UNCSA students to join Dance Theatre of Harlem’s iconic “Firebird” on tour this Fall in D.C., Seattle and Chicago

16 students from the School of Dance at UNCSA will join the acclaimed Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) for three stops on its Fall national tour, performing in the corps de ballet of the company’s iconic production of “Firebird.”

UNCSA student dancers will perform in Washington, D.C., presented by Washington Performing Arts at The National Theatre, Sept. 25-26; Chicago, at The Auditorium, Oct. 17; and at the Paramount Theatre presented by Seattle Theatre Group in Seattle, Oct. 30-31.

The UNCSA Symphony Orchestra’s recording of Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Ballet Suite,” conducted by Mark A. Norman and released on the UNCSA Media label, will provide the musical accompaniment for “Firebird” at all three tour stops featuring UNCSA dancers, as well as DTH’s Nov. 7 performance presented by ASU Gammage in Tempe, Arizona.

“Firebird” partnership

The performances build on a multiyear partnership between Dance Theatre of Harlem and UNCSA, made possible with funding and programmatic support from the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts (Kenan Arts). The partnership provides UNCSA students with opportunities to train and perform alongside professional artists while supporting the return of one of the signature works in Dance Theatre of Harlem’s history.

First premiered by Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1982, “Firebird” was choreographed by John Taras specifically for the company, with sets and costumes by legendary artist Geoffrey Holder. Set in a lush Caribbean-inspired world, the production reimagines the classic tale of love and liberation through classical ballet and Holder’s distinctive cultural and visual aesthetic.

The current production marked the return of DTH’s “Firebird” after more than 20 years. Its revival grew out of a multiyear creative process with UNCSA and Kenan Arts that began in 2024, when School of Dance students traveled to New York City to learn the original Taras choreography directly from Dance Theatre of Harlem company members and members of the original cast. The work culminated in a workshop performance at UNCSA in April 2024 with the score performed live by the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra.

UNCSA students subsequently joined Dance Theatre of Harlem for performances of “Firebird” in Detroit, Paris, Norfolk, Virginia, and New York during the 2025-26 season.

The partnership is also creating a pathway to professional work for UNCSA alumni. School of Dance alumni Joshua Ponton and Madison Wilson will return to “Firebird” as guest artists for the Washington, D.C., Chicago, Seattle and Tempe engagements, while alumni Madeleine Smith and Ella Holcomb, both members of Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company, will join the production in Tempe. Behind the scenes, Design and Production alumni are also contributing to the tour, with Malcolm Foster serving as Lighting Supervisor for the Washington, D.C., Chicago, Seattle and Tempe engagements and Garrett Deutsch serving as Lighting Assistant in Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Together, their involvement demonstrates how the partnership extends beyond the student experience to create professional opportunities for graduates both onstage and in production.

“To have our students and alumni continue this journey with Dance Theatre of Harlem speaks to the depth of this partnership and the level of trust that has developed between our institutions,” said Dean Endalyn T. Outlaw, a former DTH principal dancer and former director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem School. “They have had the extraordinary opportunity to learn the history of this work, embody it onstage and now carry it forward for audiences across the country. That is an invaluable part of their development as professional artists. And now it is also exciting to see these professional opportunities unlocked for our alumni through this engagement.”

Musical collaboration

The musical collaboration originated with the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra’s 2024 recording of Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Ballet Suite.” Conducted by Norman, the recording was released by UNCSA Media in 2025 and is available in Dolby Atmos immersive audio. The orchestra is composed of students from the School of Musicat UNCSA including its high school, undergraduate and graduate programs. The recording was engineered by School of Music faculty member Chris Heckman; it was produced by School of Music faculty members Ksenija Komljenovic and Frazier Smith as well as staff member Ken Wilmot, who also served as stage manager for the recording session. Heckman and Norman are executive producers.

The partnership has also given School of Music students opportunities to perform the score live. In March 2026, 10 UNCSA student musicians joined the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for Dance Theatre of Harlem’s performances of “Firebird” at the Virginia Arts Festival.

Kenan Arts creates pathways

“Firebird” is among several partnerships supported by Kenan Arts that are designed to help UNCSA students bridge the transition between conservatory training and professional practice.

“Creating pathways for emerging artists to connect with the professional industry is central to our mission at Kenan Arts,” said Kenan Institute for the Arts Executive Director Kevin Bitterman. “Our partnership with Dance Theatre of Harlem and UNCSA demonstrates the impact of sustained collaboration; creating meaningful professional experiences for emerging artists while helping make possible the work of an iconic cultural institution.”

UNCSA student performances with Dance Theatre of Harlem’s “Firebird”

Washington, D.C.: Sept. 25-26
Washington Performing Arts at The National Theatre

Chicago: Oct. 17
The Auditorium

Seattle: Oct. 30-31
Seattle Theatre Group / Paramount Theatre

The UNCSA Media recording of “The Firebird Ballet Suite” will provide accompaniment at each of these performances and at Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Nov. 7 engagement presented by ASU Gammage in Tempe, Arizona.

UNCSA student invited guests

Maidens

• Cadance Barnes
• Sarah Kluthe
• Ava Carlson 
• Isabella Fisher
• Ella McMurtrie

Monstets

• Lily Durand
• Brynn Copeland
• Violet Dubreuil
• Tannin Forsyth
• Skylar Saragusa
• Lydia Wyatt
• Avery Clear

Monsters

• Cameron Caldwell
• Sergio Fernando-Lopez
• Brayden Hundt
• Nate Jennings

About Dance Theatre of Harlem's “Firebird”

First premiered in 1982, this iconic production makes its grand return with special limited engagements throughout 2026. The beloved ballet, originally choreographed by John Taras, with original vibrant costumes and set designs by Geoffrey Holder, will once again captivate audiences with its enchanting storytelling, lush Caribbean-inspired setting, and unforgettable performances. A reimagining of the classic Russian folk tale about love and liberation, “Firebird” transports audiences to a magical world where the heroic “Firebird” helps a young couple triumph over evil. Set to Igor Stravinsky's renowned ”Firebird” Suite, John Taras' dynamic choreography is brought to life by Geoffrey Holder's stunning designs, evoking orchid-filled jungles and dazzling, fantastical costumes. These vibrant visuals enhance the enchanting tale, creating an immersive experience of color, movement and emotion. The production, a hallmark of Dance Theatre of Harlem's artistic legacy, fuses classical ballet with bold cultural vibrancy, offering a celebration of movement, music, and imagination.

This remounting of ”Firebird” is under the supervision of Leo Holder, son of the late Geoffrey Holder, reconstructed in close collaboration with the Holder Estate. The production meticulously preserves the original magic and integrity of the 1982 ballet, ensuring that its splendor and artistry captivate new generations of audiences.

About the Dance Theatre of Harlem

Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, encompassing a world-class company, a professional studio school, a leading arts education program - Dancing Through Barriers®, and community engagement activities. Each component of Dance Theatre of Harlem carries a solid commitment towards enriching the lives of young people and adults around the world through the arts. Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem was considered “one of ballet’s most exciting undertakings” (The New York Times, 1971). Shortly after the assassination of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mitchell was inspired to start a school that would offer children — especially those in Harlem, the community in which he was born — the opportunity to learn about dance and the allied arts. Now in its sixth decade, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multicultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts.  For more information about Dance Theatre of Harlem, please visit www.dancetheatreofharlem.org. Follow Dance Theatre of Harlem on Instagram and Facebook: @DanceTheatreOfHarlem; and YouTube: Dance Theatre of Harlem.  

About the School of Dance at UNCSA

The School of Dance at UNCSA is one of the world’s premier dance schools employing a distinctive conservatory approach to developing and teaching talented young performers. Hands-on training from world class resident faculty members and professional dancers offers a thorough yet nurturing approach for the next generation of performers to become technically sound, artistically sensitive and versatile professional dancers. Students concentrate in either classical ballet or contemporary dance, but train and perform in both, with numerous performance opportunities that allow them to explore a diverse repertory. Additionally, there is an affiliate Preparatory Dance Program in ballet for rising third- through ninth-graders. The school also offers summer dance intensives and dance festivals for children and adults. 

Classical ballet graduates have enjoyed successful careers in dance, including becoming soloists, principal dancers, choreographers and artistic directors with the American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Joffrey Ballet, among many others. Graduates of the contemporary dance program enjoy careers as dancers and choreographers for companies such as the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Martha Graham Ensemble, along with their own companies. Alumni include Camille A. Brown, Kyle Davis, Blaine Hoven, Juel D. Lane, Trey McIntyre, Gillian Murphy, Anthony Santos, Helen Simoneau, Dwana Smallwood and Will Gyves, 1st Scholarship/Top Prize winner of Prix de Lausanne 2026.

About the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts (Kenan Arts)

Artists change the way we see the world. At the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, we make space for that change to happen. From our home at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, we support artists, spark collaboration, and connect creative communities across the Southeast and beyond. For more than three decades, Kenan Arts has backed bold ideas, nurtured partnerships, and helped the arts thrive in times of challenge and transformation. By expanding pathways to creativity for artists, students, and communities, we continue that work with a clear vision for a world where artists are valued and creativity is a driving force for change. For more information, visit www.uncsa.edu/KenanArts.

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