Cincinnati Arts Association Presents Dance Theatre Of Harlem

The Cincinnati Arts Association is proud to present New York City's acclaimed Dance Theatre of Harlem for two performances only on Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 at 8:00 PM at the Aronoff Center's Procter & Gamble Hall. The show is part of Cincinnati Arts Association's 2017-18 Presenting Season.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Group discount tickets for ten or more are available by calling (513) 977-4157.

Now a singular presence in the ballet world, the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) presents a powerful vision for ballet in the 21st century. The sixteen-member, multi-ethnic company performs a forward-thinking repertoire that includes treasured classics, neoclassical works by George Balanchine and resident choreographer Robert Garland, as well as innovative contemporary works that use the language of ballet to celebrate African American culture. Through performances, community engagement, and arts education, the company carries forward Dance Theatre of Harlem's message of empowerment through the arts for all.

Forty-nine years ago, Arthur Mitchell and his mentor Karel Shook founded DTH as a beacon of hope for the youth in the underprivileged neighborhood where Mitchell grew up. An acclaimed principal dancer with George Balanchine's New York City Ballet, Mitchell took the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a call to action. Drawing on his expertise and his prominence as the first African American to be a permanent member of a major U.S. ballet company, Mitchell's ground-breaking idea was to transform the lives of young people in Harlem by providing training in classical ballet. In a few short years, his response to tragedy became a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim.

Now, the organization's three-part mission is served through the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company, which tours nationally and internationally with an eclectic ballet repertoire; the Dance Theatre of Harlem School, which trains more than five-hundred students per year in ballet and other dance disciplines during winter and summer sessions; and Dancing Through Barriers, an arts education and community engagement program that uses the arts to inspire and transform lives. Through these activities, DTH has reached millions and is dedicated to reaching new audiences with a powerful message of self-reliance, artistic relevance, and individual responsibility, all hallmarks of an organization that plays a key role in the national cultural dialogue.

As Dance Theatre of Harlem approaches its 50th anniversary, it remains committed to the excellence that has sustained the company over the years.

For more information, visit www.dancetheatreofharlem.org.

Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS

Season Sponsors: AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), FIFTH THIRD BANK (Lifetime Endowment Partner), FURNITURE FAIR, LOCAL12 WKRC, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM PRESENTING SPONSORS: Macy's, TriHealth, and Ultimate Air Shuttle

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS: 21C Museum Hotel, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Heidelberg Distributing, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Pepsi, Prosource, Skyline Chili, Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc.

Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of the Tri-state's finest performing arts venues - the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Music Hall - and is dedicated to supporting performing and visual arts. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves upwards of 600,000 people in its venues; features the work of talented local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center); and supports the work of more than one dozen resident companies. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education programs in 1995, CAA has reached more than 1.6 million students. For more information, visit www.CincinnatiArts.org.