Telling the Story of DTH: Arthur Mitchell’s Love Letter
Abstract:
This panel discussion about Arthur Mitchell’s Love Letter is also the title of an anthology being completed by a group of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) alumni. This text begins a significant scholarly conversation about this groundbreaking Black ballet company. Currently, there are some scholarly articles, picture books, and memoirs, but no comprehensive academic texts about Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) that address the ongoing marginalization of Black presence in ballet throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. This discussion highlights how social and cultural values and representations in American ballet have evolved, especially as each company dancer adopts the mantra of “representing something much larger than yourself,” a principle established by co-founder Arthur Mitchell (1934-2018). By performing a repertoire ranging from ballet’s romantic period to West African and African-derived dances to contemporary choreography, DTH often revises and updates ballet’s cultural narratives, helping to expand the art form beyond its traditionally elitist identity. Through international performances, this ballet company continues the legacy, a path begun by Arthur Mitchell as the first Black male principal dancer at the New York City Ballet in 1955. This panel will explore how these achievements were and continue to be realized today, and how they challenge the ballet world, including academia, to prioritize excellence and commitment over bias.