Dance Theatre of Harlem | 3,274 followers on LinkedIn. Always Raising the Barre | Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, encompassing a school, a world-class company, 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).