Last August, on the second Friday of the month, Ocean Park was filled with people of all ages and abilities dancing to music by James Brown and Stevie Wonder in a community pop-up led by Dance Theatre of Harlem.

The party ended last summer in a Soul Train line, but it picks up again next week, on August 19, when the dance troupe returns to the Vineyard for a series of performances around the Island.

“[Our founder Arthur Mitchell] wanted to create entry points at various positions to the institution, because he felt very strongly that if you see yourself in the art form, it provides an opportunity for deeper expression, opportunity to want to participate and engage,” said Dance Theatre of Harlem executive director Anna Glass.

Dance Theatre of Harlem is a professional ballet company and school based in New York City. Founded in 1969, it is widely known for being one of the first Black classical ballet companies in the world.

The company will be in residence on the Island from August 19 to 23, hosted by a group of institutions, including the The Yard, Vineyard Arts Project, Vineyard Preservation Trust and the Oak Bluffs Public Library.

In addition to the pop-up dance party in Ocean Park, there will be ballet classes on August 20 and 21 taught by the company at Vineyard Arts Project, and a performance at Union Chapel on August 23.

Dance Theatre of Harlem artistic director Robert Garland will host a discussion at the end of the performance at Union Chapel.

Vineyard Arts Project founder Ashley Melone said she always looks forward to collaborating with the company.

“They have a really amazing following that’s based on the Vineyard so I’m really always very excited to have them,” Ms. Melone said.

An open studio hour will also be held on August 22 at Vineyard Arts Project, where audience members can observe the dancers rehearse for an upcoming performance.

“What does a dancer do on a daily basis? We hear that so often when the company is on tour,” Ms. Glass said. “People ask how many hours a day do you rehearse? Are you practicing the same thing over and over again? How do you remember all that choreography? So it’s an opportunity for people to see the rehearsal [process] up close and personal.”

Ms. Glass added that the open ballet class is for dancers of all experience levels.

“This is not meant to be this rigorous, strict ballet class, but it’s an opportunity for people to move,” she said. “You’d be surprised how often we get discouraged from moving or believing that we can’t

be part of this art form called ballet, because we haven’t had a gazillion years of training.”

Stephanie Pacheco, executive director of The Yard, said she is looking forward to the show at Union Chapel.

“We really wanted a big public moment where people could experience some of what this company does,” Ms. Pacheco said. “But to have this performance plus Robert Garland sharing more information about the history of the company and their work... is really exciting for us.”

Ms. Glass said she hopes that Dance Theatre of Harlem continues to make connections on the Island for years to come.

“The beauty of what happens on Martha’s Vineyard is that you have a group of individuals who have gathered who are committed to culture,” Ms. Glass said. “They are committed to supporting one another. They are committed to the beauty that comes with change, and that’s something that would be wonderful to bottle up and have in other communities across the country.”