Doris Jones (1913-2006).

Doris Jones (1913-2006) Doris Jones, who died in March, was a pioneer in teaching classical ballet to black students; she then went on to found the Capitol Ballet Company to show their accomplishment. Sixty-five years ago she started the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet, still active at the time of her death. She saw her talented students go on to major careers on Broadway (Chita Rivera and Hinton Battle), in ballet (Sylvester Campbell), and modern dance (Elizabeth Walton with the Paul Taylor company, Renee Robinson with Alvin Alley). She did all this and more against daunting odds, when segregation was still rampant. Her career was honored as part of a symposium in New York called "Classic Black" at the New York Library of Performing Arts at Lincoln Center 10 years ago.

Arthur Mitchell would come down to teach at her school; Balanchine visited when his New York City Ballet came to Washington. The Capitol Ballet reached a pinnacle the year Miss Jones mounted a production of Pocahontas. Lincoln Kirstein brought the composer Elliot Carter to the premiere.

With her young students Doris Jones was strict, even something of a martinet. But she was always trying to raise their vision beyond carefully pointed toes and perfect body placement, to make them aware of something more precious. She once said, "I tell my little people, 'You've got to sing--don't just dance--sing with your body, that's what dancing is about. Put on your costume and get out onstage. Do the complete picture--from your soul.' "