Born in Harlem, NY in 1934, Arthur Mitchell would become one of the most impactful dance performers of his day. Admitted to New York’s High School of Performing Arts, he pursued a career in ballet, following his high school studies with a scholarship to the School of American Ballet. By 1952, Mitchell had already made his debut on Broadway in Four Saints in Three Acts, an opera, ahead of his performance in the Truman Capote penned musical House of Flowers. With music composed by Harold Arlen, the play featured Alvin Ailey, Geoffrey Holder and Pearl Bailey, as well as Carmen de Lavallade and Diahann Carroll. This photo was taken by Carl Van Vechten in 1955, the year Mitchell debuted as the first African American dancer at the New York City Ballet. He would eventually rise to become the company’s principle dancer, and remained in the role until 1966. Following the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mitchell dedicated himself to bringing opportunities to the youth of Harlem. In 1969 he founded the Dance Theater of Harlem with actors Brock Peters and Cicely Tyson. He would later enlist his own dance teacher, Karel Shook, a former faculty member at the Katherine Dunham School of Dance and teacher at the Dutch National Ballet, who had also instructed Alvin Ailey, Carmen De Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder throughout his career. Within months, the school which began in a church basement with only 30 students had grown to as many as 400. Still thriving today, the school has produced numerous standouts in dance, music, wardrobe and staging for the theater. In 1993, Mitchell was honored by the Kennedy Center. This archival museum quality print is presented on 100% acid free, 5.57 oz, smooth matte fine art paper. Printed sustainably to order in the UK, it is a perfect choice for making a beautiful statement in any room of your home.
