Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden interview dance historian Lynn Garafola about her book Arthur Mitchell: The Extraordinary Life of Harlem’s Ballet Visionary, discussing how an exhibition at Columbia’s Rare Book and Manuscript Library and Mitchell’s 100+ archival boxes led her to write the first full biography, heavily grounded in interviews due to few personal papers. Garafola covers Mitchell’s early drive and stage presence, late start in ballet, support from Kirstein and Balanchine, and the hidden impact of his father’s 1953 killing and imprisonment. She describes Mitchell’s artistic choices at Dance Theatre of Harlem—Balanchine-derived musicality, repertory breadth, touring growth, training via Karl Shook and others, and Tanaquil Le Clercq’s decade-long teaching role—alongside persistent racism, weight obsession, and financial instability fueled by overextension, shifting philanthropy, shrinking touring, a weak board, and debts that culminated in the 2004 collapse.
You can purchase Lynn's book here: https://link.amazon/B09PYvBhN
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