Dance Theatre of Harlem, Company on a Mission > Repertory List
REPERTORY LIST
WORKS PRODUCED BY THE DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM
1969-2004
COMPILED BY LYNN GARAFOLA
Although many DTH works, especially in the company’s early years, were initially given as out-of-town tryouts or previews (similar to the practice for Broadway shows), the dates given below are those of a work’s official premiere.
1969
Ode to Otis
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: songs by Otis Redding, arranged by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
Scenery: James French
Costumes: Bernard Johnson
DTH premiere: February 2, 1969, Fellowship Hall, St. James Presbyterian Church, New York City
Dancers: Lydia Abarca, Gerald Banks, Walter Raines, Samuel Smalls, Arturo Vivaldo, Derek Williams
Biosfera
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Marlos Nobre
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Paul Sullivan
DTH premiere: December 4, 1969, Lee Nordness Galleries, New York City
Dancers: Lydia Abarca, Walter Raines
Note: An early version of this work, with the title Convergências, was performed by the Companhia Brasileira de Ballet at the Teatro Novo, Rio de Janeiro, June 11, 1968.
1970
Timperturbably Blue
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Duke Ellington
Premiere: February 23, 1970, Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden, New York City
Dancers: Company
Note: This was choreographed for Sold on Ice, a tribute to Duke Ellington.
Rhythmetron
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Marlos Nobre
Scenery/lighting: G. Vaughn Lowther
Costumes/accessories: Bernard Johnson
DTH premiere: May 21, 1970, William Penn High School, Philadelphia
Principal dancers: Patricia Ricketts, Llanchie Stevenson, Clover Mathis, Lydia Abarca, Walter Raines, Virginia Johnson, Samuel Smalls
Note: This was first performed by the Companhia Brasileira de Ballet at the Teatro Novo, Rio de Janeiro, on June 11, 1968.
Holberg Suite
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Edvard Grieg
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: G. Vaughn Lowther
DTH premiere: May 21, 1970, William Penn High School, Philadelphia
Principal dancers: Lydia Abarca, Virginia Johnson, Gayle McKinney, Roslyn Sampson, Llanchie Stevenson, Clover Mathis, Walter Raines, William Scott, Ronda Sampson, Sheila Rohan, Edward Moore, Samuel Smalls, Ronald Perry, Pamela Jones
Tones
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Tania León
Scenery/lighting: George Vaughn Lowther
Costumes: Hutaff Lennon
DTH premiere: June 19, 1970, City Hall Theatre, Bermuda
Principal dancers: Lydia Abarca, Virginia Johnson, Gayle McKinney, Sheila Rohan, Rhonda Sampson, Roslyn Sampson, Llanchie Stevenson, Walter Raines
Concerto Barocco
Choreography: George Balanchine (staged by Una Kai)
Music: J. S. Bach
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: George Vaugn Lowther
DTH premiere: June 17, 1970, City Hall Theatre, Bermuda
Principal dancers: Lydia Abarca, Llanchie Stevenson, Clover Mathis
Spiritual Suite
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
DTH premiere: June 19, 1970, City Hall Theatre, Bermuda
Principal dancers: Llanchie Stevenson, Gerald Banks, Clover Mathis, Edward Moore, Ronald Perry, Walter Raines, William Scott, Samuel Smalls, James Thurston, Derek Williams
1971
Fête Noire
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Dmitri Shostakovich
Scenery: Bernard Johnson
Costumes: Patricia Madison/Bernard Johnson
Lighting: George Vaughn Lowther
DTH premiere: January 8, 1971, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Walter Raines, Llanchie Stevenson, Gayle McKinney, Lazar Dano, Clover Mathis, Rodney Swan
Note: Mitchell contributed a Pas de Quatre to music by Shostakovich to a ballet called Sequéncia danced by the Companhia Brasileira de Ballet at the Teatro Novo, Rio de Janeiro, July 4, 1968.
Fun and Games
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Piero Piccioni
Scenery/costumes: Bernard Johnson
Lighting: Fred Barry
DTH premiere: March 8, 1971, ANTA Theatre, New York City
Principal dancers: Llanchie Stevenson, Clover Mathis, Virginia Johnson, James Thurston
Note: Mitchell’s Ritual nas trevas (Ritual in the Dark) to music by Piero Piccioni for the Companhia Brasileira de Ballet premiered on July 4, 1968 at the Teatro Novo, Rio de Janeiro.
Afternoon of a Faun
Choreography: Jerome Robbins
Music: Claude Debussy
Scenery/lighting: Jean Rosenthal
Costumes: Irene Sharaff (executed by Zelda Wynn)
DTH premiere: March 8, 1971, ANTA Theatre, New York City
Dancers: Lydia Abarca, Clover Mathis
Design for Strings
Choreography: John Taras
Music: Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
DTH premiere: March 9, 1971, ANTA Theatre, New York City
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Paul Russell, Gayle McKinney, Melva Murray-White, Homer Bryant, Laura Brown
Concerto for Jazz Band and Orchestra
Choreography: George Balanchine/Arthur Mitchell
Music: Rolf Lieberman, conducted by Robert Irving and Doc Severinson
Lighting: Ronald Bates
Premiere: May 6, 1971 (Annual New York City Ballet Gala Benefit), New York State Theater
Dancers: Company
Note: This first and only performance of the ballet was performed by dancers of both the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the New York City Ballet.
Agon
Choreography: George Balanchine
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Costumes: practice clothes
Lighting: Nananne Porcher
DTH premiere: June 27, 1971, Festival of Two Worlds, Spoleto, Italy
Principal dancers: Lydia Abarca, Derek Williams, Walter Raines, Llanchie Stevenson, Gayle McKinney, Sara Yarborough, Homer Bryant, Paul Russell
The Beloved
Choreography: Lester Horton (staged by James Truitte)
Music: Judith Hamilton
Costumes: Zelda Wynn, after originals by Lester Horton
Lighting: Fred Barry, after original by Lester Horton
DTH premiere: December 11, 1971, Hunter College Playhouse, New York City
Dancers: Gayle McKinney, Walter Raines
Forces of Rhythm
Choreography: Louis Johnson
Music: Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky and various popular songwriters, arranged by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Fred Barry
First DTH performance (as work-in-process): December 12, 1971, Hunter College Playhouse, New York City
Principal dancers: Patricia Ricketts, Gayle McKinney, Edward Moore, Derek Williams, Paul Russell
1972
Carmen and José
Choreography: Ruth Page
Music: Georges Bizet (arranged by Isaac Van Grove, orchestrated by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, assisted by Tania León and Henry Brandon)
Costumes/projections: André Delfau
First performed by DTH (in collaboration with Ruth Page’s Chicago Ballet): May 12, 1972, Civic Theatre, Chicago
Principal dancers: Lydia Abarca, Walter Raines, Gayle McKinney, Paul Russell
Carmina Burana
Choreography: Ruth Page
Music: Carl Orff
Costumes/lighting: André Delfau
First performed by DTH (in collaboration with Ruth Page’s Chicago Ballet): May 13, 1972, Civic Theatre, Chicago
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Paul Russell
Laurencia Pas de Six
Choreography: Vakhtang Chabukiani (restaged by David and Anna-Marie Holmes)
Music: Alexander Krein
Costumes: David Holmes, executed by Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Fred Barry
DTH premiere: November 6, 1972, ANTA Theatre, New York City
Dancers: Lydia Abarca, Walter Raines, Virginia Johnson, Paul Russell, Gayle McKinney, Derek Williams
1973
Ancient Voices of Children
Choreography: Milko Sparemblek
Music: George Crumb
Scenery: Bill Sullivan
Costumes: Milko Sparembleck (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Gary Fails
DTH premiere: May 19, 1973, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago
Dancers: Melva Murray-White, William Scott, Gerald Banks, Homer Bryant, Derek Williams, Ronald Perry, Paul Russell
Haiku (A Dream for Brown Eyes)
Choreography: Walter Raines
Music: Tania León
Costumes: Walter Raines (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Hats: Walter Raines (executed by Cleo Sims)
Mask, lighting, and projection: Gary Fails
DTH premiere: July 20, 1973, American Dance Festival, Connecticut College New London, Connecticut
Principal dancers: Gayle McKinney, Melva Murray-White, Virginia Johnson
Belé
Choreography, music, and costumes: Geoffrey Holder (assisted by Martial Roumain)
Music arranged by Tania León
Costumes executed by Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Paul Sullivan
DTH premiere: November 13, 1973, Loew’s Victoria Theatre, New York City
Dancers: Company
Le Corsaire (Pas de Deux)
Choreography: Karel Shook (after Vakhtang Chabukiani)
Music: Riccardo Drigo
Costumes: Sheridan Michell (executed by Zelda Wynn)
DTH premiere: December 22, 1973, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College, New York City
Principal dancers: Laura Brown, Paul Russell
1974
Dougla
Choreography, music, and costumes: Geoffrey Holder (assisted by Avind Harum)
Music arranged by Tania León
Costumes executed by Zelda Wynn, supervised by Carl Michel
Lighting: Paul Sullivan
DTH premiere: April 16, 1974, ANTA Theatre, New York City
Principal dancers: Karen Wright, Sheila Rohan, William Scott, Rhonda Sampson, Gayle McKinney, Brenda Garratt, Roman Brooks, Homer Bryant
Wings
Choreography: Louis Johnson
Music: Benjamin Britten
Costumes: Carl Michel (assisted by Hutaff Lennon)
Lighting/projections: Paul Sullivan
DTH premiere: April 16, 1974, ANTA Theatre, New York City
Principal dancers: Roslyn Sampson, William Scott, Melva Murray-White, Derek Williams, Virginia Johnson, Paul Russell, Joseph Wyatt, Laura Brown, Susan Lovelle, Sheila Rohan
Caravansarai
Choreography: Talley Beatty
Music: Carlos Santana
Costumes: William Pennington (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Paul Sullivan
DTH premiere: April 18, 1974, ANTA Theatre, New York City
Dancers: Paul Russell, Virginia Johnson, Brenda Garratt, Roman Brooks, William Scott
1975
Don Quixote (Pas de Deux)
Choreography: Karel Shook
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Gary Fails
DTH premiere: February 15, 1975, War Memorial Auditorium, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina
Dancers: Virginia Johnson, Paul Russell
Bugaku
Choreography: George Balanchine (staged by Rosemary Dunleavy)
Music: Toshiro Mayuzumi
Scenery/lighting: David Hays (lighting adapted by Gary Fails)
Costumes: Karinska (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Wigs: Stanley James
DTH premiere: April 25, 1975, Uris Theatre, New York City
Principal dancers: Lydia Abarca, Ronald Perry
Every Now and Then
Choreography: William Scott
Music: Quincy Jones
Costumes: Hutaff Lennon/Jack Cunningham (executed by Zelda Wynn)
DTH premiere: April 25, 1975, Uris Theatre, New York City
Principal dancers: Sheila Rohan, Homer Bryant, Lydia Abarca, Yvonne Hall, Roslyn Sampson, Ronald Perry, Mel Tomlinson, Joseph Watt, Elena Carter, Susan Lovelle, Allen Sampson
After Corinth
Choreography: Walter Raines
Music: David Gagne
Scenery/lighting: Gary Fails
Special effects: Steve Terry
Costumes: Carl Michel/Walter Raines (executed by Zelda Wynn)
DTH premiere: April 29, 1975, Uris Theatre, New York City
Dancers: Melva Murray-White, Virginia Johnson, Roman Brooks, Elena Carter, Joseph Wyatt, Allen Sampson, Samuel Smalls
Allegro Brillante
Choreography: George Balanchine (staged by Sara Leland)
Music: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Costumes: Karinska (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Gary Fails
DTH premiere: May 1, 1975, Uris Theatre, New York City
Principal dancers: Lydia Abarca, Ronald Perry
Mendelssohn Concerto
Choreography: William Dollar
Music: Felix Mendelssohn
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Gary Fails
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DTH premiere: November 4, 1975, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago
Principal dancers: Susan Lovelle, Joseph Wyatt, Elena Carter
Manifestations
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Primous Fountain III
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Gary Fails
DTH premiere: November 6, 1975, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago
Dancers: Homer Bryant, Susan Lovelle, Mel Tomlinson
Note: Scenery by Gary Fails was added in 1978, with scene and costume painting by Carol Garner and lighting by Clarke W. Thornton.
The Combat
Choreography: William Dollar
Music: Raffaello de Banfield
Costumes: Marie-Laure (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Gary Fails
DTH premiere: November 6, 1975, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago
Dancers: Lydia Abarca, Paul Russell, Mel Tomlinson, Samuel Smalls, Roman Brooks
1976
Romeo and Juliet (Pas de Deux) (Balcony Scene)
Choreography: Gabriella Taub-Darvash
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Gary Fails
DTH premiere: March 4, 1976, Uris Theatre, New York City
Dancers: Lydia Abarca, Paul Russell
Spiritual Suite (Dance in Praise of His Name)
Commissioned by the 41st International Eucharistic Congress/Dedicated by Arthur Mitchell to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: traditional, arranged by Tania León
Text: Karel Shook (read by Marian Anderson)
Scenery: David Hays
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Gary Fails
First performance: August 5, 1976, Robin Hood Dell West Theatre, Philadelphia
Choral soloists: Joy Simpson, Leavata Johnson
Dancers: Company
Adagietto No. 5
Choreography: Royston Maldoom
Music: Gustav Mahler
Scenery/costumes: Cecilia Doidge (costumes executed by Zelda Wynn)
First performance: November 6, 1976, Atlanta Civic Center, Atlanta
Principal dancers: Roman Brooks, Stephanie Dabney, Mel Tomlinson
1977
Breezin’
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: George Benson
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Amerish Gangadeen
DTH premiere: May 8, 1977, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City, as part of a special concert given by George Benson
Dancers: Lydia Abarca, Susan Lovelle, Gayle McKinney, Roman Brooks, Homer Bryant, Mel Tomlinson
The Greatest (Pas de Deux)
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Michael Masser (Theme Song from The Greatest, starring Muhammed Ali)
Lyrics: Linda Creed
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Amerish Gangadeen
DTH premiere: May 8, 1977, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City, as part of a special concert given by George Benson
Dancers: Virginia Johnson, Paul Russell
El Mar
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: George Benson
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Amerish Gangadeen
DTH premiere: May 8, 1977, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City, as part of a special concert given by George Benson
Principal dancers: Ronald Perry, Paul Russell, Mel Tomlinson
Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux
Choreography: George Balanchine (staged by Sara Leland)
Music: Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
Costumes: Zelda Wynn, after originals by Karinska
Lighting: Amerish Gangadeen, after original designs by Ronald Bates
DTH premiere: May 17, 1977, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago
Dancers: Virginia Johnson, Paul Russell
Untitled (Work in Progress)
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Primous Fountain III
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Amerish Gangadeen
DTH premiere: August 20, 1977, American Dance Festival, Rogers High School Auditorium, Newport, Rhode Island
Principal dancers: Lydia Abarca, Ronald Perry, Virginia Johnson, Paul Russell
1978
Doina
Choreography: Royston Maldoom
Music: George Zemphir and Marcel Cellier
Costumes: Alisa Berk (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Douglas Kisley
DTH premiere: February 18,1978, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College, New York City
Principal dancers: Yvonne Hall, Eddie J. Shellman
Invasion
Choreography: Royston Maldoom
Music: Stomu Yamash’ta
Scenery/costumes: Cecilia Doidge (costumes executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Douglas Kisley
DTH premiere: February 18, 1978, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College, New York City
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Lowell Smith
His Love Is Everylasting
Conceived and written by Karel Shook, Robert Bass, and Brenda J. Saunders
Staged by Arthur Mitchell
Choreography: Royston Maldoon (Doina)
Music: Tomaso Albinoni, G. F. Handel, Randall Thompson, George Zemphir, Marcel Cellier, Norman Dello Joio, John Motley, Brenda Saunders, and spirituals arranged by Hall Johnson
Costumes: Alisa Berk, executed by Zelda Wynn (Doina), Constance Saunders (Choral Ensemble)
DTH premiere: March 25, 1978, St. Paul’s Chapel, Columbia University, New York City
Principal dancers: Yvonne Hall, Eddie J. Shellman
Singers: Dance Theatre of Harlem Choral Ensemble
Narrator: Marion Anderson
Troy Game
Choreography: Robert North (assisted by Namron)
Music: Bob Downes
Costumes: Peter Farmer (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Edward Effron
DTH premiere: Civic Opera House/Second International Dance Festival of Stars, Civic Opera House, Chicago
Dancers: Hinton Battle, Ronald Perry, Keith Saunders, Eddie J. Shellman, Lowell Smith, Donald Williams
Walk in the Light
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Brenda Saunders
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
DTH premiere: August 15, 1978, Shubert Theatre, Philadelphia
Dancers: Company
Doin’ It (A Celebration of Dance, Music, and Song)
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell (introduction and finale, with excerpts from a rotating group of ballets from the company’s repertory)
Music: Brenda Saunders
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
DTH premiere: August 15, 1978, Shubert Theatre, Philadelphia
Dancers: Company, with the Dance Theatre of Harlem Chorus
Note: The opening-night performance featured a one-time-only appearance by Marian Anderson, who narrated the segment “His Love is Everlasting.”
Shapes of Evening
Choreography: Carlos Carvajal
Music: Claude Debussy
Costumes: Zelda Wynn, after originals by Carolyn Houser
Lighting: Edward Effron
DTH premiere: September 19, 1978, Fall Community Dance Series, Wollman Auditorium, Columbia University, New York City
Dancers: Virginia Johnson, Karen Brown, Stephanie Dabney, Lowell Smith, Keith Saunders, Eddie J. Shellman
Introducing...
Choreography: Choo San Goh
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Costumes: Zelda Wynn, after originals by Mary Day
Lighting: Edward Effron
DTH premiere: September 21, 1978, Wollman Auditorium, Columbia University, New York City
Dancers: Karlya Shelton, Melva Murray-White, Yvonne Hall, Hinton Battle, Ronald Perry, Eddie J. Shellman, Karen Brown, Stephanie Dabney, Julie Felix
Variations Serieuses
Choreography: Choo San Goh
Music Felix Mendelssohn
Costumes: Zelda Wynn, after originals by Mary Day
Lighting: Edward Effron
DTH premiere: September 21, 1978, Wollman Auditorium/Columbia University, New York City
Dancers: Virginia Johnson, Karen Brown, Stephanie Dabney, Denise Nix, Julie Felix, Corinne King, Karlya Shelton, Judy Tyrus, Patrick King, D’Artagnan Petty, Keith Saunders, Lowell Smith
1979
The Four Temperaments
Choreography: George Balanchine (staged by Victoria Simon, coached by Bart Cook)
Music: Paul Hindemith
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Edward Effron
DTH premiere: February 20, 1979, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Melva Murray-White, Keith Saunders, Stephanie Dabney, Lowell Smith, Yvonne Hall, Donald Williams, Ronald Perry, Virginia Johnson, Eddie J. Shellman, Mel Tomlinson, Lorraine Graves
Secret Silence
Choreography: Carlos Carvajal
Music: Daniel Kobialka
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Edward Effron
DTH premiere: February 22, 1979, City Center, New York City
Dancers: Ronald Perry, Lowell Smith, Eddie J. Shellman, Keith Saunders, Mel Tomlinson, Peter Hunter, Donald Williams, Karen Brown, Stephanie Dabney, Julie Felix, Virginia Johnson, Melva Murray-White, Judy Tyrus, Lorraine Graves
Sensemaya
Choreography: Carmen de Lavallade
Music: Silvestre Revueltas
Costumes: Dean H. Reiter (assisted by Nan Cibula)
Costumes executed by Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Edward Effron
DTH premiere: February 22, 1979, City Center, New York City
Dancers: Karen Brown, Melva Murray-White, Eddie J. Shellman, Lowell Smith, Peter Hunter, Keith Saunders, Gregory Stewart, Donald Williams
Serenade
Choreography: George Balanchine (staged by Victoria Simon)
Music: Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
Costumes: Karinska (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Edward Effron
DTH premiere: February 27, 1979, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Lorraine Graves, Lydia Abarca, Lowell Smith, Mel Tomlinson
Mirage (The Games People Play)
Choreography: Billy Wilson
Music: Gary McFarland
Scenery/costumes: Arthur McGee
Lighting: Edward Effron
DTH premiere: February 27, 1979, City Center, New York City
Dancers: Lowell Smith, Melva Murray-White, Virginia Johnson, Ronald Perry, Stephanie Dabney, Patrick King, Karen Brown, Mel Tomlinson, Yvonne Hall
1980
Greening
Choreograph: Glen Tetley (assisted by Bronwen Curry)
Music: Arne Nordheim
Costumes: Nadine Baylis (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Toshiro Ogawa
DTH premiere: January 9, 1980, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Lowell Smith, Lydia Abarca, Eddie J. Shellman, Ronald Perry
Swan Lake, Act II
Choreography: Frederick Franklin, after Lev Ivanov
Music: Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
Scenery: Steven Rubin
Costumes: Carl Michel
Lighting: Kevin Tyler
DTH premiere: January 9, 1980, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Lydia Abarca, Ronald Perry, Eddie J. Shellman, Keith Saunders
Note: In 1989 the ballet was revived with new sets and costumes.
Paquita
Choreography: Marius Petipa (staged by Alexandra Danilova/Frederic Franklin)
Music: Ludwig Minkus/Edouard Deldevez
Costumes: Carl Michel
Lighting: Kevin Tyler
DTH premiere: January 11, 1980, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Elena Carter, Joseph Wyatt, Stephanie Dabney, Judy Tyrus, Yvonne Hall, Karen Brown, Melanie Person, Karlya Shelton
1981
Scheherazade
Choreography: Michel Fokine (staged by Frederic Franklin)
Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Scenery: Geoffrey Guy, after original designs by Léon Bakst
Costumes: Carl Michel
Lighting: Nicholas Cernovitch
DTH premiere: January 3, 1981, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Eddie J. Shellman, Lowell Smith, Mel Tominson, Frederic Franklin
Frankie and Johnny
Choreography: Ruth Page/Bentley Stone (staged by Frederic Franklin)
Music: Jerome Moross
Scenery: Clive Rickabaugh
Costumes: after the original designs by Paul du Pont
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: May 21, 1981, Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California
Principal dancers: Stephanie Dabney, Mel Tomlinson, Yvonne Hall
1982
Firebird
Choreography: John Taras
Music: Igor Stravinsky (Firebird Suite, 1945 version)
Scenery/costumes: Geoffrey Holder
Costumes executed by Grace Costumes
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: January 12, 1982, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Stephanie Dabney, Donald Williams, Lorraine Graves Sulpicio Mariano
A Streetcar Named Desire
(Dedicated to Mr. Tennessee Williams in Honor of his 70th Birthday)
Choreography: Valerie Bettis (assisted by Robert Petersen)
Music: Alex North
Scenery: Peter Larkin (executed by Merrill Stone Associates)
Costumes: Saul Bolasni (executed by Grace Costumes)
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: January 14, 1982, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Lowell Smith, Elena Carter, Donald Williams
Banda
Choreography, music, and costumes: Geoffrey Holder
Costumes executed by Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: January 19, 1982, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Karen Brown (Mother), Donald Williams (Baron Samedi), Joseph Cipolla (Priest), Lowell Smith (Man With Coffin)
Songs of the Auvergne
Choreography/costumes: Geoffrey Holder
Music: Traditional songs (arranged by Marie-Joseph Canteloube)
Costumes executed by Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: January 19, 1982, City Center, New York City
Dancer: Virginia Johnson
Equus: The Ballet
Directed, choreographed, and designed by Domy Reiter-Soffer (based on the play by Peter Shaffer)
Music: Wilfred Josephs
Costumes executed by E. Huntington Parker Costume Shop
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
First performance: January 21, 1982, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Lowell Smith, D’Artagnan Petty, Donald Williams, Karlya Shelton, Lorraine Graves, Joseph Wyatt, Stephanie Dabney, Cassandra Phifer
Othello
Choreography: John Butler
Music: Antonin Dvorak
Scenery: Tom H. John
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: July 7, 1982, Twenty-Fifth Festival of Two Worlds, Teatro Romano, Spoleto, Italy
Dancers: Donald Willians, Elena Carter, Sulpicio Mariano
1983
Pas de Dix (Raymonda, Act III)
Choreography: Marius Petipa (staged by Frederick Franklin)
Music: Alexander Glazunov
Scenery/costumes: Carl Michel
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornston
DTH premiere: January 25, 1983, City Center, New York City
Dancers: Virginia Johnson, Eddie J. Shellman, Karlya Shelton, D’Artagnan Petty, Karen Brown, Judy Tyrus, Keith Saunders, Judy Tyrus, Thomas Condon, Yvonne Hall, Joseph Cipolla
Les Biches
Choreography: Bronislava Nijinska (staged by Irina Nijinska and Juliette Kando)
Music: Francis Poulenc
Scenery/costumes: John C. Gilkerson, after the originals by Marie Laurencin
Scene painting: R. W. Merola Scenic Studios
Costumes executed by Sandra Woodall
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: January 27, 1983, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Leslie Woodard, Eddie J. Shellman, Keith Saunders, Thomas Condon, Virginia Johnson, Lorraine Graves, Terri Tomkins, Melanie Person
Graduation Ball
Choreography: David Lichine (staged by Terry Orr)
Music: Johann Strauss, Jr., arranged and orchestrated by Antal Dorati
Scenery: Paul G. Moore
Costumes: Carl Michel
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: February 1, 1983, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Keith Saunders, Karlya Shelton, Judy Tyrus, Lowell Smith, D’Artagnan Petty, Donald Williams, Yvonne Hall, Eddie J. Shellman, Lorraine Graves, Karen Brown
Fall River Legend
Choreography: Agnes de Mille (staged by Enrique Martinez)
Music: Morton Gould
Scenery: Oliver Smith (executed by Nolan Scenery Studios)
Costumes: Stanley Simmons (executed by Carl Michel)
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: February 3, 1983, City Center, New York City
Principal dancer: Virginia Johnson, Lorraine Graves, Stephanie Dabney, Keith Saunders, Terri Tompkins, Lowell Smith, Howard Rollins
Square Dance
Choreography: George Balanchine (staged by Victoria Simon)
Music: Arcangelo Corelli/Antonio Vivaldi
Caller’s text: Elisha C. Keeler
Costumes: Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: February 3, 1983, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Judy Tyrus, Eddie J. Shellman
Caller: Howard Rollins
Sylvia Pas de Deux
Choreography: Frederic Franklin
Music: Léo Delibes
Costumes: Carl Michel
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: February 8, 1983, City Center, New York City
Dancers: Virginia Johnson, Lowell Smith
Wingborne
Choreography: Loyce Houlton (staged with Andrew Thompson)
Music: Antonin Dvorak
Scenery: Judith Cooper
Costumes: Loyce Houlton (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Clarke W. Thornton
DTH premiere: February 10, 1983, City Center, New York City
Dancers: Yvonne Hall, Lowell Smith
1984
Songs of Mahler
Choreography: Michael Smuin (staged by Paula Tracy)
Music: Gustav Mahler
Costumes: Michael Smuin (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Sarah Linnie Slocum
DTH premiere: February 15, 1984, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Dancers: Charmaine Hunter, Karlya Shelton, Augustus van Heerden, Audrey Connally, Carld Jonassaint, Stephanie Dabney, Joseph Cipolla, Judy Tyrus, Eddie J. Shellman, Tyrone Brooks, Terri Tompkins, Sulpicio Mariano, Melanie Person, Darrell Davis, Dean Anderson, Lorraine Graves, Julie Felix, Lowell Smith
Giselle
Choreography: Jean Coralli/Jules Perrot (staged by Frederic Franklin)
Music: Adolphe Adam
Scenario: Arthur Mitchell/Carl Michel
Scenery/costumes: Carl Michel
Scenery executed by R. W. Merola Scenic Studios
Lighting: Shirley Prendergast
DTH premiere: July 18, 1984, London Coliseum, London, England
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Eddie J. Shellman, Lorraine Graves, Lowell Smith, Theara Ward, Cassandra Phifer (Berthe), Judy Tyrus, Joseph Cipolla, Karen Brown, Charmaine Hunter
Stars and Stripes
Choreography: George Balanchine (staged by Victoria Simon)
Music: John Philip Sousa, arranged and adapted by Hershey Kay
Scenery: David Hays (executed by Carl Michel)
Costumes: Karinska (executed by Carl Michel)
Lighting: Shirley Prendergast
DTH premiere: August 7, 1984, Pasadena Civic Auditorium/Olympic Arts Festival, Pasadena, California
Principal dancers: Judy Tyrus, Lorraine Graves, Joseph Cipolla, Stephanie Dabney, Donald Williams
Voluntaries
Choreography: Glen Tetley (assisted by Scott Douglas)
Music: Francis Poulenc
Scenery/costumes: Rouben Ter-Arutunian
Scenery executed by R. W. Merola Scenic Studios)
Costumes painted by Parmalee Wells Tolkan
Lighting: Jennifer Tipton
DTH premiere: September 26, 1984, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Yvonne Hall, Augustus van Heerden, Joseph Cipolla, Stephanie Dabney, Donald Williams
1985
Fancy Free
Choreography: Jerome Robbins (staged by Sara Leland)
Music: Leonard Bernstein
Scenery: Oliver Smith (executed by R. W. Merola Scenic Studios)
Costumes: Kermit Love (executed by Zelda Wynn)
Lighting: Ronald Bates
DTH premiere: May 13, 1985, Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena California
Dancers: Donald Williams, Cubie Burke, Tyrone Brooks, Terri Tompkins, Christina Johnson, Theara Ward, Bernard McClain
La Mer
Choreography/scenery/costumes: Domy Reiter-Soffer
Composer: Claude Debussy
Scenery executed by R. W. Merola Scenic Studios
Costumes executed by Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Paul Valoris
DTH premiere: May 16, 1985, Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California
Principal dancers: Donald Williams, Stephanie Dabney, Lorraine Graves, Joseph Cipolla
Piano Movers
Choreography: David Gordon (assisted by Keith Marshall)
Music: Thelonius Monk
Costumes: Santo Loquasto
Lighting: Jennifer Tipton
First performance: June 24, 1985, Metropolitan Opera House, New York City
Dancers: Joselli Audain, Karen Brown, Cassandra Phifer, Judith Rotardier, Linda Swayze, Dean Anderson, Darrell Davis, Pierre Lockett, Bernard McClain, Keith Saunders, Donald Williams
1986
Concerto in F
Choreography: Billy Wilson
Music: George Gershwin
Scenery/costumes: Carl Michel
Scene painting: R. W. Merola Scenic Studios
Lighting: Chenault Spence
DTH premiere: February 4, 1986, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Stephanie Dabney, Donald Williams, Charmaine Hunter, Joseph Cipolla, Hugues Magen
Toccata e Due Canzoni
Choreography: John McFall (assisted by Rhonda Martyn)
Music: Boshuslav Martinu
Costumes: Carl Michel
Lighting: Chenault Spence
DTH premiere: February 5, 1986, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Carld Jonassaint
Saffron Knot
Choreography and costumes: Istvan Rabovsky
Music: Richard Wagner
Lighting: Chenault Spence
DTH premiere: March 28, 1986, Aaron Davis Hall, City College, New York City
Principal dancers: Judy Tyrus, Eddie J. Shellman
Footprints Dressed in Red
Choreography: Garth Fagan (assisted by Norwood Pennewell)
Music: John Adams
Costumes: Giovanna Ferragamo
DTH premiere: June 18, 1986, Palazzo dello Sport, Florence, Italy
Principal dancers: Stephanie Dabney, Virginia Johnson, Lorraine Graves, Donald Williams, Eddie J. Shellman, Lowell Smith
1987
Phoenix Rising (Work in Progress)
Choreography: Billy Wilson/Arthur Mitchell
Music: Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
Scenery/costumes: Geoffrey Holder
Costumes executed Zelda Wynn
Lighting: Paul Sillivan
DTH premiere: March 24, 1987, Aaron Davis Hall, City College, New York City
Principal dancers: Cassandra Phifer, Sharon Bogan, Nicolette Marshall, Felicity de Jager, Theara Ward
1988
Billy the Kid
Choreography: Eugene Loring (reconstructed by Virginia Doris and staged by Patrice L. Whiteside)
Music: Aaron Copland
Libretto: Lincoln Kirstein
Scenery/costumes: Robert Fletcher
Lighting: Robert Klemm
DTH premiere: June 28, 1988, City Center/1988 New York International Festival of the Arts, New York City
Principal dancers: Donald Willians, Stephanie Dabney, Lowell Smith, Hugues Magen
John Henry
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: traditional John Henry melodies and verses (arranged by Milton Rosenstock, sung by Leon Bibb)
Scenery/costumes: Carl Michel
Lighting: Warren Scott Schilk
First performance: June 28, 1988, City Center/1988 New York International Festival of the Arts, New York City
Principal dancers: Eddie J. Shellman, Yvonne Hall, Theara Ward, Lowell Smith, Gregory Jackson, Ronald Perry
“John Henry is the tale of the steel drivin’ man who fights against automation. He challenges the steam drill and wins, but dies with his hammer in his hand. This ballet celebrates the special qualities of this legendary folk hero.”
Polovetsian Dances from Prince Igor
Choreography: Michel Fokine (staged by Frederic Franklin)
Music: Alexander Borodin
Scenery/costumes: Carl Michel
Lighting: Chenault Spence
DTH premiere: June 30, 1988, City Center/1988 New York International Festival of the Arts, New York City
Principal dancers: Lorraine Graves, Charmaine Hunter, Hugues Magen
1989
Rondo Capriccioso
Choreography: Bronislava Nijinska (staged by Rosella Hightower and Irina Nijinska)
Music: Camille Saint-Saëns
Scenery: Carl Michel
Costumes: Jean Robier (executed by Carl Michel)
Lighting: Chenault Spence
DTH premiere: June 27, 1989, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Stephanie Dabney, Ronald Perry, Dean Anderson, Mitchell McCarthy
Les Noces
Choreography: Bronislava Nijinska (staged by Irina Nijinska and Howard Sayette)
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Scenery/costumes: Natalia Goncharova (supervised by John C. Gilkerson)
Lighting: Chenault Spence
DTH premiere: June 27, 1989, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Lorraine Graves, Bernard McClain
Note: The pianists in Les Noces were Mitchell Andrews, John van Buskirk, Harriet Wingreen, and Elizabeth Wright, and the vocal soloists were Andrea Matthews, Elsa Larsson, Jack Litten, and William Metcalf.
The Cape
Choreography: Gail Kachadurian
Music: Paul Hindemith
Scenery: Paul Moore
Costumes: Natalie Garfinkle
Lighting: Warren Scott Schilk
DTH premiere: March 23, 1989, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Robert Garland, Bernard McClain, Judy Tyrus, Hugues Magen, Dean Anderson, Marck Weymmann, Kellye Gordon
1990
Flower Festival in Genzano (excerpts)
Choreography: August Bournonville, staged by Flemming Ryberg
Music: Edvard Helsted/H.S. Paulli, arranged by Ole Norling
Scenery/costumes: Carl Michel
DTH premiere: March 22, 1990, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Dancers: Endalyn Taylor-Shellman, Ronald Perry, Erika Lambe, Kellye Gordon, Lisa Attles, Adam James, Keith Thomas, Derek Reid
1991
Ginastera
Choreography: Billy Wilson
Music: Alberto Ginastera
Scenery/lighting: Neil Peter Jampolis
Costumes: Barbara Forbes
Premiere: March 26, 1991, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Hugues Magen, Tai Jimenez, Rodolphe Cassand, Tyrone Brooks, Richard Witter, Lawrence de Baeyer, Charmaine Hunter
Dialogues
Choreography: Glen Tetley (assisted by Scott Douglas)
Music: Alberto Ginastera
Scenery/costumes: John MacFarlane
Lighting: Timothy Hunter
Premiere: April 2, 1991, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Dancers: Christina Johnson, Donald Williams, Karen Brown, Ronald Perry, Yvonne Hall, Richard Witter, Charmaine Hunter, Rodolphe Cassand
1992
Medea
Choreography: Michael Smuin
Music: Samuel Barber
Scenery: Norman Rizzi (after Gustav Klimt)
Costumes: Sandra Woodall
Lighting: Sara Linnie Slocum
DTH premiere: March 19, 1992, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Lisa Attles, Donald Williams, Tai Jimenez, Lawrence de Maeyer, Calvin Shawn Landers
1993
A Song for Dead Warriors
Choreography: Michael Smuin (staged by Atilla Ficzere and Alison Dean)
Music: Charles Fox
Scenery/Costumes: Willa Kim (courtesy of San Francisco Ballet)
Lighting: Sara Linnie Slocum
Projections: Ronald Chase
Indian dance consultant: Jasper Redrobe
Native American advisor: Sacheen Little Feather
DTH premiere: March 16, 1993, New York State Theater
Indian singers and drummers: Tootoosie Family
Principal dancers: Hugues Magen, Judith Rotardier, Lowell Smith, Keith Saunders, Eddie J. Shellman, Tyrone Brooks, Donald Williams, Augustus van Heerden
The River
Choreography: Alvin Ailey (staged by Masazumi Chaya)
Music: Duke Ellington
Costumes: A. Christina Giannini
Lighting: Chenault Spence
DTH premiere: March 26, 1993, New York State Theater
Principal dancers: Robert Garland, Tai Jimenez, Keith Saunders, Vince Collins, Endalyn Taylor-Shellman, Calvin Shawn Landers, Christina Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Lawrence De Maeyer, Cedric Rouse, Charmaine Hunter, Tyrone Brooks, Virginia Johnson, Lowell Smith
Bach Passacaglia
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell and Rachel Sekyi
Music: Johan Sebastian Bach
Costumes: practice clothes
Wardrobe supervision: Vernon Ross
DTH premiere: May 25, 1993, Carnegie Hall, New York City
Principal dancers: Tai Jimenez, Eddie J. Shellman, Donald Williams
Note: This ballet was commissioned by the Carnegie Hall Music Education Program for Children, “Shall We Dance.”
Firebird Finale
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell (assisted by Augustus van Heerden)
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Text: Arthur Mitchell/Rachel Worby
Costumes: practice clothes
Wardrobe supervision: Vernon Ross
DTH premiere: May 25, 1993, Carnegie Hall, New York City
Dancers: Company
Note: This was commissioned by the Carnegie Hall Music Education Program for Children, “Shall We Dance,” for a lecture-demonstration series.
1994
Etosha
Choreography: Ron Cunningham
Music: Alberto Ginastera
Costumes: Carol Vollet Kingston
Lighting: Tony Tucci
DTH premiere: March 22, 1994, New York State Theater
Principal dancers: Augustus van Heerden, Tai Jimenez, Felicity de Jager, Lisa Attles, Leslie Anne Cardona, Patrick Johnson, Luis Dominguez
1995
The Prodigal Son
Choreography: George Balanchine (staged by Richard Tanner, coached by Suzanne Farrell)
Music: Serge Prokofiev
Scenery: Georges Rouault (courtesy of American Ballet Theatre)
Costumes: Georges Rouault (courtesy of New York City Ballet)
Lighting: Jean Rosenthal (recreated by Kevin Meek)
DTH premiere: March 10, 1995, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City
Principal dancers: Calvin Shawn Landers, Christina Johnson, Keith Saunders, Lenore Pavlakos, Tanya Wideman, Dean Anderson, Andre Levitt
Signs and Wonders
Choreography: Alonzo King
Music: Traditional African
Costumes: Sandra Woodall, Robert Rosenwasser
Lighting: Lisa Pinkham
DTH premiere: March 11, 1995, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City
Principal dancers: Christina Johnson, Robert Garland, Tassia Hooks, Ryan Taylor, Donald Williams, Kellye Gordon, Virginia Johnson, Thaddeus Stevens
The Joplin Dances
Choreography: Robert Garland
Music: Scott Joplin, James Scott, Joseph Lamb, and Artie Matthews, orchestrated by David LaMarche
Scenery/costumes/props: Carl Michel
Costumes executed by Pamela Allen-Scott
Lighting: Kevin Meek
DTH premiere: March 15, 1995, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City
Principal dancers: Karen Brown, Patrick Johnson, Tassia Hooks, Keith Saunders, Virginia Johnson, Donald Williams, Christina Johnson, Judy Tyrus, Charmaine Hunter
1996
Las Hermanas
Choreography: Kenneth MacMillan (staged by Monica Parker)
Music: Frank Martin
Scenery/costumes: Nicholas Georgiadis
DTH premiere: April 30, 1996, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Tai Jimenez, Donald Williams
Acid Dreams and Nightmares
Choreography: Robert Garland
Music: Harry Partch
Scenery: Maurice Flagg
Costumes: Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Kevin Meek
Premiere: May 3, 1996, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Tai Jimenez
Ground
Choreography: Alonzo King
Music: Arvo Part, Henryk Gorecki, David LaMarche
Costumes: Robert Rosenwasser (executed by Pamela Allen-Cummings)
Lighting: Lisa Pinkham
Premiere: May 7, 1996, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Donald Williams, Kellye Gordon, Ryan Taylor, Endalyn Taylor-Shellman, Tai Jimenez, Cedric Rouse, Christina Johnson, Thaddeus David
1997
In the Glow of the Night
Choreography: Choo San Goh (staged by Janek Schergen)
Music: Bohuslav Martinu
Scenery: Carol Kingston
Costumes: Carol Kingston (executed by Pamela Allen-Cummings)
Lighting: Tony Tucci (recreated by Beth Newbold)
DTH premiere: April 5, 1997, Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts, Richmond, Virginia
Principal dancers: Kelly Gordon, Duncan Cooper, Andre Levitt, Tai Jimenez, Ronald Perry, Virginia Johnson, Eddie J. Shellman
Crossing Over
Choreography: Robert Garland
Music: John Adams
Scenery: Hyun-Joo Kim
Costumes: Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Donalee Katz
Premiere: April 8, 1997, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Cedric Rouse, Tai Jimenez, Tanya Wideman
Note: This was a homage to DTH dancers Calvin Shawn Landers and Carld Jonassaint, who had recently died.
Sasanka
Choreography: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe
Music: Ondekoza & Synergy
Costumes: Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Roma Flowers
Premiere: April 8, 1997, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Dancers: Tai Jimenez, Virginia Johnson, Endalyn Taylor-Shellman, Simone Cardoso, Lenore Pavlakos, Maria Phegan Stephanie Powell, Nicole Gayles, Alicia Graf, Zalika Proctor, Lauren Vance, Noriko Naraoka, Duncan Cooper, Ronald Perry, Donald Williams, Luis Dominguez, Vince Collins, Juan-Carlos Penuela, Cedric Rouse, Kevin Thomas, Thaddeus Davis, James Washington, Mark Burns
Dalabar
Choreography: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe
Premiere: May 16, 1997, New Victory Theater, New York City
Dancers: DTH School Ensemble
Adrian (Angel on Earth)
Choreography: John Alleyne
Music: Timothy Sullivan
Costumes: Nancy Bryant (executed by Pamela Allen-Cummings)
Lighting: Kevin Connaughton
Premiere: March 11, 1997, Music Hall, Detroit, Michigan
Principal dancers: Tai Jimenez, Donald Williams, Endalyn Taylor-Shellman, Ronald Perry, Kellye Gordon, Cedric Rouse
The Moor’s Pavane
Choreography: José Limón (supervised by Sarah Stackhouse)
Music: Henry Purcell (arranged y Simon Sadoff)
Costumes: Pauline Lawrence (executed by Pamela Allen-Dummings)
Lighting: Kevin Connaughton
DTH premiere: April 11, 1997, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Dancers: Ronald Perry, Virginia Johnson, Ronald Perry, Kellye Gordon, Donald Williams
1998
Soul on Pointe
Choreography: Louis Johnson
Music: Louis Johnson/Thomas Bridwell
Scenery/costumes: Louis Johnson
Costumes executed by Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Kevin Connaughton
Premiere: April 28, 1998, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Virginia Johnson, Duncan Cooper, Kellye A. Saunders, Donald Williams, Vince Collins
South African Suite
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell, with Augustus van Heerden and Laveen Naidu
Music: Soweto String Quartet
Costumes: Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Kevin Connaughton and Brady Jarvis
Premiere: May 1, 1998, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Principal dancers: Alicia Graf, Stephanie Powell, James Washington, Paunika Jones, Andrea Long, Kevin Thomas
Note: An expanded version premiered on March 30, 1999 at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C..
1999
Return
Choreography: Robert Garland
Music: James Brown, Alfred Ellis, Aretha Franklin, and Carolyn Franklin
Costumes: Pamela Allen Cummings
Lighting: Roma Flowers
Premiere: September 21, 1999, City Center, New York City
Cancers: Andrea Long, Donald Williams, Kellye A. Saunders, Kip Sturm, Lenore Pavlakos, Kymm Clayton, Lynda Sing, Ramon Thielen, Caroline Rocher, Duncan Cooper, William Isaac, Eric Underwood
Twist
Choreography: Dwight Rhoden
Music: Antonio Carlos Scott
Costumes: Miho Kanani Morinoue (executed by Pamela Allen-Cummings)
Lighting: Michael Korsch
Premiere: September 28, 1999, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Donald Williams, Kellye A. Saunders, Andrea Long, Duncan Coopera, Lynda Sing, Rmon Thielen, Maria Phegan, James Washington, William Isaac, Bethania Gomes, Kip Sturm, Caroline Rocher
2000
Tributary
Choreography: Robert La Fosse, Robert Garland
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Costumes: Pamela Allen Cummings
Lighting: Mark Stanley
Premiere: May 25, 2000, The Diamond Project, New York City Ballet
Principal dancers: Kyra Nichols, Donald Williams
Note: At its premiere, this ballet for a principal couple, four demi-soloist couples, and a corps of sixteen, was danced by equal numbers of dancers from New York City Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Memento Mori (To Remember Death)
Choreography/scenery: Augustus van Heerden
Music: Peteris Vasks
Costumes: Pamela Allen Cummings
Lighting: Erik C. Bruce
Premiere: September 6, 2000, City Center, New York City
Dancers: Ramon Thielen, Kip Sturm, Kellye A. Saunders, Lenore Pavlakos, James Washington, Caroline Rocher, Donald Williams
2001
Viraa
Choreography: Laveen Naidu
Music: Ernest Bloch
Costumes: Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Roma Flowers
Premiere: September 25, 2001, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Andrea Long, Eric Underwood
New Bach
Choreography: Robert Garland
Music: J. S. Bach
Costumes: Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Roma Flowers
Premiere: September 25, 2001, City Center, New York City
Dancers: Tanya Wideman-Davis, Donald Williams, Paunika Jones, Ikolo Griffin, Akua Parker, Antonio Douthit, Ebony Haswell, Preston Dugger, Lynda Sing, Claudio Sandoval
A Pas de Deux for Phrygia and Spartacus
Choreography: Lowell Smith
Music: Aram Khatchaturian
Costumes: Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Roma Flowers
Premiere: September 25, 2001, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Melissa Morissey, Duncan Cooper
Passion of the Blood
Choreography: Augustus van Heerden
Music: Jesús Villa-Rojo, Francisco Tárrega, Isaac Albéniz
Scenery: Maxine Willi Klein
Costumes: Pamela Allen-Cummings
Lighting: Roma Flowers
Premiere: September 25, 2001, City Center, New York City
Principal dancers: Admed Farouk, Camille Parson, Ramon Thielen, Caroline Rocher, Lenore Pavlakos, Kellye A. Saunders, James Washington, Leanne Codrington
Sphinx
Choreography: Glen Tetley
Music: Bohuslav Martinu
Scenery: Rouben Ter-Arutunian
Costumes: Willa Kim (executed by Luigi Roncalli)
Lighting: John B. Read
DTH premiere: September 28, 2001, City Center, New York City
Dancers: Caroline Rocher, Ramon Thielen, Duncan Cooper
2002
Ribbon in the Sky
Choreography: Arthur Mitchell
Music: Stevie Wonder
Costumes: Carl Michel/Bob Colbath
Lighting: Timothy Hunter
DTH premiere: May 10, 2002, Apollo Theater, New York City
Dancers: Kip Sturm, Caroline Rocher
Note: This pas de deux was originally choreographed for Motown 30: What’s Going On!, a CBS television special aired on November 25, 1990.
Stabat Mater
Choreography: Michael Smuin (staged by Celia Fushille-Burke)
Music: Antonin Dvorak
DTH premiere: September 14, 2002, Evening Stars Music and Dance Series, Battery Park, New York City (commemorating the first anniversary of 9/11)
Principal dancers: Tai Jimenez, Eric Underwood
2003
St. Louis Woman: A Blues Ballet
Executive producer: Arthur Mitchell
Choreography and concept: Michael Smuin (based on the musical by Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Arna Bontemps, and Countee Cullen)
Assistant to the choreographer: Celia Fushille-Burke)
Music: Howard Arlen
Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
Orchestrations and additional music: Joseph E. Fields
Scenery: Tony Walton (assisted by Daniela Galli)
Costumes: Willa Kim (executed by Grace Costumes, Jennifer Love Costumes, Izquierdo Studios, Ltd., Tricorne New York City, Pamela Allen-Cummings)
Millinery: Arnold S. Levine, Joe Stephen
Lighting: Jules Fisher, Peggy Eisenhauer (assisted by Roma Flowers)
Premiere: July 8, 2003, Lincoln Center Festival, New York State Theater
Principal dancers: Caroline Rocher, Donald Williams, Ikolo Griffin, Tai Jimenez, Melissa Morrissey, Preston Dugger III, Antonio Douthit
Thaïs
Choreography: Frederick Ashton
Music: Jules Massenet
Costumes: Anthony Dowell (executed by Pamela Allen-Cummings)
Lighting: Peter Leonard
DTH premiere: July 9, 2003, Lincoln Center Festival, New York State Theater
Principal dancers: Melissa Morissey, Duncan Cooper
2004
Apollo
Choreography: George Balanchine (staged by Eve Lawson, coached by Jacques d’Amboise)
Music: Igor Stravinsky
DTH premiere: March 20, 2004, “Wall to Wall George Balanchine,” Symphony Space, New York City
Principal dancers: Rasta Thomas (Apollo), Tai Jimenez (Terpsichore), Andrea Long (Calliope), Kellye A. Saunders (Polyhymnia)
Note: The company performed Apollo with the restored Prologue and Epilogue.