Known for thrilling performances and an eclectic and demanding repertoire, the Dance Theatre of Harlem from New York City, New York is coming to Macon.
Calling itself a “leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim,” the Dance Theatre of Harlem will be performing at the historic Douglass Theatre on Jan. 27 at 7:00 p.m.
For their first time appearing in Macon, the theatre company will showcase repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary ballet. Light and airy orchestral selections will be highlighted during the performance from musical greats, such as Chopin and Tchaikovsky.
Calling the upcoming show “very engaging,” booking agent Edward Schoelwer has been with the company for 22 years.
In a phone interview, Schoelwer said that the show will be a lecture performance where the audience will begin by sitting in on a ballet class and then quickly go on a journey of understanding dance theatre.
During the show, both female and male ballet dancers will be featured going over movement that is expected of them during a performance. Then in a group effort, the dancers will perform excerpts from their company repertoire.
The Dance Theatre of Harlem is expecting a family audience and welcomes all members of Macon to come enjoy the performance, especially men. Schoelwer predicts that the men in the audience will find the performance more impactful because of the unexpected nature of everyday ballet class.
Schoelwer also underlines that there will be some audience interaction at the upcoming performance.
In addition to the upcoming show, the Dance Theatre of Harlem would like to return to Macon in the future for a full dance theatre performance.
Aiming for about 15 weeks of touring, the Dance Theatre of Harlem performs globally every year. Recently the company performed in Israel and at the Revenna Festival in Italy.
The company will be heading to Augusta, Georgia after their performance at the Douglass Theatre.
Charles Henry Douglass, an entrepreneur born 1870 in Macon, established the Douglass Theatre as a premiere movie theatre and vaudeville hall for African American performers within the state of Georgia. As a member of the Theatre Owners Booker Association (TOBA), Douglass’ Theatre was one of 40 such venues in the nation.. The theater operated for more than 52 years when it closed its doors in 1972.
The theatre was reopened on Jan. 11,, 1997, fully restored and serving members of all races and cultures.
The theatre boasts a legacy of hosting jazz talents, such as Ida Cox, Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, comedians such as Butterbeans and Susie, and musical giants such as Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington.
The Douglass Theatre is located at 355 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Macon, Georgia. For more information and how to purchase tickets, please visit douglasstheatre.org.
For more information on the Dance Theatre of Harlem please visit their website at dancetheatreofharlem.org.
Dance Theatre of Harlem comes to the Douglass Theatre
Dance Theatre of Harlem is to perform at the historic Douglass Theatre in Macon, Georgia on January 27 at 7:00pm.
