program kicks off with Higher Ground—named one the best performances of 2022 by The New York Times. Higher Ground explores political parallels between the 1970s and today through the music of Motown icon Stevie Wonder.
Next, The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude with choreography by William Forsythe. Set to the soaring final movement of Franz Schubert’s “Symphony No. 9,” this electrifying work pays homage to Petipa and Balanchine with its dazzling partnering and lightning-fast allegro.
The program continues with Nyman String Quartet No. 2, set to Michael Nyman’s “String Quartet No.2”, choreographed by DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland. Complex and witty, this sophisticated work shows off the unique capacity of the company’s artists to code switch with abandon.
Closing out the evening will be the DTH signature classic Firebird, where a Russian folk tale about the triumph of love over evil is reimagined in a luscious Caribbean setting. John Taras’ choreography, paired with Stravinsky’s iconic score, comes to life through the inimitable multihyphenated Geoffrey Holder’s vibrant sets and costumes.
Doors open at 6:30pm with a Dance Party. The performance begins at 7:30pm and the dance party continues after the show!
Please feel free to wear paraphernalia or colors representing your organization/institution. We look forward to seeing you!
For individual tickets:
Groups of 10 or more save. Contact info@nycitycenter.org.
Dance Theatre of Harlem D9/HBCU Affiliations:
Sharon Duncan
Howard University alumna
Director of Individual Giving, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Anna M. Glass
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Executive Director, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Virginia Johnson
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Artistic Director Emerita, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Fatima Jones
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Chief Marketing /Officer, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Gwendolyn Kingsberry
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Director of Community Outreach, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Ackneil M. Muldrow, III
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Board Chair, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Erika Munro Kennerly
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc./Hampton University alumna
Board member, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Keyana K. Patterson
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Marketing Manager, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Stanley Lee Ralph, III
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc./ North Carolina A&T alumnus
Production Stage Manager, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Jeanine A. Reynolds
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc./ North Carolina Central University alumna
Chief Development Officer, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Kira Robinson
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Company Artist, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Vernon Ross
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Former Wardrobe Supervisor and Production Manager, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Leslie Wims Morris
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Board Vice Chair, Dance Theatre of Harlem