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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 1992)
- W*ì*to* H fr t S . ." • > • ■ ■ > . ' ■'■■ X J oc an Artist o f Excellence By Wanda Washington Ar X A rth u r Mitchell, Artistic Director of the World-Reowned Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) founded the DTH in the basement of Harlem Church in 1968. He has smced produced quality dance«, and shaped the attitudes of winners. Portland has been blessed to attain a protege of Mitchell’s work. JoeWyatt former member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and current Director of the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre shares his love for the arts, his adm iration for A rthur Mitchell, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Fourty One year old Joe Wyatt was bom in T nnidad West Indies from a loving and supportive family. Joe realized at an age that is usually considered too late that he wanted to become a classical ballet dancer. His late arrival did not stop him, Joe was determined to become the best he could be. “I was always the most am bitous and determined in e family, and I made die best and most of any situation beneficial to me. Dance encouraged me die most, an d I go where 1 feel I can be appreciated. People felt I was talented, and in return I worked harder. As a swimmer on the National Swim Team Joe’s fadier always recognized his son s athletic ability, and encouraged him to go after h.s dream to become a classical ballet dancer.. From T nnidad to New York Joe ventured on to attend college at the State University of New York in Brockport. There Joe took his first formal ballet class. Joe first read about die Dance Theatre of Harlem as a freshman in college. In 1971 he saw the DTH perform. Joe was so over taken by dieir performance he recalls saying to an instructor, “wow it would be nice to be in dial dance company ” The instructor replied, “a ren 't you too old.". Still those words of discouragement didi not stop him. In e sum m er of 1972he attended Jacobs Pillows Dance Festival in Lee Massachusetts. There he h a d photos taken and sent them to A rthur Mitchell.. Arthur Mitchell called Joe back for an audition. Upon auditioning Joe was accepted as an apprentice, giving him die opportunity to dance. After six mond.s he became a m em ber of DI 11 dance company, “O neofm ym ost memorable performanceswasmyfirst solo in 1974 I. was a ballet called Wings choreographed by Louis Johnston. It as very special. It dealt w.di die beauty o how birds fly Joe admits d.at he was al.tde overconfident when he first came to D IH . It w a sn t until that I h ad a lot to learn. Once he made dial very clear, and he did, 1 took die challenge. Top: Joe Wyatt Former member of the DTH and Current Direc tor of the School of Ballet The Arthur Mitchell hasavision of die dancer dial you can’t see. I needed a third eye looking atre. he accepted the drive, determination and strengdi that Arthur Mitchell had to offer him that h - truly exceUe.1 as a dancer. “Arthur Mitchell took me apart and made me realize at me Arlitur Mitchell makes you into die dancer that he thinks and knows you can be. Middle Left: Richard H itter in a performance of “Flower Festival In Cenzano” with Dance 77ie- He i9 stn :,g willed and a strong disciplinarian, and he molds you into perfection. Joe compares what Arthur Mu hell did for him to a young man who came to a Japanese master. When the voung ni.ui came he told die Japanese master all that he knew, saying 1 can d ,, «his, an d 1 can do that. The master replied, I can not do anything with you until atre o f Harlem. M iddle Right: C harm aine Hunter as the Firebird in a per formance by Dance Theatre of Harlem June 7997. Charmaine was recommended to Arthur vou (, ul come to me not knowing anything. It. order to learn from you teacher one must come like an empty vessel ready to be filled Arthur Mitdiell is truly a remarkable hum an being say s Joe, “He does everydimg and anything he can for Ins dancers to make sure yoUEuehappy.content, and well taken care of. In return he wants 100% dedication, and commitment as a dancer. S p c to n g o f r o c .,,, in Mitchell by Joe Wyatt. » .f e e h . S » » Left: Arthur Mitchell Director and founder o f the DTH. d , , « , , could , „ n „ e a . a o o „ c e n , n u e o u d , e l r ^ . Being u m ember o( DTH A dhur Mndrell tough, an d «ill b g b » all o lo u r buulee. He i. . very « » n g and de,emu,K,l n » n who wu»O to accompli,b »m edring to, h i, company « .d h „ people « « I h e d o e ,a ll he He also helped keep the Dream of Martin Luther King jr. alive by forming the DTI 1 as can do for that cause. a reaction to M artin’s death. In one of Martin Luther king’s speeches he says, “T hat my Mitdiell endured so m u d , as a dan ter himself. In 1954 he graduated and was looking four little children w ill one day live in a nntion where they will not be judged by the color fo rw orkasadancer.H ew astold no several times because he was black. Mitchell did not of their skin but by the content of their character. "This speech reminds Joe of the D I H. allow race to oe a deterrent. i,e nau the oppo, tunny ,o, oto scholars ups one a Bennington college the other a, the School of American Ballet. Mitdiell ch o setlieS h o o l “DTH has a lot of character. 1 lie repetoire ot DTH is a company created with a dassicui of American Ballet There he was encouraged and mentored by George Balanchine. blow you away with talent. Arthur Mitchell has created something that all balck people Mitchell wanted to be different and special, and he made his dream s come true. can be proud of, and it is a wonderful statement of the very highest quality tlita our people base never forgetting it’s ethnic roots. Creating beautiful lines, beautiful bodies that just can produce. ’K’hat Arthur Mitchell is saying is that with opportunity we can strive to be He also helped keep the Dream of Martin Luther King jr. alive by forming the DTI I as as quality as DTH (continued on page IL )