BWW Reviews: DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM is Magnificent at City Center

The brief season of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) at City Center was truly one to relish. With classic pieces, premieres and signature selections, they showcased the outstanding talent of their individual dancers and the company as a perfect collective. DTH's inventive repertoire has made dance enthusiasts and many others their avid fans.

We attended the Friday night, April 10th performance of Program B, Classic DTH. Artistic Director, Virginia Johnson graciously welcomed the full house audience and dedicated the program to the beloved African American dancer, Mary Hinkson.

The program opened with Agon choreographed by George Balanchine with music by Igor Stravinsky. From the stunning opening with four male dancers performing a Pas de Quatre and eight of the female dancers performing a Double Pas de Quatre, the audience was primed for an extraordinary evening of dance magic.

The second piece on the program was Coming Together, which had its DTH Premiere this season at City Center. Choreographed by Nacho Duato with music by Frederic Rzewski, the dance used repetitive musical and textual inspiration for an energetic showcase of the grace and athleticism of the company. Duato also contributed captivating costume and set design for the piece.

The program continued with a passionate display, In the Mirror of her Mind with choreography by Christopher Huggins and Music by Henryk Gorecki. This moving dreamlike sequence explores the relationship of one woman, beautifully danced by Ashley Murphy, to her father, brother and lover performed by Da'Von Doane, Anthony Savoy and Samuel Wilson.

The program closed with a magnificent rendition of Return that had its World Premiere in 1999. The City Center audience was spellbound by the enthralling series of dances. Choreographed by Robert Garland, the piece is set to an exquisite variety of music by James Brown, Alfred Ellis, Aretha Franklin and Carolyn Franklin. Return is a model of the DTH style blending the company's finest classical training with playful technique and movement from the African American experience.

The Dance Theatre of Harlem's company includes Lindsey Croop, Frederick Davis, Da'Von Doane, Keenan English, Chyrstyn Fentroy, Janelle Figgins, Emiko Flanagan, Ashley Jackson, Francis Lawrence, Nayara Lopes, Ashley Murphy, Dylan Santos, Anthony Savoy, Ingrid Silva, Alison Stroming, Jorge Andres Villarini, Stephanie Rae Williams and Samuel Wilson.

Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim that uses the art form of classical ballet to change people's lives. Through performances by its internationally acclaimed Company, training in its world-class school, and participation in its multi-faceted arts education program, Dance Theatre of Harlem has made a difference in the world for over 45 years.

Inspired by the example of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to bring new opportunity to the lives of the young people in the Harlem neighborhood in which he grew up, Arthur Mitchell, along with the late Karel Shook, founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1969. Mitchell, who had found success as a principal dancer with the renowned New York City Ballet, understood the power of training in a classical art form to bring discipline and focus to a challenged community. Dance Theatre of Harlem's unprecedented success, as a racially diverse company, school and source for arts education was built on creating innovative and bold new forms of artistic expression. Through these varied artistic interactions, its ambassadors have helped to build character and have provided valuable life skills to countless people in New York City, across the country and around the world.

For more information Harlem Dance Theatre, visit http://www.dancetheatreofharlem.org/.

Photo Credit: Rachel Neville

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