Dance Theatre of Harlem

Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) and Artistic Director Virginia Johnson have invited choreographer Tiffany Rea-Fisher to create a new ballet inspired by the life of jazz pianist, popular entertainer, and civil rights activist Hazel Scott. This commission is part of Women Who Move Us, a DTH initiative focused on the artistic development and career advancement of female choreographers, particularly women of color. This new work will premiere in the Fall of 2022 in Washington, D.C., as a focal point of Hazel Scott @ 100, a programming series presented by lead commissioning partner Washington Performing Arts to raise awareness of Scott’s contributions to American culture and the fight for social justice.  

The land on which the Dance Theatre of Harlem is located was the land of the Munsee Lenape, who spoke either Wappinger or dialects of Munsee, depending on the source. The Chautauqua Institution is on the land of the Haudenosaunee (alternatively, Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga) Confederacy, likely speaking Erie in that specific area. It is unclear the specific tribe/nation beyond the Confederacy at that spot. Finally, the Dartmouth College site was the land of the Wabanaki, part of the Dawnland Confederacy, who likely spoke Abenaki. 

Estimated Artist Fee: $45-55,000/performance or $90-100,000/week long residency