Dance Theater of Harlem II

The Dance Theater of Harlem was inspired by a dream. The dream of Martin Luther King. Shortly after Dr King’s tragic death, Arthur Mitchell and Karl Shook formed a company in a church basement. Their aim? To change lives – in particular the lives of children born and raised in New York’s Harlem. Their tool? Dance. Now in operation for nearly half a century, the multiethnic company is made up of fourteen extraordinary, extremely versatile dancers. Boasting a repertoire spanning classical and contemporary pieces, it never loses sight of its Afro-American heritage and never ceases to breath fresh air into the classical ballet language.

The company will perform as part of the Days of Dance festival twice. Each of the two rich programmes reveals the company’s different facet. Despite their different styles, they are equally inspiring and simply show how universal the language of dance is.

PROGRAMME TWO

VESSELS
Choreography: Darrell Grand Moultrie
Music: Ezio Bosso
Costumes: George Hudačko
Lighting: Clifton Taylor 

CHACONNE
Choreography: José Limón
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Staging: Gary Masters 

DANCING ON THE FRONT PORCH OF HEAVEN
Choreography: Ulysses Dove
Music: Arvo Pärt
Costumes: Jorge Gallardo
Lighting: Björn Nilsson 

RETURN
Choreography: Robert Garland
Music: Aretha Franklin, James Brown
Costumes: Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Roma Flowers