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Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem(DTH) was heralded as a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim. Since its inception, the world class dance company has grown into a multi- cultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts. One of the company’s major fundraising events is the epic Vision Gala which took place Friday, April 11, 2025, with a stunning performance by the global company at New York City Center, followed by dinner, dessert and dancing to music by DJ D-Nice and Kenny Burns in the Ziegfeld Ballroom.
This year’s glamorous gala honored Ford Foundation’s President & Philanthropist Darren Walker with the Arthur Mitchell Vision Award, presented by filmmaker and producer Ava DuVernay. Led by Artistic Director Robert Garland, Executive Director Anna Glass and Rehearsal Director Juan Carlos Penuela, the evening celebrated Mr. Walker’s extraordinary contributions to the arts and social justice. DuVernay delivered a powerful speech, celebrating Walker as a true champion of the arts, creatives, and the underrepresented. “Darren has always seen the beauty in the bold, the precision in the daring, the grace in the fight,” she said. The night raised $1.3 million including an additional $132,000 raised during the live pledge moment.
The elegant evening began with an exclusive Chairman’s reception at the Center prior to the powerful dance program which thrilled the nattily dressed guests. After, guests convened at the Ziegfeld Ballroom for a magnificent evening that featured a phenomenal performance by DTH, including a special presentation of We Are All Brown – Commemorating Brown v. Board of Education anchored by a galvanizing oration from Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund. Notable guests in attendance included prominent figures from the arts, entertainment, and philanthropy sectors including Thelma Golden, Marc & Michelle Morial, Bethann Hardison, Bevy Smith Alicia Graff Mack, Isolde Brielmaier, Misty Copeland, Law Roach, Brandon Blackwood, Mickalene Thomas, Sunny Hostin, Adriene Lopez, Bianca Lawson and more.
This year’s Honorary Gala Chair was Ben Vereen, The distinguished roster of Gala Chairs included Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn, Terri Prettyman Bowles. Alvin L. Bowles, Ursula Burns, Jerome and Hélène Dreskin, Ava DuVernay, Agnes Gund, Aliya LeeKong, Ackneil M. Muldrow, III and Dana Muldrow, Paramount, Tangela Richter and Mark Morley, Bonita Coleman Stewart and Kevin Stewart, Janice Vickers, and Leslie Wims Morris. The Honorary Committee included Isolde Brielmaier, Bethann Hardison, Sunny Hostin, Bianca Lawson, and Mickalene Thomas. The 2025 Season Sponsor was Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The Vision Gala is a fundraiser supporting DTH’s 56 year legacy, impacting its 2025 season filled with world premieres and company premieres alike. Additionally, the support will impact the DTH School which continues to inspire a diverse pool of young dancers, providing them with a safe and nurturing space to develop their skill and talent through training and education.
