Johaar Mosaval- Black History Month in Dance, 2021 - 1

1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11. For Black History Month 2021, I begin with Johaar Mosaval, born on 8 January 1928, and recently ninety-three years old. This black Muslim dancer having grown up in Cape Town’s District Six, joined the Royal Ballet (then the Sadler’s Wells Ballet) in 1951, despite all the seeming obstacles of colour and religion; he rose to principal status, remaining twenty-five years with the company.

In a South African documentary, he remembers dancing a solo on the night of the present queen’s coronation in 1953 as a highlight of his career - to be specific, he danced a solo Morris number in the world premiere of Benjamin Britten’s opera “Gloriana”, as part of the Royal Opera’s 1953 Coronation season - but it was a long career with other highlights: he danced such roles as the Bluebird in “The Sleeping Beauty”, Jasper in John Cranko’s “Pineapple Poll”, Frederick Ashton’s Neapolitan Dance in “Swan Lake”, and Puck in Ashton’s “The Dream”.

Looking back, we can’t help wishing that other black dancers followed sooner in his wake. But his achievement - alas, I never saw him dance - is all the more historic.

Tuesday 2 February

Johaar Mosaval as a young man

Johaar Mosaval in Leslie Hurry’s costume for Frederick Ashton’s Neapolitan Dance in “Swan Lake”

Johaar Mosaval, Frederick Ashton’s Neapolitan Dance, “Swan Lake”, Royal Ballet

Johaar Mosaval as the Bluebird, “The Sleeping Beauty”, Royal Ballet

Johaar Mosaval, Royal Ballet

Johaar Mosaval in title role of Mikhail Fokine’s “Petrushka (1911)

Johaar Mosaval, left, in group including Margot Fonteyn, right.

Johaar Mosaval, in his native Cape Town

Johaar Mosaval in a television news item for his ninetieth birthday

Johaar Mosaval