The reach of the Harlem artistic community is undeniably global. However, on April 11 it only had to head a few dozen blocks downtown, when Dance Theatre of Harlem held its 2025 Vision Gala at Midtown Manhattan’s Ziegfeld Ballroom. The evening honored Ford Foundation president Darren Walker with the Arthur Mitchell Vision Award, which was presented to him by filmmaker Ava DuVernay, and included performances from the Dance Theatre of Harlem company, dinner and dancing, and entertainment care of DJ D-Nice and Kenny Burns.

Guests including Misty Copeland, Thelma Golden, Bevy Smith, Mickalene Thomas, Bethann Hardison, and more were on hand to celebrate Walker, who, DuVernay said, “has always seen the beauty in the bold, the precision in the daring, the grace in the fight.”

All told, the evening raised more than $1.3 million for the Dance Theatre of Harlem and its programming.