About This Lesson
Arthur Mitchell, the first black male dancer with the New York City Ballet, had to transcend social attitudes to fulfill his vision to create the acclaimed Dance Theatre of Harlem. Firebird, based on the Russian folktale, has become the signature piece of his company. Lessons create mythical creatures and interpret them through dance, guide students to write cinquain poems which form a poetic structure for group dances, and identify and plan dance scenes from the “Firebird” folk tale to serve as a story dance form. The ideas of Transformation and Freedom & Oppression are featured. (poetry)
