Arthur Mitchell — Key Points for Exam Review

Early life and training

• Raised in Harlem; early training in dance; initially could only imitate Fred Astaire; described as a tap routine with shuffle ball change.
• Ballet historically lacked Black dancers; family and peers doubted the choice; pressure to abandon ballet.
• A turning point occurred when others said he could not become a dancer; this fueled his resolve to prove them wrong.

Breakthrough at NYCB

• Won a place at the New York City Ballet; Balanchine encouraged him to pursue ballet seriously.
• Became one of the company’s principal dancers; reached the pinnacle of success within Balanchine’s troupe and performed at Broadway as well.

Founding Dance Theatre of Harlem

• Ballet had been a white aristocratic art form for centuries; Mitchell founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem to change that.
• He recruited dancers by inviting them in and encouraging them to try; built a platform for Black dancers to train and perform.

Leadership and pedagogy

• Focus on discipline and education as core values for youth and dancers.
• As director, he pushed dancers to meet high standards, believing strong leadership is essential for growth.
• A dancer describes how Mitchell helped turn a dream into a reality, and the dancer continues to perform with the company.

Impact and legacy

• Key figure in diversifying ballet and expanding opportunities for Black artists.
• Ongoing influence through leadership of Dance Theatre of Harlem and continued performance involvement.