Curated by Theresa Ruth Howard and Denise Saunders Thompson, Reframing the Narrative features Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ballethnic Dance Company, and Collage Dance Collective.
From June 14-19, The Kennedy Center Opera House with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, presents this celebration of Black voices in ballet. Highlighting each of the two programs is a newly commissioned work by the Nation’s theater: Donald Byrd’s premiere will feature Black-identifying dancers from across the country and the world.
The new work, with a score by Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, gives Black ballet dancers who have and are currently performing in historically white ballet companies an opportunity to experience a space where Blackness is centered in the art.
Howard and Byrd have invited 12 Black-identifying ballet dancers to participate in a two-week creative process with Byrd resulting in a 15-20 minute work. This rehearsal period, May 30–June 12, will take place at the REACH as part of the Center’s Office Hours Residency program.
Chosen by Byrd and Howard and representing various aspects of the future of ballet including artistic excellence, advocacy, and aspirations of choreography or leadership, dancers include:
- Portia Adams (Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo);
- Precious Adams (English National Ballet);
- Katlyn Addison (Ballet West);
- Joshua Bodden (Kansas City Ballet);
- Jenelle Figgins (freelance);
- Claudia Monja (Nashville Ballet);
- Ashley Murphy-Wilson (The Washington Ballet);
- Jonathan Philbert (Atlanta Ballet);
- and Miranda Silveira (The Joffrey Ballet).
“I am honored to be involved in this remarkable project. Anticipating working with these extraordinary artists assembled is thrilling beyond belief and I am so looking forward to it. Much gratitude extended to the visionary Theresa Ruth Howard for the invitation to participate in what is sure to be a memorable event.” stated Byrd. “Holding special interest to me is the opportunity to work with the stunning musical score created by Carlos Simon, inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson’s book The Warmth of Other Suns. The evocative title of Wilkerson’s book is the primary source of my inspiration.”
The artistry and leadership of Black ballet dancers has shaped ballet throughout the United States and across the globe, and although the history is rich, many stories have remained untold and unheard.
In the spirit of Sanfoka and to further amplify Black voices in ballet and shine a light on these key conversations happening in the field, the Kennedy Center has partnered with two women leading this work in the industry, Theresa Ruth Howard and Denise Saunders Thompson, who have contributed to the curation of two dynamic programs with the aim of reframing the narrative.
Thompson, President and CEO of The International Association of Blacks in Dance, brings together Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), founded 53 years ago by visionary Artistic Director Arthur Mitchell, and two companies, Ballethnic Dance Company and Collage Dance Collective, founded by former DTH company members that carry his vision forward, for a week of performances.
These three pillar companies come together for the first time to highlight the wide spectrum of their work and presence in ballet today and to celebrate what they have been doing for decades.
Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s Assistant Conductor Kalena Bovell and Dr. Leslie Dunner, former DTH and The Joffrey Ballet Principal Conductor, will share conducting duties across the programs.
In addition, Howard, founder of Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet, has assembled a group of artists for the world premiere Kennedy Center commission.
Reframing the Narrative Schedule
Program A: June 14-16, 2022
- Balamouk (Annabelle Lopez Ochoa)
Dance Theatre of Harlem - Odalisques Variations from Le Corsaire (Dylan Santos after Marius Petipa)
Dance Theatre of Harlem - Sanctity (Waverly T. Lucas II)
Ballethnic Dance Company - Bluff City Blues (Amy Hall Garner)
Collage Dance Collective - New Commission (Donald Byrd)
Featuring Black-identifying dancers from around the country
Program B: June 17-18, 2022
- Gloria (Robert Garland)
Dance Theatre of Harlem - Excerpt from The Leopard Tale (Waverly T. Lucas II)
Ballethnic Dance Company - New Commission (Donald Byrd)
Featuring Black-identifying dancers from around the country - Firebird (Kevin Thomas)
Collage Dance Collective
Featured Photo of Dance Theatre of Harlem in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Balamouk. Photo by Christopher Duggan courtesy of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.
