Policies & other helpful information
For answers to frequently asked questions visit TheHanoverTheatre.org/FAQs
Accessible Seating and ADA Provisions: The Hanover Theatre (THT) is committed to providing access and an enjoyable visit for persons of different abilities. Spaces are reserved for patrons who use wheelchairs and for their ambulatory companions. When purchasing tickets, please be sure to mention if any special accommodations are required, including low vision, hard of hearing, limited mobility, etc.
Assistive Listening Devices: Devices are available. Please inquire at the box office or conceirge desk. These cannot be reserved in advance, but the number of devices available should be sufficient for the usual demand. You will be asked to leave your driver’s license as a deposit.
Box Office Hours of Operation: (in person and by telephone) Regular hours are MondaySaturday, 12 PM - 6 PM. The box office is open limited hours on Sunday performance days. Tickets may be purchased online 24/7 at TheHanoverTheatre.org. By telephone, call the box office at 877.571.7469.
Visit or mail the box office at: 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA 01608 E-mail: boxoffice@thehanovertheatre.org.
Cameras (Recording Devices): Recording devices are prohibited from use in the theatre, and offenders may be ejected without compensation. All members of the press or media must receive advance authorization from the PR dept. (PR@thehanovertheatre.org) to use cameras or recording devices inside the theatre and must display identification upon arrival.
Cell Phones: Out of respect to the performers and fellow audience members, please silence all cell phones while in the theatre.
Children: All patrons MUST have a valid ticket. To allow all patrons to enjoy the show, children under the age of four are not permitted to attend THT performances unless they are designated as a family show. Please call the box office to see which shows are appropriate for younger children.
Concessions: Please do not bring outside food and drinks to the theatre. Snacks and beverages are available for sale in the lobby.
First Aid: Please speak with the house manager or any of the ushers if you need first aid or have any sort of accident or medical emergency. Insurance regulations require that such instances be documented immediately.
Inclement Weather Policy: It is generally impossible for touring shows and performances to be rescheduled, so we do not cancel events due to inclement weather. As with other touring performances and sporting events, we are unable to refund tickets. In extreme weather conditions we will do our best to exchange subscriber, Flex package and member tickets to an alternate performance, if applicable. To protect your purchase, the theatre strongly recommends that you add on ticket insurance at the time of ticket purchase through Booking Protect.
Lost and Found: Management is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Items found at the theatre will be held by the house manager. If you have lost an item, please contact the box office as soon as possible to make a report. You will then be contacted if the item has been found. Retrieval of the item is the responsibility of the customer. Items not claimed within 30 days will be donated or disposed of without compensation.
Security: Please also note that outside food and beverages, large bags, cameras and recording devices, weapons (including props/toys), projectiles, laser pointers, illegal and illicit drugs, posters, pets (except service animals), and any items deemed dangerous or inappropriate by management are not permitted. Persons exhibiting intoxication or drug use are also not permitted. At select performances, additional security measures may be in place, such as YONDR pouches for cell phones and other devices. Offenders may be removed from the theatre without compensation.
Resale of Tickets for Profit: Ticket holders may on occasion be in a position where they have purchased tickets that they later cannot personally use and will want to donate, give, trade or sell these tickets to friends or acquaintances. Management does not discourage private transactions of this nature. However, we may take appropriate actions to thwart the organized resale of tickets for profit by third parties, which we do not condone. The public is advised to be careful purchasing tickets from individuals they do not know personally, as such tickets may be void and in such cases admission to the theatre will be denied without compensation.
Standing Room: All persons entering the theatre must have a valid ticket, and are not allowed to stand in the back or aisles.
Announcements by Lynette Freeman
FOUNDERS
Arthur Mitchell Karel Shook (Co-Founder; 1934–2018) (Co-Founder; 1920–1985)
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Robert Garland
REHEARSAL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Anna Glass
DIRECTOR
Juan Carlos Peñuela
DTH DANCE ARTISTS
Ariana Dickerson Lindsey Donnell Carly Greene Alexandra Hutchinson
Alexandra Rene Jones Michaela Martin-Mason Kira Robinson
Kamala Saara Ingrid Silva Delaney Washington
Derek Brockington Micah Bullard Julian Cottrell Kouadio Davis
Jhaelin McQuay Sean Miller Ethan Wilson David Wright
DTH GUEST ARTISTS
Khen Kurulkar Michael Shavelle
Generous support for Dance Theatre of Harlem is provided by Alliance Bernstein Foundation; Alphadyne Foundation; Arnhold Foundation; BET Networks; Bloomberg LP; Bloomberg Philanthropies; Booth Ferris Foundation; CIVITAS; Con Edison; COFRA Foundation; Aaron Copland Fund for Music; Dance/NYC; Davis/Dauray Family Fund; Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation; Ford Foundation; Howard Gilman Foundation; GCM Grosvenor; GEICO; Google; The Harkness Foundation for Dance; DuBose & Dorothy Heyward Memorial Fund; The Jockey Hollow Foundation; Hyde and Watson Foundation; IQVIA; JPMorgan Chase; Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts; Klein Family Foundation, Legal Defense Fund; The Lenat Foundation; The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation; Madison Square Garden; The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation; Mellon Foundation; Meta; Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation; Morgan Stanley; Margaret T. Morris Foundation; Henry and Lucy Moses Fund; The New York Community Trust; Nike; Paramount; Tatiana Piankova Foundation; Polar Foundation; Jerome Robbins Foundation; The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; The SHS Foundation; Sony Music Group; The Thompson Family Foundation; Venable Foundation; Warner Music Group & Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund, a sponsored project of Moore Impact; Wealthspire, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; West Harlem Development Corporation; and one anonymous donor.
Dance Theatre of Harlem is supported, 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.
ROBERT GARLAND
Artistic Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem
“Ballet is an art form that transcends words, telling stories of resilience, transformation, and boundless possibility.”
In a world that often feels divided, art has the power to bring us together— to remind us of our shared humanity and the beauty that exists even in challenging times. As our company artists take the stage, they bring with them not only passion, grace, and joy but also a spirit of innovation that propels us to move boldly forward.
More than 56 years ago, Arthur Mitchell set out to prove that ballet belongs to everyone. His vision of inclusion, access, and possibility remains at the heart of everything we do. Thank you for being part of this moment. Your presence and support make it possible for us to dream bigger, reach higher, and continue shaping the future of ballet. We invite you to join us on this journey—one that honors our past while embracing the limitless possibilities ahead.
Enjoy the performance!
Robert Garland
For more information about Dance Theatre of Harlem please visit DanceTheatreOfHarlem.org
DONIZETTI VARIATIONS
World Premiere November 16, 1960, City Center of Music and Drama, NY, NY
Choreography: George Balanchine, ©The George Balanchine Trust
Music: Gaetano Donizetti
Costumes: Katy A. Freeman
Lighting: Andrea Sala
Staged for DTH by Kyra Nichols Gray
KAMALA SAARA KOUADIO DAVIS
Delaney Washington Khen Kurulkar Lindsey Donnell
Alexandra Rene Jones Jhaelin McQuay Kira Robinson
Michaela Martin-Mason Michael Shavelle Ariana Dickerson
The cheerful 26-minute Donizetti Variations sets a series of effervescent dances to music from the opera Don Sebastien, offering choice but technically challenging roles for two bravura dancers and three supporting trios.
This ballet (originally titled Variations from "Don Sebastian") was created for Salute to Italy," a 1960 New York City Ballet program celebrating the 100th anniversary of Italy’s unification.
The performance of Donizetti Variations, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.
Intermission
TAKE ME WITH YOU
(DTH Premiere February 9, 2024)
Choreography: Robert Bondara
Lighting & Costume Design: Robert Bondara
DELANEY WASHINGTON DEREK BROCKINGTON
"The catchy percussion beat of the Radiohead song 'Reckoner' became the first trigger and source of inspiration for movement language and choreography. Getting deeper into the creative process and vague lyrics of the song in a very personal way, the content of the choreography got closer to reflection about our existence, our efforts to grasp the meaning of life despite 'bittersweet distractors.' What is essential for the piece is metaphysical experience, an elusive atmosphere determining relations between the dancers on the stage." - Robert Bondara
This duet was created in 2016 for Polish National Ballet soloists Yuka Ebihara and Kristof Szabo. Take Me With You was later performed by many leading dancers, including Roberto Bolle and Melissa Hamilton among others, and in theatres across the globe and on Polish, Czech and Italian TV. In 2021, Robert created a larger one act ballet that includes this duet for Poznan Opera Ballet and in 2022 was staged by West Australian Ballet.
Reckoner by Radiohead. Thom Yorke, songwriter, vocals. Jonny Greenwood, songwriter, guitar. Colin Greenwood, songwriter, bass. Philip Selway, songwriter, drums.
Music by arrangement with Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
Pause
PASSAGE OF BEING
(Word premiere April 10, 2025, New York City Center)
Choreography: Jodie Gates
Music: Ryan Lott, Rob Moose, Son Lux, yMusic
Costume Design and Execution: Martha Chamberlain
Lighting: Michael Korsch
ALEXANDRA HUTCHINSON
ARIANA DICKERSON
Micah Bullard Julian Cottrell Sean Miller David Wright
"Time prompts philosophical contemplation about existence, purpose, and mortality. And the progression of time is a remarkable subject when contemplating the transient aspects of life and the relationship we build with self and with others over a lifetime. As a collective body this work abstractly calls upon poetic nuances and the poignant allure of time’s rapid passage of being." -Jodie Gates
“Cherry Blossom”, Written and performed by Ryan Lott “Don’t Say It’s Too Late” , Written by Ryan Lott, Performed by Son Lux & Rob Moose “Eleven”, Written by Ryan Lott, Performed by Ryan Lott & yMusic
Music use courtesy of Domino Music Co. and Ghost Town Inc
Intermission
RETURN
(World Premiere September 21, 1999)
Choreography: Robert Garland
Music: James Brown, Alfred Ellis, Aretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklin
Costume Design and Execution: Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Roma Flowers
“Mother Popcorn”
INGRID SILVA
Lindsey Donnell Carly Greene Michalea Martin-Mason
Kira Roninson Kamala Saara
ETHAN WILSON
Julian Cottrell Khen Kurulkar Jhaelin McQuay Sean Miller Michael Shavelle
"Baby, Baby, Baby"
LINDSEY DONNELL JHAELIN MCQUAY
Kira Robinson Sean Miller Michalea Martin-Mason Khen Kurulkar
“I Got The Feelin’”
INGRID SILVA SEAN MILLER MICHAEL SHAVELLE
Carly Greene Khen Kurulkar Kira Robinson
“Call Me”
KAMALA SAARA JULIAN COTTRELL
"Superbad" ETHAN WILSON
Return was choreographed for Dance Theatre of Harlem's 30th anniversary. Choreographer Robert Garland calls the ballet's style "post-modern urban neoclassicism - an attempt to fuse an urban physical sensibility and a neoclassical one." Staged for 12 dancers to songs performed by James Brown and Aretha Franklin, Return is "... a witty fusion of ballet technique and street gait whose irony toward rhythm-and-blues had the audience in stitches." (The New York Times)
"Mother Popcorn " and “Superbad” performed by James Brown
"Baby, Baby, Baby" performed by Aretha Franklin By arrangement with Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“Call Me” performed by Aretha Franklin Courtesy of Pronto Music and Fourteenth Hour Music, Inc.
"I Got the Feelin’" performed by James Brown By arrangement with Round Hill, Inc.
COMPANY ARTISTS
DEREK
BROCKINGTON
Born: Chicago, IL and raised in Holland, MI. Training: Grand Rapids Ballet School, Interlochen Arts Academy, Ballet West, and Pennsylvania Ballet Summer Intensives. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (eighth season), Cincinnati Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet. Repertoire includes works by Claudia Schreier, Robert Garland, Stanton Welch, George Balanchine, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Darrell Grand Moultrie. Along with Alexandra Hutchinson, he coordinates DTH social media.
MICAH BULLARD
Born: Houston, TX. Training: The Dance Center of Baytown, University of Oklahoma School of Dance (BFA 2019), Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Ballet Program, Dance Theatre of Harlem Summer Intensive, Texas Ballet Theater Summer Intensive. Professional Experience: Oklahoma City Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem (fifth season). Repertoire includes works by: Robert Garland, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Geoffrey Holder, Helen Pickett, Nacho Duato, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Alejandro Cerrudo, Merce Cunningham, Amy Hall Garner, Trey McIntyre, Colin Connor, Stanton Welch, Claudia Schreier and Tiffany Rae-Fisher.
JULIAN COTTRELL Born: Fort Worth, TX. Training: The University of Oklahoma School of Dance, Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, Texas Ballet Theater School. Professional Experience: Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Dance Theatre of Harlem (first season). Repertoire: Works by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Robert Garland, Penny Saunders, Robin Mineko Williams, Yury Yanowsky, and Ryan Nye. Recipient of the OU School of Dance Ovation Award and the Corp de Ballet International Basil Thompson Memorial Scholarship.
KOUADIO DAVIS
Born: Oneonta, NY. Training: Holbrook-Wade School of Dance, Fokine Ballet, New York State Summer School of the Arts with Daniel Ulbricht, NYCB. Carolyn Adams. Alvin Ailey, Nutmeg Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Alonzo King Lines, French Academie of Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Springboard Danse Montreal. 2019 Graduate of Ellison Ballet. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (seventh season). Awards: Youth America Grand Prix in 2017 and 2018, where he and his partner won second and then first place in the contemporary Pas de Deux category.
ARIANA DICKERSON
Born: Pensacola, FL, raised in Dayton, OH. Training: Interlochen Arts Academy, and summer intensives with Alonzo King Lines, Boston Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet. Education: Indiana University Bloomington Jacobs School of Music, Bachelor of Science in Ballet and Media Advertising. Professional experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (third season). Repertoire includes works by Justin Peck, Dwight Rhoden, Ulysses Dove, Pytor Ilych Tchaikovsky, and George Balanchine. Ariana is the recipient of the IU Premier Young Artist Award, the Brown Girls Do Ballet Scholarship for Change, Interlochen Young Artist Award, and the Interlochen Arts Academy Fine Arts Award.
LINDSEY DONNELL
Born: Midland, TX. Training: La Petite Dance Studio, Midland Festival Ballet under Susan Clark. Education: cum laude graduate of Butler University, degrees in Dance-Arts Administration and Journalism. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (thirteenth season), Nashville Ballet (trainee). Repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Ulysses Dove, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, Geoffrey Holder, Donald Byrd, Dianne McIntyre, and Robert Garland. Awards and Honors: featured artist at opening of One World Trade Center, TEDx Broadway 2016, performer at Kennedy Center Honors 2016 & 2022, & White House performance for Michelle Obama.
CARLY GREENE
Born: Flower Mound, Texas. Training: The Ballet Conservatory, The Ailey School, Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Dance Ensemble, Summer Intensives with Houston Ballet, The School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Colorado Ballet. Education: Magna Cum Laude graduate of Fordham University, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Bachelor of Arts in Digital Technology and Emerging Media. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (third season). Repertoire included works by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, Geoffrey Holder, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, Jennifer Archibald, Silas Farley, Helen Simoneau, and Ethan Colangelo. Carly is a two-time YAGP New York Semi-Finalist and was a recipient of the Dance Council of North Texas Scholarship and the Alvin Ailey Artistic Scholarship.
ALEXANDRA HUTCHINSON
Born: Wilmington, DE. Training: The Washington School of Ballet, Wilmington Academy of Dance, and summer intensives with Alvin Ailey, Alonzo King, Carolina Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and Nashville Ballet 2. Education: Bachelor of Science in Ballet, Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (eighth season), Nashville Ballet. Repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Stanton Welch, Robert Garland, Helen Pickett, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Nacho Duato, Paul Vasterling, Septime Webre and Michael Vernon. Alexandra is the recipient of The Pierians Foundation Incorporated 2018 Emerging Young Artist Award, Virginia Johnson Scholar, Washington School of Ballet Professional Training Program tuition stipend, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Along with Derek Brockington, she coordinates DTH social media.
ALEXANDRA RENE JONES
Born: Indianapolis, IN. Training: Indianapolis School of Ballet and Indiana University Ballet Theater. Summer Intensives with Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Philadelphia Ballet, and Ballet Rhode Island. Professional Experience: Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project; Indianapolis Ballet (Guest Artist); Dance Kaleidoscope (Guest Artist), Dance Theatre of Harlem (third season). Repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Jerome Robbins, Antony Tudor, Sasha Janes, Theresa Jimmerson (Fervers), Michael Vernon and Yury Yanowsky. Alexandra is the recipient of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Premier Young Talent Scholarship & Music Faculty Award. Alexandra is also featured in the book “People of Indiana University”.
KHEN KURULKAR (Guest Artist)
Born: Yavne, Israel. Training: Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts under the mentorship of Ballet Master Elie Lazar, Maslool & Hamisgeret Professional Dance Program professional dance program. Khen also studied break dancing for 5 years with world renowned Bboy Potter. Professional experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem, first season, Vitacca Ballet (4 seasons). Khen has performed as a Guest Artist in the, US, Israel & Japan. Repertoire: Includes works by George Balanchine, Garrett Smith, Elie Lazar, Micaela Taylor, Robyn Mineko Williams, Sean Aaron Carmon, Maddie Hicks, Autumn Eckman, Tina bhondstet, Helene Simoneau, Marius Petipa, Martha Graham, Benjamin Harkarvy, Goyo Monterro, Roy Assaf, Barak Marshall, Ohad Naharin, and Jiří Kylián. Awards & honors: Israel's Ministry of Culture and Sport Excellent Dancer.
MICHAELA MARTIN-MASON
Born: Philadelphia, PA. Training: Alvin Ailey School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Indiana University Ballet Theater. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (first season). Repertoire: Works by Justin Peck, Michael Vernon, George Balanchine, Christina Claessens & Sasha Janes.
JHAELIN MCQUAY
Born: Los Angeles, CA. Training: Debbie Allen Dance Academy, The Rock School of Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West, Bolshoi School. Professional Experience: Ballet West, Cincinnati Ballet, The Oscars, Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, guest artist and master teacher for the DAP Festival, Dance Theatre of Harlem (first season). Repertoire: Bill Forsythe, Val Caniparoli, George Balanchine, Alexander Ekman, Juri Kylián, Jodie Gates, Don Quixote, Giselle, Valse Fantasy, Walpurgisnacht, Cinderella, Fredrick Ashton, Twyla Tharp, Ohad Naharin, La Fille Mal Garde, Anabelle Lopez Ochoa, Petit Mort, Blake Works II, Jewels, Cacti, Minus 16, Alejandro Cerrudo.
SEAN MILLER
Born: Atlanta, GA. Training: Paris Opera Ballet School, CNSMD of Paris, Sarasota Cuban ballet school. Professional Experience: Miami City Ballet 2021-2025, Dance Theatre of Harlem (first season). Repertoire: Works by Balanchine, Ratmansky, Robbins, John Cranko, Lopez-Ochoa, Jamar Roberts, Claudia Schreier, Durante Verzola, Petipa, Bournonville, SaintLeon. Awards and honors: YAGP Toronto Grand Prix Award 2020, YAGP 2021 Finals top 12, YAGP 2021 International Finals 2nd place pas de deux.
KIRA ROBINSON
Born: Atlanta, GA. Training: Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. Professional Experience: Oklahoma City Ballet II, Dance Theatre of Harlem (second season). Repertoire includes Falling Angels by Jiří Kylián,; Antique Epigraphs by Jerome Robbins, Train of Thought by Yury Yankowski, Serenade by George Balanchine, The Nutcracker, and Alice in the Wonderland by Septime Webre.
KAMALA SAARA
Born: Los Angeles, CA. Training: Yuri Grigoriev School of Ballet, School of American Ballet. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (fifth season). Kamala is a recipient of the Grow Annenberg Fellowship and a full scholarship for the School of American Ballet. She received 1st place Award for Training and the Performance Scholarship at the 2018 Bolshoi Ballet Academy and placed 2nd in the Classical category at the 2016 Youth American Grand Prix Paris, France.
MICHAEL SHAVELLE (Guest Artist)
Born: Los Angeles, CA. Training: Up Studio under the direction of Alicia Head, the Colburn School under the direction of Silas Farley, Dance Theatre of Harlem School, Barnard College Dance Department. Professional experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (first season, guest artist). Repertoire: George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Merce Cunningham, Silas Farley, Antonio Carmena, Houston Thomas, Durante Verzola, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Da’Von Doane, Emily Kikta.
INGRID SILVA
Born: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Training: Projeto Dançando Para Não Dançar, Escola de Dança Maria Olenewa, and Centro de Movimento Debora Colker. Education: Universidade da Cidade. Professional experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (thirteenth season), Grupo Corpo(apprentice), Armitage Gone! Dance. Repertoire includes works by Arthur Mitchell, Donald Byrd, George Balanchine, Dianne McIntyre,
John Alleyne, Darrel Grand Moultrie, Francesca Harper, Robert Garland, Carol Armitage, Deborah Colker, Rodrigo Pederneiras and Annabelle Lopez-Ocha. In 2017 Silva was the first African Brazilian to be on the cover of Pointe Magazine and appeared on the cover of Vogue Brasil November 2020. She is the Founder of @PodHer & Co Founder of @blacksinballet.
DELANEY WASHINGTON
Born: San Francisco Bay area. Training: Lise la Cour's LaCademy, The Ailey School/Fordham University, and Jacob's Pillow Summer Program 2021 under the direction of Helen Pickett and Milton Myers. Professional Experience: Palm Beach Dance Festival, Dance Theatre of Harlem (fifth season). Repertoire includes works by Dwight Rhoden, Helen Simoneau, Yusha Marie-Sorzano, Maurya Kerr, Pedro Ruiz, and Andre Zachery. Delaney is the recipient of the Alvin Ailey Artistic Scholarship.
ETHAN WILSON
Born: Houston, TX. Training: Chamberlain School of Ballet, Booker T Washington HSPVA , Miami City Ballet School, Jacobs’ Pillow Summer Program. Professional experience: Guest Artist, Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem (first season). Repertoire includes works by Durante Verzola, Alexei Ratmansky, and Margarita Armas.
DAVID WRIGHT
Born: Ft. Polk, Louisiana. Training: Infiniti Performing Arts Center, Indiana Ballet Conservatory, Orlando Ballet School. Professional Experience: Orlando Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem (fifth season). Repertoire: Jorden Morris’ Moulin Rouge, Val Caniparolis’ Lamberna, Orlando Ballet’s Nutcracker, and Carmina Burana. David was a finalist at Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition 2019.
ROBERT GARLAND (Artistic Director)
Robert Garland 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. Prior to becoming DTH Artistic Director he served as Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem school.
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 most recently San Francisco Ballet. 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.
ARTHUR MITCHELL (Co-Founder)
Arthur Mitchell is known around the world for creating and sustaining Dance Theatre of Harlem, the internationally acclaimed ballet company he co-founded with Karel Shook in 1969. Following a brilliant career as a principal artist with the New York City Ballet, Mr. Mitchell dedicated his life to changing perceptions and advancing the art form of ballet through the first permanently established African American and racially diverse ballet company.
Born in New York City in 1934, Mr. Mitchell began his dance training at New York City's High School of the Performing Arts where he won the coveted annual dance award and subsequently a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet. In 1955 he became the first male African American to become a permanent member of a major ballet company
when he joined New York City Ballet. Mr. Mitchell rose quickly to the rank of Principal Dancer during his fifteen-year career with New York City Ballet and electrified audiences with his performances in a broad range of roles. Upon learning of the death of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and with financial assistance from Mrs. Alva B. Gimbel, The Ford Foundation, and his own savings, Mr. Mitchell founded Dance Theatre of Harlem with his mentor and ballet instructor Karel Shook.
With an illustrious career that spanned over fifty years, Mr. Mitchell was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, a National Medal of the Arts, a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, the New York Living Landmark Award, the Handel Medallion, the NAACP Image Award, and more than a dozen honorary degrees.
Karel Shook (Co-Founder) played a key role as teacher and mentor to African American dance artists in New York in the 1950s. In addition to co-founding Dance Theatre of Harlem with Arthur Mitchell in 1969 he also was a ballet master, choreographer, and author. Born in 1920, Mr. Shook was a native of Renton, Washington. Encouraged to study ballet at age 13, he was a protégé of Nellie Cornish and received a scholarship to the Cornish School of Allied Arts in Seattle. While his performance career was brief, he appeared on Broadway and danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and New York City Ballet. Mr. Shook’s brief performance career led to teaching and choreographing mainly in Europe but also in New York. In the early 50s he opened Studio Arts, one of the few dance studios in the city where African Americans could study ballet. Among his students were Carmen de Lavallade, Pearl Primus, Geoffrey Holder, Louis Johnson, Alvin Ailey, and Arthur Mitchell who first came to him at age 17. Mr. Shook left New York in 1959 to become the ballet master of the Dutch National Ballet where he was when his former student Arthur Mitchell asked him to return to New York to help create the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Mr. Shook was an advocate of the universality of classical ballet. His book Elements of Classical Ballet explores the development of classical ballet in such countries across the globe as China, Turkey, Iran, Japan, Cuba, and Mexico. In 1980 he was awarded the United States Presidential Award for “Excellence and Dedication in Education.”
JUAN CARLOS PEÑUELA (Rehearsal Director)
A native of Cali Colombia, Juan Carlos Peñuela began dancing at the age of 12 with Incolballet, a ballet-centered secondary school. After graduation Mr. Peñuela was invited by Artistic Director Gloria Castro to join Ballet de Cali Colombia's National Company as a soloist where he performed in a variety of leading roles in contemporary works as well as classical pieces. Mr. Peñuela has danced with Ballet Arizona, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Pennsylvania Ballet, Maximum Dance Ballet, Gamonet Chamber Dance Project, and Ballet NY.
Juan Carlos has served as guest Ballet Master and Repetiteur with Compania Colombiana de Ballet - Incolballet in Colombia, Chamber Dance Project, Lexington Ballet, The Ajkun Ballet Theatre in New York City, Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theatre, Ena Ballet Company in Japan, and Earl Mosley's Institute of the Arts International Summer Intensive in Kent, CT. In 2011 he was invited to Malaysia where he taught at their international festival, restaged Don Quixote, and coached artists from all over the world for their International Gala of the Stars.
From 2014 to 2018 Juan Carlos held the position of Ballet Master with Ballet Hispanico in New York City, as well Senior Ballet Teacher for their School of Dance. He has served as a faculty member at Joffrey Ballet School, Marymount Manhattan Collage Ballet, Academy East in New York City, Alvin Ailey, and as a guest teacher at The Juilliard School and Dance Theatre of Harlem’s professional company.
Mr. Penuela holds a Romana’s Pilates certification and teaches Pilates designed for dancers. In 2011 he became certified in The American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum. During the summer of 2013 he was invited to teach in Italy as a faculty member of Alvin Ailey School. Since 2017 he has taught at the Central Pennsylvania
Youth Ballet summer program. In 2014 and 2017 he attended the CPYB teacher’s workshop and 2017 was featured in the August edition of Dance Teacher Magazine. For the last 7 years he has been invited to Panama City as guest teacher and as adjudicator to Danza Activa Competition and the Ecuador Danza Ciad competition. Juan Carlos continues to return, as a guest teacher, to Columbia where his journey began.
ANNA GLASS (Executive Director)
Anna Glass has been involved in the performing arts as both an artist and arts administrator for over twenty-five years. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, recently named an “American Cultural Treasure” by the Ford Foundation and recent recipient of $18.5 million combined gifts from the Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, and MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett – the largest gift amounts in DTH’s history. Together with Artistic Director Virginia Johnson, Anna co-launched a collaborative initiative addressing racial inequity in ballet – The Equity Project. In May 2013, she began her own endeavor dedicated to preserving and documenting the legacies of prominent black artists and cultural institutions, and reinterpreting those legacies onto multiple platforms, including live performance. She recently produced Carmen de Lavallade’s newest solo show Carmen de Lavallade: Life of a Legend for Jazz at Lincoln Center and prior to that As I Remember It– an intimate portrait of this legendary artist, which toured across the country.
Anna has served as a consultant providing strategic planning and fundraising guidance to various non-profit arts organizations across the country and as an advisor for the DeVos Institute of Arts Management supporting New York City non-profits. Anna currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Performing Arts Professionals and the International African American Museum in Charleston, SC. Anna received her undergraduate degree from Oberlin College and her JD from the University of Dayton School of Law. She is a licensed attorney in the State of New York. Anna lives in Harlem with her husband and daughter.
Dance Theatre of Harlem Inc.
Everett Center for the Performing Arts, 466 West 152nd Street New York NY 10031-1814 (212) 690-2800 (212) 690-8736 fax. dancetheatreofharlem.org
Board of Directors
Ackneil M. Muldrow III, Chairman
Leslie Wims Morris, Vice-Chairman
Martino R. Moore, Secretary
Terri Prettyman Bowles
Marcie Cleary
Kevin M. Cofsky
Administrative Staff
Robert Garland, Artistic Director
Anna Glass, Executive Director
Jeanine Reynolds, Chief Philanthropy Officer
Sharon Duncan, Director of Individual Giving
Kristine Liwag, Director of Institutional Giving
Madeline Sproat, Manager of Individual Giving
Company Staff
Juan Carlos Peñuela, Rehearsal Director
Derrick McBride, Senior Director of Artistic Planning
Melinda Bloom, Company Manager
Stanley Lee Ralph III, Production Stage Manager
Dance Theatre of Harlem School & Community Programs
Tai Jimenez, Director
Augustus van Heerden, Associate Director Lower/Upper School
Rachel Sekyi, Associate Director, Tendu Program
Richard Constable III
Charles DeSantis
Molly A. Hall
Isabel Kallman
Aliya Lee Kong
Sharon Madison
Erika Munro
Conor Flynn, Asst. Mgr. Development Operations
Fatima Jones, Chief Marketing Officer
Keyana K. Patterson, Marketing Manager
Destiny Rosa, Digital Marketing Associate
Alexandra Hutchinson, Derek Brockington, Ingrid Silva
Social Media Coordinators
Marc C. Martin, Chief Financial Officer
Stephen Foster,
Kayla McConnell, Stage Manager
Malcolm Foster, Lighting Supervisor
Garrett Deutsch, Asst, Lighting Supervisor
Katy Freeman, Wardrobe Supervisor
Azale Acosta, Asst. Wardrobe
Supervisor Donald J. Rose, M.D., Director of the Harkness Center
Danielle Thomas, Manager of Student Affairs
Gwendolyn Kingsberry, Director, Community Programs & Arts Education
Rachael Davidson, Manager, Community Programs & Arts Education
Carmen Perkins Azhar Richmond
Tangela Richter
Bonita C. Stewart
Peter Sung
Janice Vickers
China White
Manager of Finance and Administration
Hero Doucas, Human Resources Manager
Jordan Oldham, Events & Venue Operations Manager
Marino Ferreras, Director of Building Operations
Kenneth Thomas, Building Operations Manager
Marco Recinos, Maintenance
for Dance Injuries, NYU Langone Orthopedics
Hailey Calkins, Athletic Trainer
Alison Deleget Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, Physical Therapy & Wellness Consultant
Najeree Wallace, School Accountant
Amanda Parache, Virtual School Monitor
Alexis Andrews, Marsha Fay Knight, Darryl Quinton, Danielle Thomas, Sarah Wingo, DTH School Teachers
Rachael Davidson, Tabitha Kelly, Dancing Through Barriers Teachers
