Dance Theatre Of Harlem Tickets

The 1960s were a time when the African-American community found it hard to take center stage in the basic aspects of life, let alone one for dancing. Times were hard enough for them to make a living doing mainstream jobs and be treated with respect in their current roles, let alone put on the ones for dancing. However, alongside the African-Americans who were advancing the Civil Rights Movement, Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook started asserting their own rights to set up the Dance Theater of Harlem. Mitchell was a protégé of the legendary George Balanchine and rose through the ranks of the New York City Ballet to become the Principal Dancer, performing as Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in a role that had been especially choreographed for him by Balanchine.

Whilst in the NYCB, Arthur had already become acutely aware of the lack of a platform for aspiring dancers within the local African-American community and, with the snowballing of the Civil Rights Movement, saw the potential. The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the final impetus for him to start the Dance Theater out of a garage in Harlem. This was an artistic endeavor that was not intended to be exclusive and marginalize the average citizen, especially those residing in the projects, and so performances were priced specifically for those living within a tight budget. Starting with the "Open House Series" and the "Arts Exposure" program at the onset of the 1970s, the Dance Theater of Harlem soon became an icon of quality, affordable entertainment.

The Dance Theater of Harlem delivered its debut performance at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 1971 and by the end of the decade, had already had a successful international tour and three Broadway seasons. The theater also secured a TV special as part of the critically acclaimed series "Great Performances – Dance in America" and entered the 1980s with a 46-ballet strong repertoire. The dance company achieved many milestones during the 1980s, such as becoming the first American dance entity to perform in Russia as part of a cultural exchange program. In 1992, the Dance Theater of Harlem made history again when it undertook a tour of South Africa titled "Dancing Through Barriers," and then celebrated its 30th anniversary in 1999 with a vibrant performance of the ballet Firebird, especially for the students of New York City's public school system.

The Dance Theater of Harlem has been bestowed with a number of accolades over the decades, such as an induction into the National Museum of Dance and the Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs. Throughout the 2000s, the company has undertaken several widely acclaimed tours across the UK and the US. After going on hiatus in 2004, the Dance Theater's professional company is set to resume their activities in a new chapter of its life under Virginia Johnson, the new Artistic Director. So book some Dance Theater of Harlem tickets to experience the movement of bodies swaying to a resplendent rhythm, a testament to the enduring power of dance to overcome divides.