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The Dance Theatre of Harlem

History

"If any dance company has the talent to turn a nondancer lover into a fanatic follower of the ballet, Dance Theatre Harlem would be the one."

Arthur Mitchell was inspired by the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. to open up his own dance studio in Harlem, to provide the children of Harlem with a place to be educated in the art of dance. Initially the company's name was the School of Dance Theater of Harlem. In 1968, the company started off with only thirty kids dancing in a church basement. Soon the company grew to over 400 students, and Mitchell, using up his life savings, converted an empty garage into the company's first real studio. With the financial backing from Mrs. Alva B. Gimbel and the Ford Foundation in 1969 the Dance Theatre of Harlem was founded by Arthur Mitchell and his mentor and friend, Karel Shook. The company made it's first debut in 1971 at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The performance was a success, as Balanchine later asked Mitchell to choreograph a collaboration between the New York City Ballet and The Dance Theatre of Harlem, called Concerto for Jazz Band and Orchestra. The Dance Theatre of Harlem, in a barrier breaking move, became the first ballet company to perform in the Soviet Union. In 1988 they were invited as part of the U.S./U.S.S.R. Royal Ballet of England by the U.S. Information Agency. These historic performances paired African-American and white performers to inspire young children of all races to dance. In another attempt to encourage the acceptance of all races in ballet, The Dance Theatre of Harlem also became the first company to travel to South Africa.

"The Dance Theatre of Harlem, under Mr. Mitchell's guidance, has helped dispel prejudice on an international level but has produced an all-black ballet company of stature and integrity" (The New York Times).