The world-renowned dance institution, Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) announced that Stravinsky’s iconic score for “Firebird” will be performed by the Gateways Festival Orchestra, the flagship ensemble of Gateways Music Festival, during its New York Season April 16-19 at New York City Center.
DTH said the event will bring the two leading organizations together for the first time.
The Gateways Festival Orchestra will comprise 58 Black professional classical musicians drawn from leading symphony orchestras, elite conservatory faculties, and the international freelance community, DTH said.
“The collaboration marks a rare and significant artistic convergence between two legacy institutions, while the presence of a full live orchestra distinguishes this production of Firebird within the New York dance landscape,” DTH said.
“The musicians’ collective artistry will elevate Stravinsky’s masterpiece with cultural resonance and depth, amplifying the power and brilliance of DTH’s dancers,” it added.
DTH said renowned award-winning conductor Jeri Lynne Johnson will conduct the Orchestra on April 16, 18, and 19. Tania León, Pulitzer Prize-winning conductor, composer, and first music director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, will conduct the Orchestra on Vision Gala Night on April 17.
“To perform Firebird in collaboration with Dance Theatre of Harlem — a fellow legacy institution we’ve long admired — is a historic cultural moment,” said Alex Laing, president and artistic director, Gateways Music Festival.
“That Gateways can partner in this pivotal way is living history in motion, and a testament to the power of Black artistry across generations,” he added.
Robert Garland, DTH’s artistic director, said: “At Dance Theatre of Harlem, we have so much to honor and uplift as we revive our beloved Firebird.
“I trust Mr. Mitchell would’ve been proud to see how far we’ve come, expanding the rich foundation he’s built and doing so with Gateways Festival Orchestra — a mission-aligned institution rooted in legacy much like our own,” he said.
“On behalf of the entire Dance Theatre of Harlem family, we are proud to revive our signature performance of Firebird and share its magic with generations old and new,” Garland added.