ABOUT THE DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM

Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, encompassing a "Classically American® dance company, a leading arts education center and Dancing Through Barriers®, a national and international education and community outreach program. Each component of Dance Theatre of Harlem carries a solid commitment towards enriching the lives of young people and adults around the world through the arts.


Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem was considered “one of ballet’s most exciting undertakings” (The New York Times, 1971). Shortly after the assassination of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mitchell was inspired to start a school that would offer children — especially those in Harlem, the community in which he was born — the opportunity to learn about dance and the allied arts. Now in its fourth decade, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multi-cultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts.


Dance Theatre of Harlem has achieved unprecedented success, bringing innovative and bold new forms of artistic expression to audiences in New York City, across the country and around the world. In February 2004, DTH celebrated its 35th Anniversary, which began with an extensive U.S. tour, followed by a 7-week historic tour of the United Kingdom. DTH received the largest grant ever given to any foreign company by the Dance Consortium in England. Following the UK tour, the Company made its return to Greece, prior to the opening of the 2004 summer Olympics. During the summer of 2003, the DTH Company made its inaugural engagement at the Lincoln Center Festival 2003, with the premiere of “St. Louis Woman: A Blues Ballet.” In 2002, DTH won the Manchester Evening News Award in Dance as a result of its outstanding performances in England and Manchester. In 2000, Dance Theatre of Harlem performed to sold-out houses in China, giving the country its first performances of Firebird, and conducted extensive outreach and educational activities in Mandarin Chinese. That same year, the Company returned to the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, which marked DTH’s first performances on the stage in 25 years.


The Dance Theatre of Harlem School continues to offer training to more than 1,000 young people annually through professional and pre-professional dance programs. The school also offers a community program open to any child who wants to study dance. Dancing Through Barriers®, Dance Theatre of Harlem's education and community outreach program, brings arts education programs to young people in schools and community centers all over the world.


Dance Theatre of Harlem is located at 466 West 152nd Street in a newly-designated landmark district in Harlem. The building was designed by Hardy Holtzman Pfeiffer & Associates and received the New York City Department of General Services Award for Excellence. After a major gift from the Everett Foundation in October 1994, the building was officially re-opened and dedicated as The Everett Center for the Performing Arts. The historic site houses dance studios used by both the Company and the School.