Arthur Mitchell
American dancer and choreographer, co-founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem (1934-2018) · United States · Actors · Died at 84
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Something wrong?Arthur Mitchell was an American ballet dancer, choreographer, and founder and director of ballet companies. In 1955, he was the first African-American dancer with the New York City Ballet, where he was promoted to principal dancer the following year and danced in major roles until 1966.
A life in dates
The Kennedy Center HonorsSeries1971Capezio Dance AwardAward1967
A Midsummer Night's DreamFilm, Puck
The Day the Fish Came OutFilm, 19671958
The NutcrackerFilm, Coffee1934Born27 March 1934Photos 3
Filmography 4
TOThe Day the Fish Came OutADA Midsummer Night's DreamTNThe Nutcracker6 credits on file
Television 1
THThe Kennedy Center HonorsAwards
About this person
Arthur Mitchell was an American ballet dancer, choreographer, and founder and director of ballet companies. In 1955, he was the first African-American dancer with the New York City Ballet, where he was promoted to principal dancer the following year and danced in major roles until 1966. He then founded ballet companies in Spoleto, Washington, D.C., and Brazil. In 1969, he founded a training school and the first African-American classical ballet company, Dance Theatre of Harlem. Among other awards, Mitchell was recognized as a MacArthur Fellow, inducted into the National Museum of Dance's Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame, and received the United States National Medal of Arts and a Fletcher Foundation fellowship.
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