In 1970, Arthur Mitchell asked Valdes to design costumes for his new company, the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She closed her business in 1989 but continued to work with the Dance Theatre of Harlem until her death in 2001 at the age of 100. During her time at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, she worked on a total of 82 ballets productions in over 22 countries until her death.
