Featured photo: DTH Company in Blake Works IV – The Barre Project- photo by Theik Smith
Dance Theatre of Harlem will return to the Detroit Opera House on Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22. This is the kickoff to Detroit Opera’s 2023-2024 Dance season.
A leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, Dance Theatre of Harlem, now in its sixth decade, syncs classical ballet with soundtracks of cultural movements and communities in which its history is rooted. Continuing to “raise the barre,” Robert Garland takes the reins from Artistic Director Emerita Virginia Johnson, whose legacy includes a four-decade tenure with the Company.
Dance Theatre of Harlem’s relationship with Detroit dates back five decades. The Company plans a week-long series of master classes, appearances and a Summer Intensive audition. Some activities include:
“Dancing in the Streets”, Saturday, October 14, Motown Museum, 2648 Berry Gordy Jr. Boulevard, Detroit, 12:00 p.m. (open to the public): The Company’s 2022 visit to the Motown Museum was closed to the public (due to the Museum’s renovation). This fun, hour-long activity for Detroiters will include a choreographic competition and culminates in an old-school “Soul Train” line.
“The Tone Matters”, Sunday, October 15, Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit, 4:00 p.m. (open to the public): An educational event open to all area dancers, teachers and studio leaders about the legacy of Dance Theatre of Harlem’s history of matching skin-tone tights and shoes.
DPSCD Cultural Passport program, Friday, October 20, Detroit Opera House, 11:00 a.m.: A mini-performance by the Company will be presented to approximately 2,000 DPSCD school students.
The Saturday October 21 performance has been themed “Divine Nine Night,” during which area sororities and fraternities will be acknowledged. Attendees are encouraged to wear their colors with pride and enjoy a stunning evening of art and culture.
Tickets for Dance Theatre of Harlem’s performances in Detroit October 21-22 are available online at www.detroitopera.org
