Many Hues, One Line | Dance Theatre of Harlem Innovates Matching Skin Tone Tights & Shoes

In 1971, Dance Theatre of Harlem gave its very first performance in which every dancer’s tights and shoes matched their unique skin tones.
From that moment, ballet would be forever transformed by the innovation of Llanchie Stevenson - a founding DTH Principal Dancer, DTH's Wardrobe Mistress Zelda Wynn and DTH Co-Founder Arthur Mitchell.
Featuring appearances by
Virginia Johnson - DTH Artistic Director and Founding DTH Principal Dancer
Lydia Mitchell - Founding DTH Principal Dancer
Alicia Graf Mack - Director, Juilliard Dance Division; former DTH Principal Dancer;
Ashley Murphy-Wilson - Company Member, The Washington Ballet; former DTH Principal Dancer
Vernon Ross - Former DTH Production Manager
To learn more about Dance Theatre of Harlem's history visit www.dancetheat...
To make a contribution in support of the work of Dance Theatre of Harlem, please click the donate button.
Produced by Convicts ‪@ConvictsNYC‬
Thank you to our video sponsors Bloch USA, Freed of London USA and Russian Pointe.
To learn more about Dance Theatre of Harlem visit our website and sign up for our mailing list: www.dancetheat...
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Be sure to tell a friend!
#DanceTheatreofHarlem #WeAreDTH #OneLine
Musicbed SyncID:
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[@blackmantle541]

Beautiful

[@charmainej.9274]

I so love the advocacy of this video. It not only commemorates Mr. M's tenacious vision to take the art of ballet further, but it also lifts up an understanding of the extra task that DTH dancers went through sitting in the hallways during breaks or off time, coloring their shoes. Even when it could be done by the costume shop, they had to know how to do it, especially for their pointe shoes, because a pair of ballet slippers might need to be changed out at any time. There are lots of things I am always pointing out to others about the dozens of ways that DTH innovatively broke barriers. But, it is most definitely the credit that Mr. M and DTH deserve for having started the trend of true flesh color tights and shoes. Thank you for putting this story on film so fully.

[@aliciajenkins1917]

Amazing!!! How proud it makes me to see our young ladies doing what we were told we could never do. Thank you Arthur. I will always remember the day The DTH opened! 👍🏼.

[@dawnd.5290]

It's amazing that such a simple concept was at one time considered "Groundbreaking". Now all girls and boys can see themselves in the roll of being Ballet Dancers. 👏🏽

[@rubytimberlake4682]

Beautiful! Beautiful! Thank you!

[@nataliacoli2604]

Wonderful, courageous, and so important!

[@rivermountain7315]

The very fact that we have to strive against permanent forces which have a particular goal to hinder us in every way at every step of the way making our path narrow and difficult is proof of who we are in a world ruled by Satan and that we are on the path as difficult as it may be for now, of life eternal! Bless you ladies for being exquisite examples of what rare jewels are supposed to look like and shine like in a world not worthy of you!

[@sfdancefilmfest]

An amazing story!! Love this!

[@byrondavis3772]

what a wonderful lesson this is to me this is without a doubt absolutely fantastic

[@tyronebrooks7375]

Bravo!

[@theportraitist4888]

That was great, thank you!

[@gabriele8509]

Amazing 👏

[@DanceTheatreofHarlem]

Thank you!

[@nowistime8070]

black and white photos

[@ohcar0line]

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