“Dance Theatre of Harlem” surpassed expectations with their dazzling performance on Saturday, October 17th, 2026 at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL,
“Dance Theatre of Harlem” began with a fun and flirty homage to American classic soul, R&B and funk music titled “Return.” James Brown and Aretha Franklin tunes were present while the dancers gave a vivid visual of the romantic lyrics behind each song. Elegant ballet and modern dance blended perfectly to create an exquisite performance with comedic doses. The audience swayed and some softly sang along to the hits “Mother Popcorn,” “Baby, Baby, Baby,” “I Got the Feelin,” “Call Me,” and “Superbad.”
Next, the company artists transitioned into a fairytale dream-like sequence called “Donizetti Variations.” Ladies and gentlemen were dressed in gorgeous costumes inspired by the iconic Italian opera “Don Sebastian.” In 1960, the ballet version ( originally “Variations from Don Sebastian”) was born as a celebration of Italy’s 100th unification.
“Firebird” concluded the evening by making its grand entrance. The Russian folktale received a Caribbean makeover. In this story, we meet a young man who is introduced to a Firebird. They form a bond through an intimate dance that leads him to his human princess. Once we met the happy couple, who are celebrated by a sea of well-wishers, the scene abruptly transformed into a war against good and evil. The man fought hard against creatures of evil, and it seemed like it was a losing battle. When the magical Firebird reappeared, she fought against the wicked foe and won. The show ends with a colorful wedding enveloped in happiness.
Overall, this was a fantastic show filled with happy moments from start to finish. Dancer Alexandra Hutchinson had an incredible “Firebird” solo where she maintained a flawless performance on her toes. “Firebird” was expertly choreographed by John Taras and featured Stravinsky’s score. The main couple, Derek Brockington and Kamala Saara, made the audience believe in true love with their enchanting dance moves.
My personal favorite was “Donizetti Variations.” The George Balanchine choreography, Gaetano Donizetti music, and Katy A. Freeman costume designs created a surreal dream world someone would want to live in forever. It was a happy fantasy existence that breathed so much life into the production. A job well done! Bravo to dancers Kouadio Davis, Eunhye Darbouze, Sean Miller, Hope Roberts and many others.
The company artists were outstanding, and Chicago welcomed them with open arms and a standing ovation.
“Dance Theatre of Harlem” kicked off Auditorium Theatre’s dance season on October 17th, 2026 at 7:30pm.
A special thanks to The Silverman Group for the press passes.
