Dance Theatre of Harlem
Detroit Opera House
Detroit, Mich.
Nov. 15 & 16, 2025
Excitement filled the air at the Detroit Opera House as 2,000 DPSCD students poured in to experience the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s (DTH) return to Detroit.
The event was part of Detroit Public Schools Community District’s (DPSCD) larger Cultural Passport initiative, a program created to give students meaningful exposure to fine arts education.
Dance Theatre of Harlem was a perfect match. Since its founding, the company has been committed to introducing young people from all backgrounds to the art of ballet. Founder Arthur Mitchell believed that through this discipline, young people learn perseverance, confidence and the power of seeing themselves reflected in the arts.
The company performed live at the Detroit Opera House last weekend, marking Detroit as one of three tour stops alongside Ottawa and Paris. They previewed a snippet of “Firebird,” a ballet DTH hasn’t performed in 20 years.
DPSCD’s Cultural Passport initiative is led by Director Marian Sanders, who keeps both student and teacher interests at the center of her work.
“When they walk through those doors, they immediately look up and there are all these ‘oohs and ahs,’ because for many of them, it’s their first time coming to the Opera House,” Sanders said.
She hopes the visit leaves a lasting impression.
“I hope they leave with the thought that their opportunities are limitless. They can do whatever they put their minds to. That’s one of the things the Cultural Passport offers our students.”
- Marian Sanders
Arthur White, director of community and audience engagement at the Detroit Opera House, played a key role in coordinating the events surrounding Dance Theatre of Harlem’s return. He spoke to the longstanding connection between the two institutions and why Detroit was a stop on the tour:
“Dance Theater of Harlem and Detroit Opera have had a close relationship for years. Both companies emerged about the same time— late sixties, early seventies —and both are committed to this idea that opera, dance and ballet are for everyone — not just some people.”
The roots of this relationship go back to the founders themselves.
“Arthur Mitchell, founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem, and our own founder, David DiChiera, were close friends. Since then, DTH has become this hometown favorite. It's almost like they belong to Detroit.”
- Arthur White
Representation remains central to DTH’s mission, something dancer Derek Brockington, now in his final season with the company, feels deeply.
“I saw someone who was a brown person going to a major ballet company, and I thought, ‘Okay, if he can do it, then I can do it, too.’ It really drove home how important representation is. If you can see yourself onstage, then you're able to bring it into reality. ”
He added how meaningful it is to give students the same visibility he had growing up.
“It's amazing to see how excited the kids are — the energy they have when they see these bodies onstage. It means a lot to me to be able to be a representation for others. I hope that when people get to see us on stage today, that they are able to see themselves doing something like that.”
- Derek Brockington
Throughout the week, DTH engaged with the Detroit community in preparation for the weekend performances. One highlight was a masterclass at Detroit School of Arts, taught by DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland. Among the participating students was aspiring dancer Morgan Santiago, who described the experience as deeply motivating.
“It really inspires me because I want to pursue a career in dance. Being able to look up to people who look like you, especially as a Black girl in a space that isn’t always open to Black dancers, is a big privilege. I’m very honored.”
- Morgan Santiago
This story was published in conjunction with Outlier Media.
