Dance Theatre of Harlem presents Stevie Wonder program at MOT

Here's a match made in heaven: On Mar. 14-15, the Dance Theatre of Harlem will stage the world premiere of a new production at the Detroit Opera House, set to the music of Motown legend Stevie Wonder. 

"Higher Ground" by Robert Garland, the company's resident choreographer, is wrapped around five Wonder songs, starting with the melancholy "Look Around" from 1971, and concluding with the buoyant "Higher Ground" from two years later. 

Other songs included are "You Haven't Done Nothing," "Village Ghetto Land" and "Saturn." 

The work, which Garland says combines vernacular and balletic dance, forms part of DTH's golden-anniversary celebration. After its Detroit debut, the company will take the production to New York's City Center in mid-April.

As a DTH alumnus himself, noted Jon Teeuwissen, Michigan Opera Theatre's artistic adviser for dance, "it is a deeply personal honor to present this groundbreaking company during their 50th anniversary." 

Garland says "Higher Ground" has been in gestation virtually all his life. "When I was a young person, Stevie Wonder was my first introduction to serious issues," he said. "At the time we didn't have a 24-hour news cycle, so my news cycle was Stevie Wonder." 

The ballet, one of four the Dance Theatre will perform, is written for six dancers, and runs about 26 minutes.

"My intention," said Garland, "was to create a level of intimacy, because there are theatrical and dramatic motivations that might fit a small group better than a large one."

Garland, a principal dancer for the company until 1999 when he "put down the shoes," in his words, said he wanted music from the 1970s "because it comes from a time when the African-American community was finding that there were still some things we needed to work on, both politically and spiritually."

He toyed around with other songwriters from that era, Garland says, but settled on Wonder because of his unfailing ability "to hit the nail on the head." 

But the spiritual aspect is key. 

"If the black community is the conscience of America," Garland said, "and I believe it is, then Stevie Wonder supplies the conscience for black America."

Asked to name a few of his favorite choreograpers, the Juilliard School graduate said, "I'll give you a couple: George Balanchine, George Balanchine, George Balanchine."

Garland laughed. "I know -- it's really bad and myopic, isn't it? But I honestly do think he was the most proficient ballet choreographer in a century."

Also on program Saturday and Sunday will be "Passage," which takes as its starting point the first importation of slaves to Virginia in 1619, "Odalisques" and "Balamouk." 

mhodges@detroitnews.com

(313) 222-6021

Twitter: @mhodgesartguy 

Dance Theatre of Harlem presents 'Higher Ground' 

Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit 

7:30 p.m. Sat., Mar. 14; 2:30 p.m.. Sun., Mar. 15

Tickets: $30 and up 

(313) 237-SING [7464]

michiganopera.org