Arthur Mitchell News

Dance Theatre of Harlem celebrates 50 years of dance at Jacob's Pillow and commemorates the legacy of their late co-founder Arthur Mitchell in the Ted Shawn Theatre, July 10-14. Founding member and principal dancer Virginia Johnson now leads the multi-ethnic ballet company known for their innovative repertoire, acclaimed as "classy, earnest, and potent" (LA Times). Returning to the Pillow for the first time in five years, Dance Theatre of Harlem performs a program showcasing the dancers' diverse technical expertise in Darrell Grand Moultrie's Harlem on My Mind, Christopher Wheeldon's This Bitter Earth, George Balanchine's Valse Fantaisie, and premiering at the Pillow, an expanded version of Jacob's Pillow Dance Award winner Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's Balamouk.

The Miami City Ballet began its Friday Ballet across America evening with George Balanchine's Walpurgisnacht Ballet (1980), 'definitely the world according to Balanchine,' wrote Suzanne Farrell in her autobiography. The Miami ensemble got off to a ragged start, literally not up to speed, but once Principal Katia Carranza took the stage, in the role originated by Farrell, the ladies got with the program. Carranza combined necessary speed and technique with glorious attention to musical detail; every beat has been choreographed, and Carranza never missed one even if all she had to move was just a portion of an arm. Her cavalier, Rainer Krenstetter, added to his substantial elevation significant skill in landing--not only softly, but often exceptionally still. And by the time the Gounod score reached its feverish finish, the Corps de Ballet were at last working with the precision required for the final wedge formation; Balanchine's final image requires absolute solidity from the Corps as backdrop so that the sensational to the shoulder lift of Carranza by Krenstetter contains the power it's meant to.

The School Of American Ballet hosted their Alumni Cocktail Reception at Lincoln Center on Friday, May 31th. See photos from the event below!

The School Of American Ballet is hosting their Alumni Cocktail Reception at Lincoln Center on Friday, May 31th. This event is for SAB alums who will toast the 2019 Annual Workshop Performances.

Dance Theatre of Harlem visits Popejoy Hall Wednesday, April 17 at 7:30 pm for one performance. Known for their inclusivity, the troupe cultivates and celebrates a community of dance welcoming everyone. Today, the company aims to inspire others by delivering a message of empowerment through the arts.

Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) announced today details of its 2019-20 season. The opera series features beloved classics "Don Giovanni" and "Pagliacci;" works long-absent from the MOT repertoire, "Sweeney Todd" and "Gianni Schicchi," and the highly-anticipated company premiere of "Champion," a contemporary American opera. The dance series features the return of American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem, as well as the Detroit Opera House premiere of French contemporary ballet company Malandain Ballet Biarritz. An Oct. 12 gala concert, featuring acclaimed American Tenor Michael Fabiano and principal dancers from American Ballet Theatre, will serve to launch the season.

Annenberg Center Live and NextMove Dance present the intenationally-acclaimed Dance Theatre of Harlem, Friday, March 1 (8 PM) and Saturday, March 2 (2 PM and 8 PM). The program includes the world premiere of Philadelphia native and DTH Resident Choreographer Robert Garland's Nyman String Quartet #2; Harlem on My Mind (Darrell Grand Moultrie; choreographer); and Change (Dianne McIntyre, choreographer). Tickets are available at AnnenbergCenter.org or 215.898.3900.

This Monday, February 11 marks the 50th Anniversary – to the day – when, in response to the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the lack of opportunities for people of color to train and perform classical ballet, former New York City Ballet dancer Arthur Mitchell – the first black dancer to be elevated to Principal – created, along with Karel Shook, the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Originally conceived and opened as a classical ballet school for the children in his Harlem neighborhood in 1969, Mr. Mitchell soon formed a performance company drawing from the students trained in the school. Led by his passion and determination, the DTH School and Company thrive today and we celebrate their vision and legacy for a classical ballet company for all.

For 50 years, Dance Theatre of Harlem has inspired the world with a revolutionary vision of a multiethnic ballet company. Co-founded by the great Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, the company performs ground-breaking works with power and grace. Following Arthur Mitchell's sudden passing in September, we dedicate the 50th Anniversary Season to him, his life and legacy. Check out the season preview in the video below!

Jacob's Pillow announces the full season lineup of Festival 2019 including world premieres, new commissions, international artists, anniversary celebrations, Pillow-exclusive engagements, and work developed at the Pillow Lab. Entering its 87th consecutive summer, Jacob's Pillow is home to the longest-running dance festival in the United States, a National Historic Landmark, a National Medal of Arts recipient, and has steadily expanded its reach in the field and its local community as a year-round center for dance research and development. Festival 2019 opens June 19, attracting audiences both on and off its site in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, through August 25.

On Wednesday, legendary ballet dancer and founder of National Dance Institute (NDI), Jacques d'Amboise, honored Harry Belafonte at the Fall installation of Jacques' Art Nest Series, “Dance for Change.”

Exploring the breadth and depth of artistry within American ballet, the Kennedy Center's Ballet Across America series returns May 28-June 2 for seven performances in the Opera House. This season's engagement features deeper looks at companies led by distinguished Artistic Directors Virginia Johnson and Lourdes Lopez with their respective companies, Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) and Miami City Ballet (MCB). Each company will present a full program while a one-night-only celebration on May 31 features a shared program that includes both companies in a world premiere Kennedy Center commission by renowned choreographer Pam Tanowitz.

The 50th Anniversary season of New York City's beloved Dance Theatre of Harlem will honor its legendary Founding Artistic Director Arthur Mitchell, who passed away on September 19, 2018, with a memorial service on December 3, 2018 from 5pm-7pm at Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive at West 120th Street.

Produced and Presented by Cheryl Baxter-Ratliff and Allen Walls, in association with Break The Floor and held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA, there was an overwhelming turnout within the Dance Community to this event. There were reportedly 1,400 people attending. It was a spectacular evening! The all -inclusive 8th Annual WORLD CHOREOGRAPHY AWARDS. Because this is the 8th Annual Awards Ceremony, I feel a change has evolved regarding categories up for Awards. Wider acceptance of all forms of Dance, Interpretive Movement, new forms of technology and genres not considered previously. All-Inclusive is a modern term, but it's great to see that the WCA is embracing and incorporating so many more possibilities that qualify for our consideration.

Internationally acclaimed Garth Fagan Dance has consistently impressed audiences with its powerful physicality, its undeniable artistry, and the welcoming accessibility of its live performances.

October 30, 2018 kicked of the return of Garth Fagan Dance to New York City. Their season at The Joyce Theater was full of new work and old revivals. This internationally-acclaimed company continues to use dance as a platform to honor and pay tribute to the African diaspora through the pioneering vision of Mr. Fagan and contemporary dance.

The New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) presents the return of the classically American Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) Today, October 20, at 8 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. Continuing its half-century legacy of breaking boundaries and transforming lives through ballet, the company brings a beautiful program of new works and treasured classics that highlights its rich history and honors trailblazing founder Arthur Mitchell, who passed away on Sept. 19 at the age of 84.

The New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) presents the return of the classically American Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) Saturday, October 20, at 8 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. Continuing its half-century legacy of breaking boundaries and transforming lives through ballet, the company brings a beautiful program of new works and treasured classics that highlights its rich history and honors trailblazing founder Arthur Mitchell, who passed away on Sept. 19 at the age of 84.

The night remained forever young at this year's Bessies, what with live performances, videos, tearful and grinning thank you's, hugs and cheers for the new slew of winners, and a costume sashay thrown into wild mix of celebration that took place tonight, October 8, at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.  As a prelude to the goings-on inside, impromptu dance performances, including Simone Forti's "Huddle," took place outside.  Ayodele Casel and Shernita Anderson hosted the evening.

Composer, Conductor and Educator Tania Leon has been elected as a new member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in the category of Visual Arts and Performing Arts - Criticism and Practice along with other noted and distinguished artists. (See list below). Ms. Leon will be inducted in to the Academy this weekend, October 5th in Cambridge, Massachusetts.