Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem gave its first professional performances at Jacob’s Pillow the following year. One of the leading dancers in that debut engagement, Virginia Johnson, took over the direction of DTH in 2009. Before going on hiatus in 2004, the company transformed the perceptions of millions of audience members and served as cultural ambassadors, performing in 41 states and in 40 countries throughout the world. After Johnson took the reins, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble was newly reconceived as a national touring entity, performing under the direction of Keith Saunders. The main company made a heralded return to the Pillow in 2013 with a program including Alvin Ailey’s The Lark Ascending, returning by popular demand in both 2014 and 2019.
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