Portland observer., March 18, 1982, Image 21

They're back!!!
Nearly two years has elapsed since Arthur Mitchell and
the Dance Theatre o f Harlem premiered to sell-out
crowds at Civic Auditorium.
On April 7th, the 44-member company returns for four
evening performances and a matinee, this year sponsored
by Evergreen Events in Portland.
The Dance Theatre o f Harlem is recognized and re­
spected as a major presence in American dance, not only
for its technical virtuosity but for the diversity and vital­
ity o f its performers and repertoire.
During its second visit to Portland, the company will
present two completely different shows from its extensive
repertoire.
Among the pieces selected are Frankie and Johnny, a
ballet based on the famous old ballad about betrayed
love, which was first performed in 1938 as part o f the
dance theatre project o f the Works Progress Administra­
tion; and a Dance Theatre o f Harlem adaptation o f A
Streetcar Named Desire, which premiered this winter.
Composer/choreographer Geoffry Holder will be rep­
resented by Banda and Songs o f Averne. Banda is the
dance of a spirit that lives in a graveyard who tries to help
the mother o f a dead child understand the difference be­
tween life and death. Songs o f Averne, danced for the
company by the “ magnificent” Virginia Johnson (Mary
Clark, Dancing Times, Sept. 1981), was originally cho­
reographed for Carmen deLavalade.
In contrast to the more modern pieces, Dance Theatre
o f Harlem will also demonstrate its classicl excellence by
performing the full length version o f Balanchine’ s Fire­
bird.
There has probably never been a story quite like the
DTH story in American Dance.
The company has performed to sell-out crowds world
wide and has distinguished itself as a powferful force not
only in classical ballet but in ethnic modern dance as well.
Dance Theatre o f Harlem is a “ dance landmark” (Dora
Sowden, The Jerusalem Post).
Dance Theatre o f Harlem was started by Arthur Mitch­
ell, former principal dancer with the New York City Bal­
let, as his personal commitment to the Harlem commu-
J nity following the assasination o f M artin Luther King,
Jr. Incorporated in February, 1969, it began in the base­
ment o f a Harlem church. In 1971, a generous donation
by Mrs. Bernard F. Gimbel enabled Dance Theatre o f
Harlem to purchase its present permanent home.
Dance Theatre o f Harlem began as a com m unity
school and aspiring ballet company with thirty students
and two teachers. Its premise was to promote interest in
and teach young people the art o f classical ballet, modern
and ethnic dance, thereby creating more self-awareness
and better self images in the students. Dance Theatre o f
Harlem has grown to become a school o f the allied arts
where over 1100 students from across the country and
around the world learn dance, sewing and costume ap­
prenticeship, and choral and percussion ensemble tech­
niques and its ballet company is in te rn a tio n a lly ac­
claimed. Dance Theatre is now an organization in a much
larger community to which all people desiring cultural en­
richment can turn.
Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, DTH co-directors,
have created a ballet company which in ten years has
made two command performances before the Queen
Mother o f England; has broken attendance and box of-
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