Via @vintageblackglamour “#Repost @vintageblackglamour ・・・ I am so very sad to hear about the passing of Arthur Mitchell, the pioneering dancer, choreographer and founding artistic director of the @DanceTheatreofHarlem Mr. Mitchell was one of the last of our great living icons who paved the way for so many in the dance world. Prior to Dance Theatre of Harlem, he was the first Black principal dancer at the New York City Ballet under the iconic choreographer George Balanchine. The clip above is Mr. Mitchell and Diana Adams dancing to Balanchine's "Agon" in 1960 (it was created in 1957). Mr. Mitchell told the New York Times in 2015 "The fact that Mr. Balanchine took upon himself to put me with a Caucasian ballerina and to do a wonderful pas de deux was unheard of." In 1969, Mr. Mitchell co-founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem with Karel Shook in the aftermath of the death of Dr. King. "I could no longer wait for others to change things (for Black Americans). Here I am running around the world doing all thee things, why not do them at home? I believe in helping people the best way you can, my way is through my art." #ArthurMitchell #DianaAdams #pasdedeux #vintageblackglamour” https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn6v1Qehr3H/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=77nzzqyjdwr3