More than 50 years ago, in the aftermath of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, New York City Ballet dancer Arthur Mitchell found himself wondering how he, an artist, could help foster social and racial equity.
His answer, with Karel Shook, was to found Dance Theatre of Harlem, originally a school program based in Mitchell's home neighborhood. Not long after, Mitchell and Shook expanded their vision to create a touring ballet company that could show the world that the classical art form wasn't just for white Europeans.
Virginia Johnson was part of the original company; now Johnson is in her final season as DTH's artistic director.
She talks with co-hosts Vivian Phillips and Marcie Sillman about DTH and the power of art to change the world.
