Arthur Mitchell (dancer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Mitchell
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Arthur Mitchell in 1955 by Carl Van Vechten
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| Born | March 27, 1934 Harlem, New York City, U.S.
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| Died | September 19, 2018 (aged 84) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
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Arthur Mitchell (born March 27, 1934 – died September 19, 2018) was an amazing American ballet dancer. He was also a choreographer, which means he created dance routines. Arthur Mitchell started and led several ballet companies. In 1955, he made history as the first African-American dancer to join the New York City Ballet. The very next year, he became a main dancer, performing in many important shows until 1966.
After leaving the New York City Ballet, he helped start ballet companies in other places like Spoleto, Washington, D.C., and Brazil. In 1969, he created something truly special: a ballet school and the first African-American classical ballet company, called Dance Theatre of Harlem. Arthur Mitchell received many honors for his work, including being a MacArthur Fellow and getting the United States National Medal of Arts. He was also added to the National Museum of Dance's Hall of Fame.
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Arthur Mitchell's Early Life
Arthur Mitchell was one of four children. He grew up in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. When he was 12, he had to help support his family. He worked many jobs, like shining shoes and delivering newspapers.
Even with his responsibilities, Arthur found time for dance. As a teenager, a school counselor told him to try out for the High School of Performing Arts. He got in and decided he wanted to be a professional ballet dancer.
After graduating in the early 1950s, he won an award. This award gave him a scholarship to study at the School of American Ballet. This school was connected to the famous New York City Ballet. In 1954, he also performed on Broadway in a musical called House of Flowers. He shared the stage with other famous performers like Alvin Ailey.
Dancing with the New York City Ballet
In 1955, Arthur Mitchell joined the New York City Ballet (NYCB). He was the first African American dancer to perform with this company. He made his first appearance in a ballet called Western Symphony.
By 1956, he became a principal dancer, which is a top position in a ballet company. He danced in many important ballets. These included A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Nutcracker.
The director of the NYCB, George Balanchine, created a special dance for Mitchell. It was a pas de deux (a dance for two people) in the ballet Agon. He danced this with a white ballerina named Diana Adams. Some people complained about this pairing at first. But Balanchine refused to change it.
Arthur Mitchell performed this role with white partners all over the world. However, he could not perform it on American television until 1968. That year, it was shown on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Mitchell left the New York City Ballet in 1966. He then performed in several Broadway shows. He also helped start ballet companies in Spoleto, Washington, D.C., and Brazil. The company he started in Brazil was called the National Ballet Company of Brazil.
Founding the Dance Theatre of Harlem
After the death of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, Arthur Mitchell returned to Harlem. He wanted to create dance opportunities for children in his community. A year later, in 1969, he and his teacher, Karel Shook, opened a classical ballet school.
Mitchell used $25,000 of his own money to start the school. About a year later, he received a large grant from the Ford Foundation. The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) began in a church basement with 30 children.
Two months later, 400 young people were attending classes. Two years after that, they became a professional dance company. Mitchell used his own money to turn a garage into the company's main building.
The DTH created many chances for people in Harlem. Students could become dancers, musicians, or work behind the scenes. Many former students have had successful careers in dance and theater. The success of DTH showed the dance world that talent comes from everywhere. It helped change old ideas about who could be a classical dancer.
Arthur Mitchell's Legacy
Arthur Mitchell's life and work are remembered in the Arthur Mitchell Collection. This collection is kept at Columbia University. An exhibition called "Arthur Mitchell: Harlem's Ballet Trailblazer" opened in 2018. It celebrated his amazing career. The exhibition website has many pictures and documents from his collection. It also includes a timeline of his career and information about the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Death
Arthur Mitchell passed away on September 19, 2018. He died from kidney problems.
Honors and Awards
Arthur Mitchell received many awards for his important work. Some of his honors include:
- 1989 – Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
- 1993 – Kennedy Center Honors, making him one of the youngest people to receive this award.
- 1994 – Named a MacArthur Fellow, which is a special award for talented individuals.
- 1995 – United States National Medal of Arts, given by the President.
- 1999 – Added to the National Museum of Dance C.V. Whitney Hall of Fame.
- 2001 – The 7th Annual Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities.
- 2005 – Received a Fletcher Foundation fellowship for his contributions to African-American culture.
- 2006 – President George W. Bush honored Mitchell and the Dance Theatre of Harlem at the White House.
Mitchell also received honorary doctorates from many top universities. These included Juilliard School, Harvard University, and Yale University. He also received awards from the City of New York and other community groups.
See also
In Spanish: Arthur Mitchell para niños
