Last night, Dance Theater of Harlem celebrated its 45th anniversary with its 2014 Vision Gala at Manhattan's midtown-east hot spot, Cipriani 42. During the gala, Dance Theater of Harlem Company previewed its forthcoming spring season at Jazz at Lincoln Center and danced to a medley of Patti LaBelle songs in order to pay tribute to the iconic, Grammy Award-winning artist, who received the Company's Arthur Mitchell Vision Award, named for its founder.
The highlight of the evening was Ms. Patti's surprise performance during her acceptance speech. She took Cirpriani 42 to church with her stirring a capella rendition of "The Lord's Prayer," after which, we all sang, "Amen!"
Dance educator and arts advocate Jody Gottfried Arnhold was also honored by Dance Theater Harlem, with its Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Medal and Goldman, Sachs & Co. senior partner Valentino D. Carlotti received the inaugural Virtuoso Award. Dance Theater of Harlem raised $700,000 at the gala, which will benefit Dance Theater of Harlem School's Next Generation and Community Engagement Funds.
—By Brooke Obie, Editor-at-Large
