UPTOWNflavor

Dance Theatre of Harlem Performs a Tribute to James Brown at The Apollo Theater

One of my favorite blogs, Blackgivesback, received a letter from a member of the talented Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) that outlines the distinction between their company and Alvin Ailey.  Many people make the assumption that they are either one in the same or that they are two different dance companies founded by black men performing the same type of dance.  Not so.  While both are very dedicated and professional dance companies, the dancer who wrote to BGB explains that DTH is a ballet company while Ailey is a modern dance company. You can read the letter after the jump:

From: [name withheld]
To: blackgivesback@gmail.com
Date: Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 11:07 PM

“…The post is about Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 50th anniversary, and the photo is of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble in performance at the Apollo Theater Spring Gala Tribute to James Brown in June 2007. I know this because I’m in that photo.

Please know that, while both companies represent minorities and the African-American experience in dance, there is a world of difference between them. Primarily: Ailey is a modern company, Dance Theatre of Harlem is a ballet company. Those women are wearing pointe shoes and dancing a ballet that was choreographed on the DTH company by a former DTH company member and remains in active DTH Ensemble repertoire. That has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with Ailey.

Read the rest of the letter here.