The DTH ensemble will tour several colleges and universities in the South and Midwest, where the troupe will offer a lecturedemonstration or master class in the afternoon and an interactive performance in the evening. Representatives of those institutions are excited about welcoming the troupe, and their enthusiasm should come as no surprise. After all, during its historic tour of South Africa in 1992, a reporter described the company itself as “a traveling university.”
Carl Baker, executive director of the Memorial Student Union and chair of the Lyceum Committee at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, is one such representative.
“At first I wasn’t enthusiastic about Dance Theatre of Harlem. I didn’t see its relevance to our students, but then I found out about its connection to Martin Luther King, and that’s when the light bulb went on,” says Baker. “Dr. King encouraged us to open our minds and broaden our thinking. He gave us the courage to get involved with activities that are nontraditional for Black people.”
“Ballet isn’t something I grew up with,” Baker continues, “but being in an academic setting allowed me to become more knowledgeable about the arts.” By bringing the DTH Ensemble to campus, Baker hopes to give N.C. A&T students similar opportunities. “The Dance Theatre of Harlem visit will be a win-win for everybody,” says Baker.
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