Autobiography and Archives

Autobiography

Transcending Boundaries: My Dancing Life is available for purchase from Amazon.com

Publication Date: June 23, 2002
Transcending Boundaries is an autobiography tracing the multifaceted and wide-ranging career of choreographer, director, performer and professor of dance, Donald McKayle. His chance meeting with the legendary Bill Robinson, who obligingly responded to the entreaties of a nine-year-old and executed an impromptu version of his infectious stair tap-dance, and an electric encounter as a teenager sitting in a darkened theatre witnessing a performance by concert artist Pearl Primus, are key early experiences which bring about McKayle's life in dance, theatre, film, television, entertainment, and education. He learned at the feet of the masters, trained and developed some of the profession's top practitioners, and worked in theatres and studios around the world, on - Broadway, in Hollywood - creating a repertoire of acclaimed masterworks. He experienced failure, success, love, marriage and family. Readers will find his autobiography a revelation in an ongoing and still evolving story.

Heartbeats of a Dance Maker (DVD)

Heartbeats of a Dance Maker is available for purchase at Amazon.com.

Narrated by Della Reese; additional commentary by Harry Belafonte, McKayle's wife, Lea Vivante, and dancers. Performers include José Limón Dance Company and the San Jose/Cleveland Ballet.

Celebrate the life and work of Donald McKayle, whose contributions as choreographer, dancer and teacher have enriched our nation's cultural heritage. Never before seen archival footage enhances the narrations of Della Reese and Harry Belafonte as they guide you through McKayle s contributions to his time. Sit in on a complete conversation between Reese and McKayle and view the entire, unedited interview with Harry Belafonte in the Special Features selection.

As the passion and optimism of McKayle's choreography transcends racial and cultural boundaries, his body of work reflects his faith in the human spirit and his belief in the redeeming quality of love. This documentary includes excerpts from Rainbow Round My Shoulder, Heartbeats, Saturday s Child, District Storyville, They Called Her Moses, House of Tears, Minstrel Man and Libertango. Enjoy the Special Features complete performance of Angelitos Negroes done by two different artists (Marceline Freeman and Tamica Washington).