Founded by Arthur Mitchell, who was the first African-American principal dancer of New York City Ballet, the company is steeped
in the neoclassical style developed by George Balanchine. The current artistic director and resident choreographer, Robert Garland, has choreographed contemporary ballets to the music of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Motown music. The company’s most recent performance at the Detroit Opera House in 2022 featured Claudia Schreier’s Passage, a work commissioned to mark the 400th year of the arrival of enslaved Africans in North America, and Higher Ground, a ballet set to songs by Stevie Wonder.
Groups
Looking to bring a group of 10 or more? Contact Jeffery Sanders at groupsales@detroitopera.org to save today!
“In its more than 50-year history, Dance Theatre of Harlem has received international acclaim, performing in 44 states, 250 cities in North America, and in 40 countries on 6 continents. Dance Theatre of Harlem’s pioneering efforts to integrate stages and spread the art of ballet through outreach programs at home and abroad made it a beacon for Black dancers worldwide.”
– Dance Magazine
FAST FACTS
GEORGE BALANCHINE’S ALLEGRO BRILLANTE
MUSIC: TCHAIKOVSKY’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3
WILLIAM FORSYTHE’S BLAKE WORKS IV (THE BARRE PROJECT)
MUSIC: JAMES BLAKE
ROBERT GARLAND’S NYMAN STRING QUARTET #2
MUSIC: MICHAEL NYMAN.