McKayle, Donald, 1930-

Choreographer and educator Donald McKayle was born on July 6, 1930 in New York City, New York to Eva Wilhelmina Cohen McKayle and Philip Augustus McKayle. Inspired by a Pearl Primus performance, he began dancing his senior year in high school, and won a scholarship to the New Dance Group in 1947.

In 1948, McKayle choreographed his first piece of work with the New Dance Group, and premiered his solo piece,Saturday's Child. From 1951 to 1969, McKayle founded and directed his own dance company, Donald McKayle and Company, which premiered his first major work entitledGamesin 1951. McKayle then went on to choreograph masterworksRainbow 'Round My Shoulder,District StoryvilleandSongs of the Disinherited.Golden Boy(1964) was his first Broadway production, followed byI'm Solomon(1969) andDr. Jazz(1975). McKayle directed and choreographedRaisin(1974), which was awarded a Tony for best musical. He was responsible for the entire concept, staging and choreography of the award-winningSophisticated Ladies(1981). McKayle has also choreographed for films, includingBedknobs and Broomsticks(1970),The Great White Hope(1972), andThe Minstrel Man(1976). McKayle has also choreographed stage acts for singers such as Harry Belafonte and Rita Moreno. In 2001, he choreographed the monumental ten-hour production ofTantalus.

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