Dance Theatre of Harlem performance at Paramount Theatre in Seattle
Details
Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, encompassing a world-class company of ethnically diverse dancers, a professional studio school, a leading arts education program Dancing Through Barriers, and community engagement activities. There are only two performances in Seattle, Friday evening at 7:30 and Saturday afternoon. The Seattle program at the historic Paramount Theatre downtown, which is one of our most beautiful vintage theaters, will showcase the following performances, of which the Firebird ballet set to Stravinsky's classical music is said to be absolutely spectacular. Tickets price range from $37 to 110. The ticket is delivered as a barcode on your cell phone, so you will need to download the Ticketmaster app and bring your cell phone for admission. We could arrange to meet before the show (at 7 pm) and during intermission. Below is the STG Presents website to buy tickets, followed by descriptions of the program's three dances.
https://www.stgpresents.org/events/dance-theatre-of-harlem/
PASSAGE OF BEING
Passage of Being premiered as part of the DTH’s 2025 New York Season. A circular, and physical work, Passageof Being unfolds in three cinematic movements set to the evocative music of Oscar-nominated composer Ryan Lott (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”). Shifting perspectives and the bittersweet beauty of time’s swift journey are brought to life through Gates’ expressive choreography and inventive lighting by Michael Korsch with elegant costumes by Martha Chamberlain. At its heart of this elliptic ballet is the majestic and haunting Son Lux song, “Don’t Say It’s Too Late.” Gates weaves these elements into a poignant reflection on love, connection, and the power of the present.
RETURN
Return is a soulful, high-octane celebration to the timeless sounds of James Brown and Aretha Franklin. Return was choreographed for Dance Theatre of Harlem’s 30th anniversary by DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland. Garland calls the ballet’s style “post-modern urban neoclassicism – an attempt to fuse an urban physical sensibility and a neoclassical one.” Staged for 12 dancers to songs performed by James Brown and Aretha Franklin, Return is “… a witty fusion of ballet technique and street gait whose irony toward rhythm-and- blues had the audience in stitches.” (The New York Times)
FIREBIRD
“Firebird,” where a Russian folk tale about the triumph of love over evil is reimagined in a luscious Caribbean setting. John Taras’ choreography, paired with Stravinsky’s iconic score, comes to life through the inimitable multihyphenated Geoffrey Holder’s vibrant sets and costumes. This production, a DTH signature classic, was first created in 1982 and captivated audiences when it toured across the world. “…it does one thing other versions do not – send its audience into a whooping spell of delirium.” (The New York Times)