Origins & Early Life

Arthur Mitchell (March 27, 1934 – September 19, 2018) 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.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

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. Mitchell was one of four siblings, the son of a building superintendent, and grew up in the streets of Harlem, New York. Forced at the age of 12 to assume financial responsibility for his family in the wake of his father's incarceration, Mitchell worked numerous jobs, including shoe-shining, mopping floors, newspaper delivery, and work in a meat shop.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Despite his duties, Mitchell became involved with street...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abimael Guzmán — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Peruvian Maoist revolutionary leader, founder of the Shining Path.
• Alan Arkin — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Esteemed American actor, filmmaker, and musician with a seven-decade career.
• Alexei Leonov — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Pioneering Soviet cosmonaut, aviator, and celebrated figure in space exploration.
• Aaron Klug — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): Pioneering biophysicist known for crystallographic electron microscopy and nucleic acid structure.
• Alan Bean — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): American astronaut, naval officer, and lunar explorer who walked on the Moon.
• Alexander Zakharchenko — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): Pro-Russian separatist leader and head of the Donetsk People's Republic.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Shared historical date (03-27 · Died) (2005): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• Alfred de Vigny — Shared historical date (03-27 · Born) (1797): French poet and early Romanticist, known for his plays and novels.
• Adam West — Shared historical date (09-19 · Born) (1928): American actor best known for portraying Batman in the 1960s and extensive voice work.
• Al Oerter — Shared historical date (09-19 · Born) (1936): Four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw, pioneering athletic consistency.
• 1934 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1934
• March 27 (03-27) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 27
• 2018 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2018
• September 19 (09-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 19