The renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem returns to Hampton Roads this week

Colin Warren-Hicks, The Virginian-Pilot
·2 min read
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One of the area’s most revered classical artists died in March and the dance that launched her career is performing in Hampton Roads this week.

Lorraine Graves, who was 66 when she died, was born in Norfolk and began her storied career with the Dance Theatre of Harlem in the 1970s. The company performs on Tuesday at the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News and at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The DTH was founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell, the first Black principal dancer at the New York City Ballet, the first of any major ballet company. He started DTH to encourage more minorities to study professional ballet. Graves joined in 1978, and, within a year, was promoted to principal dancer, according to her obituary.

“Lorraine is really considered the cream of the crop,” said Dance Theatre of Harlem’s executive director Anna Glass. “She was idolized by so many dancers that wanted to be like her.”

She danced with the company for 17 years.

“So many of our dancers, they credit her for their growth as artists.”

Each local performance will include four pieces. “Higher Ground” features songs by Stevie Wonder including “Heaven Is Ten Zillion Light Years Away” and “You Haven’t Done Nothin’.” The show’s second dance, “pas de dix,” is a “more classic” ballet — without pop music.

“So, we’re showing the breadth of who Dance Theatre of Harlem is.”

The third work, “Take Me With You,” dives back into pop featuring music by Radiohead. Its choreographer, Robert Bondara, explained the creative process behind the dance in an emailed statement: “The catchy percussion beat of the Radiohead song ‘Reckoner’ became the first trigger and source of inspiration for movement language and choreography.”

The fourth dance, “Blake Works IV (The Barre Project)” is a new piece, commissioned last year for the dance company.

Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8139, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.com

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If you go

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Ferguson Center for the Arts, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News; 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, 215 St. Paul’s Blvd., Norfolk

Cost: Start at $18.75

Details: vafest.org