“Even those from whom art has been stolen away by tyranny, by poverty,” Jeanette Winterson writes, “begin to make it again … in song, out of dust and mud.”

The Arsht Center, along with Miami’s community leaders, have rescued art from the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake that flattened Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010. More than two years later, 600,000-plus Haitians continue to live in temporary camps sprawled across the capital city. The camps, with their iconic, flimsy, blue-tarp roofs, spread out across the landscape like a spider’s web. They’re a constant reminder of a the ongoing humanitarian crisis that threatens Haiti’s recovery.

But, there is hope.

The same earthquake that caused so much destruction almost forced one of Haiti’s premier dance troupes — the Ayikodans — to close for good. When the Arsht Center, a Knight Arts grantee, found out about the Ayikodans plight, the Center decided to step in and save the Ayikodans.

“It is our strong belief that the arts are transformative, enriching our lives and elevating our spirits. Ayikodans represents the soul of Haiti, the artistic voice of the people — and we could not bear to see that voice silenced,” said M. John Richard, president and CEO of the Arsht Center. “We applaud Ayikodans for their resilience in a time of tragedy and for their brilliance on stage.”

With new work commissioned by the Arsht Center, the Ayikodans will be where they belong — on stage. “Danse de L’Araignée”/”Dance with the Spider,” created by the Ayikodan’s founder and choreographer Jeanguy Saintus, takes its inspiration from Haitian mythology. It evokes the seductive rhythm of the spider and fuses traditional indigenous African and Indian rhythms with modern dance movements, such as hip-hop, into a seamless choreography.

Maybe dance won’t save Haiti, but the Ayikodans rise from this devastation serves as a reminder that art can persist even in the darkest of times.

AYIKODANS, Carnival Studio Theater, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, Fla. 33132, Friday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 26 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., as part of the Center’s 2011-2012 Dance Up Close season. Tickets: $35, purchase through the Arsht Center box office by calling 305-949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org.