On March 1, when Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) takes the stage at IU Auditorium, the performance will have a special connection to the Jacobs School of Music. Three company members—Alexandra Jones, Alexandra Hutchinson, and Ariana Dickerson—are graduates of the Jacobs ballet program, returning to Bloomington as part of DTH’s Indiana tour. Their three-day residency will be filled with artistic and community engagement, including class visits, performances in local schools, and educational opportunities for aspiring dancers.
A highlight of the performance will be Balanchine's Donizetti Variations, set by ballet icon Kyra Nichols. A former principal dancer with New York City Ballet (NYCB), Nichols holds the distinction of being one of the last ballerinas personally coached by George Balanchine. Now a répétiteur for the Balanchine Trust and the Violette Verdy and Kathy Ziliak Anderson Chair in Ballet at the Jacobs School, Nichols has spent her career not only dancing but preserving and passing down Balanchine’s legacy. She describes the process of setting Balanchine’s choreography as an art, “translating it for a particular group of dancers–the timing, the execution of the steps, how it all fits and flows together.”
Nichols’ history with Dance Theatre of Harlem goes back decades. When she was performing with New York City Ballet, she formed a lasting friendship with Robert Garland, now DTH’s artistic director. Their connection led to collaborations over the years, and when Garland took the helm at DTH, he invited Nichols to set a ballet with the company. She eagerly accepted: “They’re such an inspiring group of dancers. The energy you see on stage is incredible.”
Now, she’s setting Donizetti Variations for the company alongside DTH ballet master Juan Carlos Penuela, preparing the troupe for both its Bloomington performance and the ballet’s upcoming New York City performance at City Center in April.
For audience members unfamiliar with the piece, Nichols reassures them that no prior knowledge is needed: “Balanchine’s choreography speaks for itself. Just watch the beautiful movement and see how his musicality comes alive in the dance.” She suggests that each audience member may interpret and experience the performance uniquely: “It will be different from the person sitting next to you. Just come and see what you think.”
The performance takes place Saturday, March 1, at 8 p.m., with an open rehearsal from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and a post-show Q&A at 10 p.m. Nichols encourages everyone to take in the joy and energy of the dancers: “Just enjoy it. It’s about the love of dance, and they’re going to express that.”
For those inspired to see more, Nichols will also be involved in the Jacobs School’s Spring Ballet on March 28-29, working with choreographer and fellow former NYCB principal dancer Lauren Lovette. Lovette’s work will be performed alongside a piece choreographed by Nichols’ fellow ballet professor Sasha Janes.
With a mix of world-class artistry, deep Jacobs connections, and a celebration of Balanchine’s legacy, Dance Theatre of Harlem’s visit is a chance to see top-notch dancing within a cross-IU legacy.
