Dance Theatre Of Harlem - Programme A & B

Dance Theatre of Harlem: Programme A/B on our Lyon stage

We are honored to welcome Dance Theatre of Harlem to our Lyon stage for Programme A/B, a two-evening encounter with one of America’s most vital ballet companies. From our vantage point as host, the excitement is palpable: our technical and front-of-house teams have shaped every detail—from light plots and floor treatment to sightline refinement—to ensure the company’s blend of neoclassical precision and contemporary pulse can unfold with clarity and impact. Founded in 1969 and now thriving in its sixth decade, the company arrives led by Artistic Director Robert Garland, whose stewardship has accelerated a fresh era of repertory growth and touring energy while honoring the legacy of Arthur Mitchell. Expect sculptural pointework, swift ensemble formations, and musicality that ranges from crisp baroque detail to propulsive modern grooves, all interpreted by dancers celebrated for speed, eloquence, and a generous stage presence that resonates powerfully with audiences across generations.

Two distinct programs, one compelling artistic vision

Programme A and Programme B are curated to reveal different facets of the troupe’s identity. One evening leans into the bright line of classical technique—fleet allegro, crystalline footwork, buoyant jumps, pas de deux that balance lyricism and drive—while the other tilts toward storytelling and contemporary rhythm, with accents of social pulse, jazz inflection, and textural contrasts in costume and lighting. Both programs showcase the company’s signature range: dancers who articulate Balanchine-honed clarity one moment and, the next, carve expansive, street-wise phrasing that speaks to the company’s Harlem roots. Our stage configuration highlights these contrasts, with lighting looks designed to travel swiftly between glittering courtliness and urban afterglow. Music is central to the experience, whether drawn from the classical canon or from modern composers whose percussive architectures invite the ensemble to burst across space. Casting rotates to foreground individual artistry—expect principals and rising talents alike to step into focus across the two bills, giving Lyon audiences multiple vantage points on the company’s depth.

The company’s current artistic momentum makes this visit especially timely. Under Robert Garland’s leadership, recent seasons have featured new commissions alongside revivals that sharpen the line between heritage and now, underscoring a mission that connects virtuosity with cultural resonance. Critics in New York and on recent international stops have praised the troupe’s buoyancy, stylistic polish, and the way its artists translate big-idea choreography into vivid theatrical moments. In Lyon, we are preparing a setting that respects that craft: a resilient dance floor tuned for attack and glide, an audio environment calibrated for both recorded orchestral color and contemporary sound design, and a backstage flow that supports quick transitions between the two program identities. For local dancegoers—seasoned ballet lovers and newcomers alike—Programme A/B offers a rare chance to witness a company that helped redefine who classical ballet is for, and what it can say today. We look forward to opening our doors to the city and region for these performances, inviting you to experience Dance Theatre of Harlem’s magnetic artistry in real time, in the heart of Lyon.