Today, Dance Theatre of Harlem is an internationally acclaimed ballet company, performing on stages around the world.
But more than half a century ago, legendary dancer Arthur Mitchell founded the company with a mission to break racial barriers in classical ballet — and a group of pioneering Black ballerinas helped turn that vision into reality.
Their remarkable story is told in the book “The Swans of Harlem.” And this week, a special production and series of events at Manhattan’s 14th Street Y will bring that history to life.
One of those pioneering ballerinas, Sheila Rohan, joined NY1 to discuss.
Tap the video player above to watch the interview.