Dancing Through Barriers® (DTB)
Dancing Through Barriers® is our comprehensive arts education program designed to ignite the minds of young people through the power of dance. As a “traveling dance classroom,” DTB offers a wide range of experiences—including in-class study, site tours, and after-school programs that promote creative literacy, critical thinking, social imagination, and personal reflection.
The program brings standards-based, student-centered learning to K-12 students, helping them discover inner strength and character. Residencies are customized for each school, available October through June with a maximum of 35 students per class.
At its core, Dancing Through Barriers® reflects the vision of founder Arthur Mitchell and his enduring commitment to “Ballet for ALL!
Dance Theatre of Harlem is a registered vendor of the Department of Education.
Description of Curricula
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.
- Residency: Dance Making (Grades K-12)
Encouraging self-expression and collaboration, Dance Making fosters both individual growth and a deeper appreciation for the arts. This interdisciplinary approach utilizes engaging activities such as creating autobiographies and self-portraits, to deepens their understanding of dance as a powerful form of communication, but also strengthens essential life skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving.
- Residency: Positive Community (Grades K-12)
Positive Community enables students to reflect upon community relationships and gain new insights by using dance to illustrate natural environments. Its purpose is to help students understand their surroundings and identify issues that could be hindering achievement by learning through group exploration, dialogue and reflecting on their own personal choices to understand what contributes to the formation of a healthy community.
- Residency: Ballet Basics (Grades 3-12) Ballet Basics emphasizes a systematic approach to using skilled movement as a tool for self-expression and the development of physical and mental discipline. Students learn fundamental ballet techniques while engaging in collaborative learning through reciprocal peer review. As they work in teams to analyze movement, offer constructive critiques, and communicate respectfully, they build both technical skill and social-emotional intelligence.
- Diaspora (Grades 3-12) Diaspora helps students explore major events in history by immersing them in the lives of pioneers, cultural movements, and transformative eras that sparked innovation and change. Through dance, choreography, music, poetry, and “salon” discussion groups, students engage with significant periods such as the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Civil Rights Movement. By connecting historical understanding with artistic expression, the program deepens cultural awareness and inspires students to see themselves as part of an ongoing legacy of resilience and creativity.
Other Services
Site Visits (Grades 2-12)
Dance Theatre of Harlem offers students a unique opportunity to explore the rich legacy of its world-renowned dance company and school through guided tours of its iconic Harlem headquarters. These visits can be customized to include a variety of engaging experiences, such as observing rehearsals of the professional company, participating in a master class, and learning about the organization’s groundbreaking history. This immersive experience deepens students’ appreciation for the arts while connecting them to a vibrant cultural institution rooted in excellence and inclusion.
For additional information to bring a DTB program to your school, contact:
Community Programs Department
Dance Theatre of Harlem | Everett Center for the Performing Arts
466 West 152nd Street, New York, NY 10031-1814
DTBinfo@dancetheatreofharlem.org
DOE Vendor #DAN023000