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After reading reviews that referred to the miracle of his success, Mitchell was circumspect. “It is absolutely a miracle,” he said. “But it’s a miracle of purpose and dedication, not something that just happened and makes no sense. It is not a miracle for Black people to be fine classical artists. I have to laugh when people get excited about our dancers, as though a Black girl in toe shoes is a creature from outer space. Some of the reactions to us when we go out on the road are just incredible. People come expecting Super Fly and switchblades because, after all, it is Harlem. And then they see disciplined young dancers and they can’t believe it right away. But it’s not incredible at all. There were always Black classical dancers in America. They just never got on stage.”