Carmen de Lavallade Joins the Dance Theater of Harlem for its 50th Anniversary

Arthur Mitchell rehearsing Dance Theatre of Harlem company dancers as children look on in the early 1970s.

Dance legend Carmen de Lavallade and Anna Glass, executive director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, discuss the company's upcoming season and its history. Dance Theatre of Harlem was created almost 50 years ago by Arthur Mitchell, the first African American principal dancer at New York City Ballet, in response to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Dance Theatre opens its New York City spring season on April 4, the 50th Anniversary of MLK's assassination, commemorating it with a gala honoring Carmen de Lavallade and artistic director Virginia Johnson. The season will feature a staging by Carmen De Lavallade of her late husband Geoffrey Holder’s masterpiece Dougla.

This segment is guest hosted by Jonathan Capehart.