Rabat – The Dance Theatre of Harlem has wrapped up a two-night series at the flagship Royal Theater of Rabat, October 2-3, marking their first-ever trip to Morocco.
The ballet company has not performed in Africa for over thirty years, so this tour was particularly meaningful.
A mission of accessibility in art
The Dance Theatre of Harlem was founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell, the first Black principal dancer at the New York City Ballet. At that time, most dance companies cast mainly white dancers, so Mitchell was a revolutionary.
Since then, the company has sought to make dance accessible to all, counteracting ballet’s reputation for exclusivity.
It last performed on the African continent in 1992 when Nelson Mandela invited them to South Africa. They made an international statement, proving dancers from all racial backgrounds could achieve artistic excellence. However, they had not returned to Africa until now.
Rabat as an aspiring cultural capital
Morocco’s cultural relevance internationally has been a priority for King Mohammed VI. Rabat has earned special attention with the “City of Light” designation. Part of the plan was building a theater corresponding to such global ambitions.
The Royal Theater of Rabat was designed by celebrated architect Zaha Hadid. It was inaugurated in April 2026 as a cultural landmark.
Leaders from both France and Morocco were in attendance, underlining the theater’s intent to be a global arts hub for cross-cultural programming. Anna Glass, Executive Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, said it made for a jaw-dropping opening.
Artistic renewal in a setting to match
The luminous new theater was a fitting place to stage the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s return to Africa. It symbolizes Morocco’s rising ambitions, which the ballet company shares.
Glass told Lifestyle magazine that “our return to the African continent carries deep meaning, and we could not have asked for a more extraordinary welcome.” The performances are “the beginning of a relationship we intend to build upon for years to come.”
Seeming to reference the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s South African success over thirty years ago, Artistic Director Robert Garland said that “bringing this company to a stage of that scale and significance in Morocco is a full circle moment for us.”
The Dance Theatre of Harlem was born in a New York City neighborhood, but its art embraces the world and especially the African diaspora. Rabat and its Royal Theater were the perfect place to showcase that.
The Dance Theatre of Harlem debuted in Morocco at Rabat’s Royal Theater.
