#Harlem Theatre

[barbiesince59]

Harlem Theatre: Claudette Gordon - 2016

[staticsnowfall]

michaela mabinty deprince (1995-2024)

🩰˚✧₊⁎

today, september 13th, 2024, the ballet world lost an extraordinary dancer and woman.

michaela mabinty deprince was born on january 6th, 1995, as mabinty bangura, in sierra-leone. she was orphaned, her parents passing to due to both direct and indirect causes of the civil war in her home country. she was demonized by her caretakers for her vitiligo, being called a “devil’s child”, and suffering from other forms of neglect and abuse. in 1999, deprince was adopted by an american couple along with another girl, and they were taken to new jersey, united states of america.

her hopes of becoming a ballerina had been planted when she found a ballerina on a magazine cover in her home country. she didn’t know of ballet at the time, but treasured the picture and dreamed of dancing. this dream blossomed into truth when she moved to the states, being put into ballet lessons soon after her arrival. deprince was a four-time participant in youth america grand prix, one of the largest ballet competitions in the united states. she was awarded a scholarship to study at the jaqueline kennedy onassis school of ballet, the associate school of american ballet theatre.

despite facing racial discrimination and other hardships in and out of the industry, deprince persisted in her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer. in 2012, at the age of 16, she became the youngest member of dance theatre of harlem, and the next year, she joined the junior company of the dutch national ballet. she soon rose through the ranks, joining the main company and attaining the rank of soloist. she was the first dancer of african origin to ever join the company, and a shining advocate and role model for black women in ballet.

her other accomplishments include being an ambassador for war child holland, a dutch organization working to improve the wellbeing and resilience of children directly affected by war. she visited uganda and lebanon through the organization. she also appeared in beyoncé’s 2016 music video for ‘freedom’.

she will dance among all the stars in the sky. rest in peace beautiful michaela mabinty, you are already so missed. ♡

[margotfonteyns]

Virginia Johnson in Creole Giselle, Dance Theatre of Harlem, 1987

[newyorkthegoldenage]

The American Negro Theatre in Harlem, 1946.

Photo: Eric Schwab for the French Press Agency via Getty Images

[fixomnia-scribble]

Oh no.

I remember thinking her vitiligo was little gold stars, when I first saw her in the Grand Prix documentary First Position, and how amazing it was for a young Black ballerina to go full-on sparkly in a major competition. My mistake - but I wasn't wrong about the sparkle.

Hoped to see you dance one day. Rest in power. You triumphed every day and left a legacy most can only dream of.

[gracie-bird]

Princess Grace and her daughter Princess Caroline at the “Harlem Années 1930” in Paris, 1977.

[theserpentsea]

Archive Culture

[tallgreenlady]

My mother’s greatest bugbear is the way the NYT talks about New York City Ballet (and to a lesser extent American Ballet Theatre) as if they’re the only ballet companies in America, never mind NYC.

[keepersofnostalgia]

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A post shared by AG Marie (@keepersofnostalgia)

Do you ever “randomly” get a song stuck in your head? I put randomly in quotes because I’m sure the reason will reveal itself sooner or later. This week, it’s Duke Ellington’s “Creole Love Call” featuring Adelaide Hall.

“I was standing in the wings behind the piano when Duke first played it (“Creole Love Call”). I started humming along with the band. He stopped the number and came over to me and said, “That’s just what I was looking for. Can you do it again?” I said, “I can’t, because I don’t know what I was doing.” He begged me to try. Anyway, I did, and sang this counter melody, and he was delighted and said “Addie, you’re going to record this with the band.” A couple of days later I did.” - Adelaide Hall

📷 - Wikimedia Commons (circa early 1920s) 📖 - The Independent (Nov. 8, 1993)

[shakespearenews]

Kara Young and Christina Sajous in Twelfth Night. Photo: Richard Termine

[do-you-know-this-play]

[barbiesince59]

Harlem Theatre - 2017

[margotfonteyns]

Virginia Johnson and Eddie Shellman in The Greatest, 1979. Choreography by Arthur Mitchell. Costumes by Zelda Wynn.

[negrolicity]

The history of the Dance Theatre of Harlem | WOSU Public Media

Click and listen.

[sweetietray]

Dance Theatre of Harlem