harpergroup Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 From The NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/19/obituaries/arthur-mitchell-dead.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Farts&action=click&contentCollection=arts®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Oh, how terrible. What a huge loss. Link to comment
Tapfan Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Yes, it's a huge loss. These last few years, I got the feeling that he felt emotionally disconnected from his own marvelous creation, DTH. All he seemed to talk about or at least be asked about by dance writers, was his time at NYCB. Link to comment
Drew Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Very sad news--but what a great life he lived! Rest-in-peace Arthur Mitchell.... Link to comment
Balanchinomane Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 A wonderful man, a glorious career, a lasting legacy. My sympathy to his loved ones. Link to comment
Helene Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 This is the statement from Dance Theatre in Harlem: https://www.facebook.com/dancetheatreofharlem/photos/a.560047474029581/2117612131606433/ Rest in peace, Arthur Mitchell. Link to comment
Olga Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 A magnificent dancer. Olivia Boisson’s Instagram post sums up the other contributions he made. Very glad Lynn Garafola mounted that exhibit about him this past year, while he could still see it. A legend among legends at City Ballet. RIP. Link to comment
canbelto Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Wow RIP to a great dancer and a real trailblazer. Loved this variation in an early version of Mr. B's Nutcracker: Link to comment
pherank Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 I was very sorry to hear about his passing - a great human being, and a great dancer/director. Link to comment
dirac Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Sad news. I am sorry we will not have him around for more years but as Drew says, what a life! Always an engaging interview, too, if not necessarily the most reliable of sources. You are likely right, Tapfan. The interview I link to below certainly suggests that he wasn't close to his old troupe. I hope that people who saw him dance in person will write about it here. An interview from January of this year from the Times by Gia Kourlas. Quote Because of his closeness with the Russian-born Balanchine, Mr. Mitchell refers to himself as an African-American man raised like an old Russian aristocrat. “My relationship with him was totally different than with the other dancers,” Mr. Mitchell said. “It wasn’t about, ‘What role am I going to dance?’ But ‘What would you like me to do? Use me.’ And he did.” Link to comment
duffster Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 When I was a young ballet student my mother took me to see NYCB. Mr. Mitchell was performing in AGON. He possessed an outstanding clarity and brilliance in his movements that I believe that only great dancers have. (It is something that cannot be taught) I'm thinking of Alonso, Maximova. Vasiliev,Dowell etc. You have to experience them live. You leave the theatre with a much lighter heart. I was very fortunate to see him. RIP and thank you Mr. Mitchell. Link to comment
Pique Arabesque Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 4 hours ago, dirac said: Sad news. I am sorry we will not have him around for more years but as Drew says, what a life! Always an engaging interview, too, if not necessarily the most reliable of sources. You are likely right, Tapfan. The interview I link to below certainly suggests that he wasn't close to his old troupe. I hope that people who saw him dance in person will write about it here. An interview from January of this year from the Times by Gia Kourlas. RIP, Mr. Mitchell. My heart sunk when I read this news today. I hope he did not pass on poor terms with DTH. He may have just preferred to stay out of the limelight. Calling him "unreliable" seems a little harsh. His interviews were always illuminating for me and created a vivid picture of what it was like to be an early Balanchine dancer. Link to comment
KarenAG Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 (edited) This news made me terribly sad, especially in the wake of this ghastly situation at NYCB. What a beautiful dancer was Mr Mitchell. And his Puck! He makes me laugh every time I watch this clip with his antics. And then at the end, his magnificent grace and power as he defiantly pirouettes, driven for good out of Titania’s fairy bower. When SPAC added Balanchine’s and Kirstein’s stars on its Walk of Fame in July 2016, the 50th anniversary year of NYCB at SPAC, many dancers came to pay tribute, among them Jacques d’Amboise, Karin VonAroldingen, Patricia McBride, and Arthur Mitchell. I wish I could post the picture I took of them to share with you. It was a poignant tribute and a very special day, seeing all those dancers from a golden age, hugging each other and reminiscing. It was a gathering of Titans! I’m sure they are all very sad at Mr Mitchell‘s passing, Suzanne Farrell, as well. Rest in Peace, Mr Mitchell. We will miss you and remember your grace and style, your beautiful smile and your great contributions to ballet and dance. Edited September 20, 2018 by KarenAG Expression Link to comment
KarenAG Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 18 hours ago, Olga said: A magnificent dancer. Olivia Boisson’s Instagram post sums up the other contributions he made. Very glad Lynn Garafola mounted that exhibit about him this past year, while he could still see it. A legend among legends at City Ballet. RIP. Olivia’s Instagram post made me tear up. Link to comment
Olga Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 4 hours ago, KarenAG said: Olivia’s Instagram post made me tear up. I had the same reaction. It was very real and very touching. Link to comment
Helene Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Here are KarenAG's photos from Saratoga: The original, George Balanchine's star, Lincoln Kirstein's star. Does anyone know who the unidentified people are? L-R: Peter Martins, [man in beige suit]*, Robert Maiorano, [man standing behind], Miranda Weese, Patricia McBride, Karin von Aroldingen, Suki Shorer, Jacques d'Amboise, Arthur Mitchell *edited to fix. Many thanks KarenAG! Link to comment
manhattangal Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 RIP, Arthur Mitchell. One of the greats. Link to comment
KarenAG Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Thank you, Helene. I appreciate your adding my pics. As I look at this again, I think the man behind everyone is perhaps an emcee. The man in the white suit is Robert Maiorano. But I don’t know who is standing next to Peter Martins (beige/tan suit). Link to comment
Helene Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 I fixed the caption, so that people try to ID the right person . Link to comment
KarenAG Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 This was July 20, 2016. Robert Maiorano lives up in Saratoga County, I believe, so I see him often at the ballet. I met him this season at the Gala event. He’s very warm and friendly. Link to comment
KarenAG Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 7 minutes ago, Helene said: I fixed the caption, so that people try to ID the right person . Many thanks! Link to comment
Helene Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 From Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/arthur-mitchell-who-broke-barriers-black-ballet-dancers-has-died-84-180970357/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20180921-daily-responsive&spMailingID=36224279&spUserID=NDYyNjQzODUwODUxS0&spJobID=1362110262&spReportId=MTM2MjExMDI2MgS2 Link to comment
Stage Right Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 I am so sorry to hear this news! He contributed so much to ballet and to our society as a whole. RIP. Link to comment
FPF Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Allegra Kent on Arthur Mitchell: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/25/arts/dance/allegra-kent-arthur-mitchell-ballet.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Dance Link to comment
Recommended Posts