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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
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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 )