In 1968, Harlem native and elite ballet dancer Arthur Mitchell became the change he hoped to see. Compelled to show the world that Black dancers could also excel at classical ballet, Mitchell founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), arguably the world’s foremost ballet company featuring Black dancers. DTH is known for training and/or showcasing some of the world’s most elite dancers such as Sheila Rohan, Ingrid Silva, Alicia Graf Mack, and the late Michaela DePrince. DTH is also highly regarded for its incredible ballet productions such as “Creole Giselle”and “Firebird,” which make a long-awaited return to their repertoire this season. DTH will perform at City Center April 16-19.
On February 8, DTH will offer another edition of its Sunday Matinees featuring, as its website states, “artists in presentations that showcase the DTH Company, the DTH School, and guest artists from multiple artistic disciplines.” The company’s Director of Community Engagement and Art Education, Gwendolyn Kingsberry recently spoke with Amsterdam News about the storied institution. Kingsberry explained she was part of the DTH family, as it were, even before she began working there. “My daughter used to dance there years ago, and just that sense of family and sense of community that I felt when I was a parent, I felt when I walked in the door as an employee.”
Kingsberry stresses that DTH remains a special place for Harlemites and other New Yorkers. “Dance Theatre of Harlem is special because there is so much history and culture that has come through these doors, that has come through the organization period. And it is a culture that transcends throughout the entire diaspora. It’s not just one. There’s a little bit of everything.”
Like all arts organizations, support from the public is critical. Kingsberry shares why DTH in particular deserves support. “Because it’s ours and it showcases our excellence. It’s ballet for all and to the highest level. And we kind of transcend. One of the things I love is that now we have these open classes where no matter what your level of dance is, you can come through these doors and learn something and be a part of preserving the culture.”
Speaking of literally being a part of preserving the culture, Kingsberry encourages New Yorkers and Harlem residents, especially, to take advantage of their slate of classes open to the public. In addition to ballet, DTH offers hip hop, jazz-based cardio dance, Cuban Modern, hip hop, and Afro Pop.
Kingsberry stresses that they want people to “Come as they are. You don’t have to be that perfect ballet dancer to come through these doors. Our open classes are just that. We want you, if you have a love for dance, to come on in and take an open class.”
Kingsberry also feels it’s important for people to remember what movement, especially dance, can unlock in their lives. “Joy of dance is key,” she states. “Moving with joy, and being able to appreciate being able to move with joy, I think, is really important. We have this campaign called Ignite the Dancer Within and that’s really what that’s about, to just find the joy and express it.”
Kingsberry hopes the public will continue to enjoy and enrich themselves, and support DTH. There are a number of ways to do so. “One of the things that I think we do best is we connect, especially with our Sunday matinees with local talent to showcase what is right here in our neighborhoods, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. You can come in and enjoy a great show and then share [with others] about your experiences.”
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Editor’s Note: In a previous version of this story, Dance Theatre of Harlem was misspelled.
The DTH company is an awesome community arts organization. The community classes are a lot of fun. You don’t feel intimidated. The instructors are fun. Check out one of their open class days.