Dance Theater of Harlem at City Ctr-What's the Point of Choreography on Pointe?

The Dance Theater of Harlem was founded in 1969 by Arthur Mithcell; the first African American classical ballet company.  Mitchell (b NYC 1934) studied with the NYC Ballet school & performed under Balanchine in the 1950's.  The Dance Theater of Harlem has returned after an unstable financial history & 6 year hiatus.  It's under the artistic direction of Virginia Johnson, a former principal dancer for the company.  The mission of The Dance Theater of Harlem is to provide classical ballet training & performance opprotunities for black dancers.  The program Saturday afternoon had 3 pieces:  "Brahms Variations" choreographed by Robert Garland "Change" 2016, by Dianne McIntyre and "Return" 1999 also by Robert Garland.  "Brahms Variations" was an appropriation of Balanchine's "Variations"  choreography.  The golden ballet costumes with sparkling embellishments help lift this classical ballet.  However, the footing was unsure, and the dancers' extensions fell short.   "Change" was an amalgation, part Alvin Ailey's "Revelations" & Robert Battle's "Hunt." Three female dancers performed admirably  on pointe what orignated for male dancers.  The music was both gospel and tribal.  The dancers on pointe felt at odds with the intense tribal aesthetic.  Garland's "Return" was the oldest piece on the program (1999) but most modern in style & song.  Music of James Brown & Aretha Franklin were used.  The dancing was a combination of soul, including a down the line Soul Train montage and rock & hip hop.  "Change" was a huge crowd favorite.  The adoring audiences cheered & applauded throughout; not what you'd typically find watching a classical ballet company.  The boisterous outbursts made the performance celebratory and empowering.  The dancers held a meet & greet after the performance in the lobby.  The youngsters in the audience were dressed to impressed and excited to be there.  I didn't agree with the artistic choices to put the dancers on pointe in "Change" or "Return."  I found the juxtaposition of classical ballet & modern dance morphed incongruously.  However, if the point was to bring ballet into a broader & younger audience, mission accomplished.   Audiences feeling free to express their appreciation was liberating.  However, flash photography remains crass & is a hazard to the dancers.