Thrilling Lineup Includes a World Premiere from Jodie Gates, Company Premieres from George Balanchine and William Forsythe, NY Premiere from DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland

(Black PR Wire) New York, NY – The extraordinary artists of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH Robert Garland, Artistic Director; Anna Glass, Executive Director) are set to electrify New York City Center once again for its annual homecoming season and Vision Gala. Featuring the Company’s visionary artistry and unparalleled dynamism, DTH invites new and returning audiences to experience a thrilling lineup that highlights the extraordinary range and bold spirit of its dancers. As Dance Theatre of Harlem continues to inspire a new generation of classical and contemporary ballet artists and enthusiasts worldwide, the Company remains deeply rooted in the groundbreaking vision of its founder, Arthur Mitchell, more than 55 years later. This spring, DTH will present four captivating performances featuring an exciting blend of company premieres, a world premiere, a New York premiere, and cherished works, offering audiences a dynamic journey from ballet’s storied past to its vibrant future. Tickets start at $45 (including fees) and are available now at www.nycitycenter.org. New York City Center is located at 131 West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Dance Theatre of Harlem’s home season at New York City Center kicks off in exciting fashion with the Company premiere of William Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude. Set to the soaring final movement of Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 9, this electrifying work pays homage to Petipa and Balanchine with its dazzling partnering and lightning-fast allegro. Yet, it’s unmistakably modern, a bold celebration of the dancers’ ability to transform technical challenges into exhilarating feats of physical mastery. Adding to the evening, the Company brings George Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations to its repertoire for the first time—a lively, effervescent series of dances set to Donizetti’s Don Sebastian opera. While the tone is bright and cheery, the technical demands on the dancers are anything but, showcasing two bravura performers in a masterclass of elegance and endurance.

For his second New York City season as Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Artistic Director, Robert Garland delivers two works that showcase his unique choreographic style. Headlining the weekend is the ever-popular Return, a soulful, high-octane celebration to the timeless sounds of James Brown and Aretha Franklin. But that’s just the beginning—Garland’s latest creation, a tribute to Black joy, makes its highly anticipated New York debut at City Center.

Rounding out the company’s season is work from the revered Jodie Gates, bringing her magic to DTH unveiling her own world premiere. Expect nothing less than a dazzling display of artistry that promises to captivate and delight. This season is a must-see celebration of dance at its most exhilarating.

Dance Theatre of Harlem’s 2025 New York City Center Performance Schedule

THURSDAY, APRIL 10 at 7:30pm

Dance Community Night

New Untitled Work (NY Premiere)—Robert Garland

The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude (Company Premiere)—William Forsythe

New Untitled Work (World Premiere)—Jodie Gates

Donizetti Variations (Company Premiere)—George Balanchine

Pre-show activities to be announced, with post-show DJ and dancing in the Grand Tier Lobby.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11 at 6:30pm

Vision Gala Performance

The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude (Company Premiere)—William Forsythe

Excerpts from Donizetti Variations (Company Premiere)—George Balanchine

Additional programming to be announced

For Vision Gala tickets and more information, please email events@dancetheatreofharlem.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12 at 7:30pm

Divine Nine/HBCU Night

Return—Robert Garland

Donizetti Variations (Company Premiere)—George Balanchine

New Untitled Work (World Premiere)—Jodie Gates

New Untitled Work (NY Premiere)—Robert Garland

Pre-show DJ and dancing in the Grand Tier Lobby. For more information about  Divine Nine/HBCU Night, please email info@dancetheatreofharlem.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13 at 3pm

Meet the Ballerina Matinee

New Untitled Work (NY Premiere)—Robert Garland

The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude (Company Premiere)—William Forsythe

New Untitled Work (World Premiere)—Jodie Gates

Donizetti Variations (Company Premiere)—George Balanchine

 Pre-show DJ and dancing in the Grand Tier Lobby.

Meet the Ballerina event immediately follows the performance.

For tickets, please visit www.nycitycenter.org.

Groups of 10 or more Save! For more information, email info@nycitycenter.org.

Bloomberg Philanthropies is the 2025 Season Sponsor. 

Additional support is provided, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

William Forsythe began his career as a dancer with the Joffrey Ballet and later the Stuttgart Ballet, where he was appointed Resident Choreographer in 1976. In 1984, he began a 20-year tenure as director of the Ballet Frankfurt. After its closure in 2004, Forsythe established a new ensemble, The Forsythe Company, which he directed from 2005 to 2015 and saw his works performed exclusively by these artists, while his earlier pieces are prominently featured in the repertoire of virtually every major ballet company in the world. More recently, Forsythe has created original works for the Paris Opera Ballet (Blake Works I), English National Ballet (Playlist (Track 1,2)), Boston Ballet (Playlist (EP)), as well as A Quiet Evening of Dance produced by Sadler’s Wells Theatre (London) and The Barre Project (Blake Works II) created for the digital stage. Awards received by Forsythe and his ensembles include the New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award (1988, 1998, 2004, 2007) and London’s Laurence Olivier Award (1992, 1999, 2009). Forsythe has been conveyed the title of Commandeur des Arts et Lettres (1999) by the government of France and has received the Hessischer Kulturpreis/ Hessian Culture Award (1995), the German Distinguished Service Cross (1997), the Wexner Prize (2002) the Golden Lion of the Venice Biennale (2010), the Samuel H Scripps / American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement (2012) and the German Theater Award FAUST for Lifetime Achievement (2020).

Robert Garland, Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, was a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company achieving the rank of principal dancer. After creating a work for the DTH School Ensemble, Arthur Mitchell invited Robert Garland to create a work for The Dance Theatre of Harlem Company and appointed him the organization’s first Resident Choreographer. He was also Director of the Professional Training Program of the DTH school, and the organization’s webmaster. In addition to choreographing several ballets for DTH, Mr. Garland has also created works for New York City Ballet, Britain’s Royal Ballet, Oakland Ballet and many others. His commercial work has included music videos, commercials and short films, including the children’s television show Sesame Street, a Nike commercial featuring New York Yankee Derek Jeter, the NAACP Image Awards, a short film for designer Donna Karan, and the “Charmin Cha-Cha” for Proctor and Gamble. Mr. Garland holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Juilliard School in New York City.

Jodie Gates is an artistic director, a choreographer, producer, arts educator, stager, and dancer. She was a principal ballerina with the Joffrey Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, as well as an international guest artist. Most recently she was Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Ballet. Currently she is the Founder and Artistic Director of Laguna Dance, a non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, California, and Founding Director of the University of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance in Los Angeles. She is an accomplished choreographer with commissions by dance companies including Staatsballett Berlin, Ballet West, BalletX, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and the Vail International Dance Festival. Additionally, she choreographs for television commercials and site-specific events including choreography for a special project for singer/songwriter John Legend, and choreography for a global ad campaign for Los Angeles Tourism. She is an artistic collaborator with William Forsythe, staging and teaching ballets for Forsythe Productions internationally with companies including Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, Het National Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Teatro alla Scala Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Zurich Ballet among others. Ms. Gates’ performing career began with the Joffrey Ballet in NYC where she originated many roles and worked with a host of renowned choreographers.

ABOUT DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM

Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, encompassing a world class company, a professional studio school, a leading arts education program - Dancing Through Barriers®, and community engagement activities. Each component of Dance Theatre of Harlem carries a solid commitment towards enriching the lives of young people and adults around the world through the arts. Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem was considered “one of ballet’s most exciting undertakings” (The New York Times, 1971). Shortly after the assassination of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mitchell was inspired to start a school that would offer children — especially those in Harlem, the community in which he was born — the opportunity to learn about dance and the allied arts. Now in its 56th year, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multi-cultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts. 

Dance Theatre of Harlem celebrates its annual homecoming season and Vision Gala from April 10-13, 2025 with performances held at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street). For more information about Dance Theatre of Harlem, please visit www.DanceTheatreOfHarlem.org.

Follow Dance Theatre of Harlem on Instagram and Facebook: @DanceTheatreOfHarlem; YouTube: Dance Theatre of Harlem; and X: @DTHBallet

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Source: Dance Theatre of Harlem