Dance Theatre of Harlem
Tuesday: The Dance Theatre of Harlem is back and, by all accounts, artistically sound. But then again, the quality of the art was never a question for the acclaimed company founded in 1969 by pioneering dancer and choreographer Arthur Mitchell as a way to show that blacks could be virtuosic ballet dancers. It's just that the ensemble was never really properly funded. When it went on hiatus in 2004, it was supposed to be short-term so the board could clear up some debts. But that break stretched into years. With its recent revival, the company has been making statements onstage and selling out shows on the road. In the Twin Cities, selections include "Agon," the renowned piece by choreographer George Balanchine and composer Igor Stravinsky based on French court dance; "The Lark Ascending," Alvin Ailey's 1972 work about a girl's growth (left), and, appropriately, "Return," Robert Garland's 1999 ballet set to soul songs by the likes of James Brown and Aretha Franklin. (7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, Northrop, University of Minnesota, 84 Church St. SE., Mpls. $49-$74; $20 student rush tickets two hours before show. 612-625-6600, www.northrop.umn.edu.)
Rohan Preston
