Living Proof

Dance Theatre of Harlem & the Future of Ballet

By: Stella Mehlhoff

In the moments before Dance Theatre of Harlem’s performance, Northrop Auditorium held a striking eagerness. The audience, some in sweats and others in cocktail dresses, was the most diverse and anticipatory I’ve ever seen for a dance performance. And this is no accident—Dance Theatre of Harlem, a primarily black ballet company, was founded in 1969 “to make people aware that this beautiful art form actually belongs to, and can be done by, anyone,” as noted by its artistic director, Virginia Johnson.

A noble goal, considering that ballet, skeptical of anyone that doesn’t fit into its slim, white archetype, has a history of being performed only by the most privileged for the most privileged. So it’s no wonder that, compared to other modes of artistic expression, ballet has taken on a reputation similar to grandma’s tiny Iowan church, as something archaic and over-traditional, only to be enjoyed on holidays and with the help of hard candy. Dance Theatre of Harlem, however, is obliterating this assumption, living proof that art thrives when it transcends expectations and prospers within the capable hands of those unjustly excluded. 

Last month’s ballet didn’t just showcase majestic athleticism and simmering musicality; it also demonstrated graceful defiance. The dancers jumped styles with elegant precision from the fresh flick of a pointe shoe to the slow sweeping of a lift. In the span of one performance, the audience got treated to three distinct acts, each revealing incredible range. The first, a celebration of Stevie Wonder, was playful and jazzy. The second, featuring more classical fare, was somber and heartfelt, a commentary on the early American slave trade. With new music by female composers, the third was packed with rhythmic contrast, thrilling energy, and perfectly synchronous ensemble work. Vibrant and commanding, even the company’s most daring experimentation was received as natural, even necessary. Still, amid a suffocating pandemic, this is an urgent moment for the future of live dance—the Dance Theatre of Harlem could be its hero, maintaining relevance by championing accessibility.