Members of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Lindsey Donnell, left, and Derek Brockington dance with Chautauquans during “Dancing in the Streets” June 28, 2022 on Bestor Plaza.
NORA SMITH
Staff Writer
Wrapping up the 2026 Summer Season in a week of gathering and celebration for Week Nine, “The Importance of Gathering,” a community gathering event will both kick off the week and end the week, both involving the language of movement.
Dance Theatre of Harlem, an American professional ballet company and dance school based in Harlem, New York, will welcome participants of all ages and abilities into a celebration of community movement at 3 p.m. Sunday in Bestor Plaza or the Amphitheater in the event of rain, with “Dancing in the Streets.”
“Dance Theatre of Harlem, which was founded at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, was founded, in a way, to prove that ballet belongs to everyone,” Vice President of Performing and Visual Arts Laura Savia said. “That is going to be borne out in this event, because on Sunday, ballet is going to belong to everyone.”
Savia said “Dancing in the Streets” will bring people together from all different generations and abilities as members of Dance Theatre of Harlem guide them in enjoyable ballet activities. She added that it’s often the people with the least amount of dance experience who end up having the best time.
“I would encourage people to come with members of their family or friends just to make an afternoon of it,” Savia said. “It’s one hour where we can all come together as a community and experience something, set our phones down and just be in our bodies, be present and move together and groove together.”
Savia said, especially in approaching the end of the season, this event is an opportunity to begin the last week of the season “doing what Chautauqua does best and gathering and convening,” in which she said Dance Theatre of Harlem will help the community do so.
During this participatory dance workshop, Dance Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director Robert Garland said the company will take the last movement of a ballet in their repertory, titled Return, and teach participants choreography inspired by the “Soul Train Line” section.
“‘The Soul Train Line’ is a cherished part of African American tradition, closely connected to many communal dance practices across the African diaspora,” Garland said. “At its heart, it’s an expression of community — a joyful, collective celebration of movement and togetherness.”
Garland said once participants are comfortable, they will then be encouraged to move down “The Soul Train Line” themselves, “improvising and celebrating the joy of movement together.” He added that people can truly appreciate the value of coming together again after having experienced the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This free and fun workshop brings world-class artistry directly to our Chautauqua community,” the event description reads. “Deeply committed to building connection through the arts, company artists will introduce you to the joy and power of dance.”
“Dancing outdoors, surrounded by nature, creates a powerful sense of connection — it’s always an extraordinary experience,” Garland said.
According to the Company’s description on their website, “Through performances, community engagement and arts education, the Company carries forward Dance Theatre of Harlem’s message of empowerment through the arts for all.”
The Company’s website states that Dance Theatre of Harlem “performs a forward-thinking repertoire,” which includes classics and George Balanchine’s neoclassical works, in addition to works by Garland and “innovative contemporary works that use the language of ballet to celebrate Arthur Mitchell’s belief that ballet belongs to everyone.”
The Dance Theatre of Harlem won’t just engage with the community in this participatory workshop, but they will also perform four pieces during their performance at 7:30 p.m. Monday on the Amphitheater stage.
Closing the weeklong celebration of gathering, an hour-long Japanese Obon celebration will conclude the season at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, with dancing, drumming, food and Japanese lanterns.
