By: Nikoleta Morales

On Nov. 21 – 23, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt welcomed again after 16 years Dance Theatre of Harlem for its 125th Anniversary celebration. The acclaimed company delivered an elegant, exquisite, crowd-cheering performance to remember with works such as “Gloria” and “Return” by Robert Garland and “Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven” by Ulysses Dove. The artistic director of the company is Virginia
Johnson.

The show had two intermissions while each scene was set in different moods and colors creating a diverse experience for the viewer. The first half was an elegant blend of classical ballet and spirituality with “Gloria” choreographed by Robert Garland. The second half changed the mood to a darker, gloomier tone with shades of white and black in the performance “Odes to Love and Loss.” The third part seemed to be the audience’s favorite since the crowd awoke to a cheerful mixture of ballet and soul jazz with colorful costumes and music by Aretha Franklin and James Brown, pushing the boundaries of ballet techniques and form, incorporating and blending movement from the African American experience. Students from the Chicago Multicultural Dance Center also took part in the show.