NYCity Ballet

#TBT On this day in 1969, Dance Theatre of Harlem was founded by former NYCB Principal Dancer Arthur Mitchell. Upon hearing of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mitchell chose to forgo his US government-sponsored plans to found a national ballet company in Brazil and open a ballet academy for the residents of his native Harlem neighborhood. Mitchell was joined in this undertaking by Karel Shook, formerly Ballet Master of the Dutch National Ballet, who was one of the most sought after ballet instructors of the time, and the only one who was known to teach classical technique to Black dancers.

Following the model of his lifelong mentor George Balanchine, Mitchell formed a professional company from students of his ballet school, with Balanchine's blessing to perform any ballet in his repertory. Dance Theatre of Harlem gave its first company performance on January 8, 1971, premiering three chamber ballets choreographed by Mitchell.

Photos: Dance Theatre of Harlem in Arthur Mitchell's Rhythmetron No. 74; Arthur Mitchell in Agon; Dance Theatre of Harlem and NYCB in Mitchell and Balanchine's Concerto for Jazz Band and Orchestra; Balanchine and Mitchell in rehearsal for Jazz band and Orchestra.

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