One of New York’s most important ballet companies is coming to Morocco for the first time.
Dance Theatre of Harlem will perform at the Royal Theatre of Rabat on October 2 and 3, marking both its Moroccan debut and its return to Africa after more than 30 years.
And there is a lot of history behind that name.
Dance Theatre of Harlem was founded in New York in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell, who became the first Black principal dancer at the New York City Ballet.
At a time when classical ballet remained overwhelmingly white, Mitchell created a company that challenged the idea of who could belong in that world.
More than five decades later, Dance Theatre of Harlem has become internationally recognised for combining classical ballet technique with contemporary choreography and a much broader representation of dancers onstage.
Now that history is coming to Rabat.
The company will perform two evenings at the Royal Theatre, giving Moroccan audiences a chance to see a company that has spent decades pushing against some of ballet’s oldest barriers.
And honestly, this is exactly the kind of international cultural event Morocco needs more of.
Not everything happening in Rabat has to be a concert or a festival.
Sometimes you get one of the most historically significant ballet companies in the United States performing in one of Morocco’s newest major cultural venues.
The performances begin at 8:30 PM on October 2 and 3.
Consider this your reminder that ballet can have lore too.
