May 9 7:30 pm
Dance Theatre of Harlem returns to Worcester for an imaginative ballet performance featuring choreography by George Balanchine, Jodie Gates and DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland and music from composers including Donizetti, Dvořák, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin.
Now a singular presence in the ballet world, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company tours nationally and internationally, presenting a powerful vision for ballet in the 21st century. The 18-member ensemble performs forward-thinking repertoire, including treasured classics, neoclassical works, and innovative contemporary works that nod to culture and society in their invention. Be transfixed by their style and excited by the stories conveyed.
Donizetti Variations
Choreography by George Balanchine
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Take Me With You
Choreography by Robert Bondara
Music by Radiohead, arranged with Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Passage of Being
Choreography by Jodie Gates
Music by Ryan Lott, Son Lux, Rob Moose, yMusic
Return
Choreography by Robert Garland
Music by James Brown, Alfred Ellis, Aretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklin
Donizetti Variations
The cheerful 26-minute Donizetti Variations sets a series of effervescent dances to music from the opera Don Sebastien, offering choice but technically challenging roles for two bravura dancers and three supporting trios. This ballet (originally titled Variations from “Don Sebastian”) was created for “Salute to Italy”, a 1960 New York City Ballet program celebrating the 100th anniversary of Italy’s unification.
Take Me With You
The catchy percussion beat of the Radiohead song ‘Reckoner’ became the first trigger and source of inspiration for movement language and choreography. Getting deeper into the creative process and vague lyrics of the song in a very personal way, the content of the choreography got closer to reflection about our existence, our efforts to grasp the meaning of life despite ‘bittersweet distractors.’ What is essential for the piece is metaphysical experience, an elusive atmosphere determining relations between the dancers on the stage.” – Robert Bondara
This duet was created in 2016 for Polish National Ballet soloists Yuka Ebihara and Kristof Szabo. Take Me With You was later performed by many leading dancers, including Roberto Bolle and Melissa Hamilton among others, and in theatres across the globe and on Polish, Czech and Italian TV. In 2021, Robert created a larger one act ballet that includes this duet for Poznan Opera Ballet and in 2022 was staged by West Australian Ballet.
Passage of Being
Time prompts philosophical contemplation about existence, purpose, and mortality. And the progression of time is a remarkable subject when contemplating the transient aspects of life and the relationship we build with self and with others over a lifetime. As a collective body this work abstractly calls upon poetic nuances and the poignant allure of time’s passage of being. – Jodie Gates
Return
Return was choreographed for Dance Theatre of Harlem’s 30th anniversary. Choreographer Robert Garland calls the ballet’s style “post-modern urban neoclassicism – an attempt to fuse an urban physical sensibility and a neoclassical one.” Set to the music of James Brown and Aretha Franklin, Return is “…a witty fusion of ballet technique and street gait whose irony toward rhythm-and-blues had the audience in stitches.” (The New York Times)
Please note: program, venue, time, and artist are subject to change.
Artists
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Ensemble
“What does dance give you? The freedom to be who you are and do what you want to do.” (Arthur Mitchell, Co-Founder, Dance Theatre of Harlem)
Dance Theatre of Harlem stands as a dynamic force in the ballet world, captivating audiences both nationally and internationally. Our repertoire is a thrilling blend of treasured classics, neoclassical masterpieces by George Balanchine and artistic director Robert Garland, and cutting-edge contemporary works that embody founder Arthur Mitchell’s belief that ballet is for everyone. Through electrifying performances, community engagement, and arts education programs, Dance Theatre of Harlem champions the power of the arts to inspire and empower.
Since our founding in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem has been hailed as “one of ballet’s most exciting undertakings” (The New York Times). Inspired by the work of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mr. Mitchell established a school to provide Harlem’s youth with the opportunity to explore dance and the allied arts. Now celebrating over fifty-five years of excellence, DTH has evolved into a globally renowned ballet company, setting new standards in the performing arts and leaving an indelible mark on the world stage. Our extraordinary legacy continues to open doors for creative expression and artistic brilliance.
The Hanover Theatre
2 Southbridge Street Worcester, MA 01608
The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts is a historic performance venue that seats 2,300 patrons. In 2008, The Hanover Theatre won a National Trust for Historic Preservation Award for its renovation and restoration of the original 1904 building built by Thomas Lamb. As one of Worcester’s largest and most active venues, it hosts performances and events a majority of days out of the year and is located in the heart of Worcester’s Theatre District.
SEATING
Accessible seating is clearly marked. There is elevator access to lower/upper lobbies and orchestra/lower balcony seating. There is no elevator to upper balcony seating. Read more about accessibility here.
PARKING
Public parking is available for purchase in the Federal Plaza Garage (save money and book in advance using ParkWhiz), McGrath (Library) Lot, and the Worcester Common Garage. Read more on the City of Worcester’s website, or in our parking section.
2 Southbridge Street
2 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA 01608, USA
Happy ‘Return’: Dance Theatre of Harlem brings passion, purpose
Richard Duckett, Worcester Magazine (April 29, 2026)