Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) is a legendary African American ballet company that is one of New York City’s Big Five dance companies. It develops outstanding Black and Latin dancers, and has deep roots in NYC’s ballet and classical music worlds.
57th Season
Dance Theatre of Harlem 2026 🇺🇸
African American ballet
Taras’ “Firebird” revival, plus Garland, Forsythe, and Gates
New York City Center, Midtown
Apr 16-19, Wed-Sun
Founding DTH Musical Director Tania León conducts the DTH Vision Gala on April 17 🇨🇺
The Firebird Changed Ballet Forever
Michel Fokine’s original “The Firebird” (1910) at Ballets Russes changed ballet from simply strutting around on stage with a multi-dimensional total art concept where dance, music, set, costume, and story are equally important. It was the ballet that launched Stravinsky’s career, and created what we think of today as classical ballet.
Ballets Russes and Stravinsky were Russian, so the ballet is based on Russian folklore. In the story, a prince captures a magical Firebird in an enchanted garden. He lets her go, so she gives him a magic feather. The prince falls in love with a princess being held captive by an evil sorcerer. When the sorcerer’s demons attack, the prince uses the feature to invoke the Firebird who dances the bad guys to death, so the prince can destroy the sorcerer.
George Balanchine, New York City Ballet’s founding choreographer (who started at Ballets Russes) created his own version in 1949 with costumes by renowned Russian artist Marc Chagall. It’s the reference. And Balanchine also brought Ballets Russes total art concept to New York.
Alexei Ratmansky choreographed a version for American Ballet Theatre in 2012. African American dancer Misty Copeland, the most famous ballerina since Baryshnikov, danced it so magically that when many people think of this ballet, they think of her. She just retired, so who is The Firebird now?
Dance Theatre of Harlem was founded by Arthur Mitchell, the Balanchine protogé who was New York City Ballet’s first Black dancer.
John Taras set his “Firebird” (1982) in a Caribbean jungle and changed the set from something dark to something vibrant. Legendary artist Geoffrey Holder designed the set and costumes. He is the Marc Chagall of this production.
Pulitzer Prize-winning Cuban American classical composer Tania León was DTH’s founding Music Director. She worked on the original and is conducting on April 17.
In this DTH Revival, The Firebird is Alexandra Hutchinson.
What Does it Mean?
The phoenix story is a connection to West African culture, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and our present moment.
Sankofa is a West African idea from the Akan people of Ghana which means that in order to build a successful future, it helps to know your past. Many Caribbeans have this heritage. Its symbol is a bird looking over its shoulder at an egg on its back. The egg represents the power of heritage. Respecting our heritage makes us better Americans.
Dance Theatre of Harlem had financial problems from around 2004 to 2012 and fell back into a community dance company. Virginia Johnson brought it back to the big stage, and now it really is one of New York City’s Big Five dance companies. In a way, DTH is itself The Firebird.
In our present moment in history, evil is on the rise. “Firebird” is a metaphor for hope that we can create a better future together by respecting our past. It’s a triumph of good over evil.
And you thought this was just a ballet. Does anyone have a feather?