In 1967 she officially retired, after presenting a final show at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. Short Biography. Dunham used Habitation Leclerc as a private retreat for many years, frequently bringing members of her dance company to recuperate from the stress of touring and to work on developing new dance productions. Othella Dallas, 93, still teaches Katherine Dunham technique, which she learned from Dunham herself. Katherine Dunham in a photograph from around 1945. This is where, in the late 1960s, global dance legend Katherine Dunham put down roots and taught the arts of the African diaspora to local children and teenagers. In September 1943, under the management of the impresario Sol Hurok, her troupe opened in Tropical Review at the Martin Beck Theater. She also developed the Dunham Technique, a method of movement to support her dance works. On graduating with a bachelors degree in anthropology she undertook field studies in the Caribbean and in Brazil. 2023 The HistoryMakers. Katherine Mary Dunham (June 22, 1909 - May 21, 2006) was an American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and social activist. [14] Redfield, Herskovits, and Sapir's contributions to cultural anthropology, exposed Dunham to topics and ideas that inspired her creatively and professionally. Dunham created Rara Tonga and Woman with a Cigar at this time, which became well known. [37] One historian noted that "during the course of the tour, Dunham and the troupe had recurrent problems with racial discrimination, leading her to a posture of militancy which was to characterize her subsequent career."[38]. "Kaiso! Never completing her required coursework for her graduate degree, she departed for Broadway and Hollywood. Example. However, she did not seriously pursue a career in the profession until she was a student at the University of Chicago. Episode 5 of Break the FACTS! Katherine Dunham is the inventor of the Dunham technique and a renowned dancer and choreographer of African-American descent. The group performed Dunham's Negro Rhapsody at the Chicago Beaux Arts Ball. Her field work in the Caribbean began in Jamaica, where she lived for several months in the remote Maroon village of Accompong, deep in the mountains of Cockpit Country. Katherine Dunham. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190264871.003.0001, "Dunham Technique: Fall and recovery with body roll", "Katherine Dunham on need for Dunham Technique", "The Negro Problem in a Class Society: 19511960 Brazil", "Katherine Dunham, Dance Icon, Dies at 96", "Candace Award Recipients 19821990, Page 1", "Katherine the Great: 2004 Lifetime Achievement Awardee Katherine Dunham", Katherine Dunham's Dance as Public Anthropology, Katherine Dunham on her anthropological films, Guide to the Photograph Collection on Katherine Dunham, Katherine Dunham's oral history video excerpts, "Katherine Dunham on Overcoming 1940s Racism", Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities, Recalling Choreographer and Activist Dunham, "How Katherine Dunham Revealed Black Dance to the World", Katherine Dunham, Dance Pioneer, Dies at 96, "On Stage and Backstage withTalented Katherine Dunham, Master Dance Designer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Katherine_Dunham&oldid=1139015494, American people of French-Canadian descent, 20th-century African-American politicians, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, In 1971 she received the Heritage Award from the, In 1983 she was a recipient of one of the highest artistic awards in the United States, the. In 1921, a short story she wrote when she was 12 years old, called "Come Back to Arizona", was published in volume 2 of The Brownies' Book. In 1963 Dunham was commissioned to choreograph Aida at New York's Metropolitan Opera Company, with Leontyne Price in the title role. Katherine Dunham Biography, Life, Interesting Facts. Among her dancers selected were Marcia McBroom, Dana McBroom, Jean Kelly, and Jesse Oliver. Admission is $10, or $5 for students and seniors, and hours are by appointment; call 618-875-3636, or 618-618-795-5970 three to five days in advance. "Katherine Dunham: Decolonizing Anthropology through African American Dance Pedagogy." She was a pioneer of Dance Anthropology, established methodologies of ethnochoreology, and her work gives essential historical context to current conversations and practices of decolonization within and outside of the discipline of anthropology. Lyndon B. Johnson was in the audience for opening night. Kraft from the story by Jerry Horwin and Seymour B. Robinson, directed by Andrew L. Stone, produced by William LeBaron and starring Lena Horne, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and Cab Calloway.The film is one of two Hollywood musicals with an African . [26] This work was never produced in Joplin's lifetime, but since the 1970s, it has been successfully produced in many venues. ", Kraut, Anthea, "Between Primitivism and Diaspora: The Dance Performances of, This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 22:48. Dancer. As a teenager, she won a scholarship to the Dunham school and later became a dancer with the company, before beginning her successful singing career. Dun ham had one of the most successful dance careers in African-American and European theater of the 20th century, and directed her own dance company for many years. "[48] During her protest, Dick Gregory led a non-stop vigil at her home, where many disparate personalities came to show their respect, such Debbie Allen, Jonathan Demme, and Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam. The critics acknowledged the historical research she did on dance in ancient Egypt, but they were not appreciative of her choreography as staged for this production.[25]. Keep reading for more such interesting quotes at Kidadl!) 1. It next moved to the West Coast for an extended run of performances there. Katherine Dunham was an African-American dancer and choreographer, producer, author, scholar, anthropologist and Civil Rights activist. The Dunham troupe toured for two decades, stirring audiences around the globe with their dynamic and highly theatrical performances. On February 22, 2022, Selkirk will offer a unique, one-lot auction titled, Divine Technique: Katherine Dunham Ephemera And Documents. A photographic exhibit honoring her achievements, entitled Kaiso! At an early age, Dunham became interested in dance. A key reason for this choice was because she knew that through dance, her work would be able to be accessed by a wider array of audiences; more so than if she continued to limit her work within academia. Dunham technique is a codified dance training technique developed by Katherine Dunham in the mid 20th century. Her work inspired many. [61][62][63][64] During this time, in addition to Dunham, numerous Black women such as Zora Neal Hurston, Caroline Bond Day, Irene Diggs, and Erna Brodber were also working to transform the discipline into an anthropology of liberation: employing critical and creative cultural production.[54]. She was the first American dancer to present indigenous forms on a concert stage, the first to sustain a black dance company. She created and performed in works for stage, clubs, and Hollywood films; she started a school and a technique that continue to flourish; she fought unstintingly for racial justice. informed by new methods of america's most highly regarded. The troupe performed a suite of West Indian dances in the first half of the program and a ballet entitled Tropic Death, with Talley Beatty, in the second half. She had one of the most successful dance careers in Western dance theatre in the 20th century and directed her own dance company for many years. In 1963, she became the first African American to choreograph for the Met since Hemsley Winfield set the dances for The Emperor Jones in 1933. She wrote that he "opened the floodgates of anthropology" for her. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. As Wendy Perron wrote, "Jazz dance, 'fusion,' and the search for our cultural identity all have their antecedents in Dunham's work as a dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist. She and her company frequently had difficulties finding adequate accommodations while on tour because in many regions of the country, black Americans were not allowed to stay at hotels. From the beginning of their association, around 1938, Pratt designed the sets and every costume Dunham ever wore. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katherine-Dunham, The Kennedy Center - Biography of Katherine Dunham, Katherine Dunham - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Born: June 22, 1909. 7 Katherine Dunham facts. Katherine Dunham was a rebel among rebels. While in Haiti, she hasn't only studied Vodun rituals, but also participated and became a mambo, female high priest in the Vodun religion. [ ] Katherine Dunham was born on June 22, 1909 (age 96) in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States. Dunham early became interested in dance. The program she created runs to this day at the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities, revolutionizing lives with dance and culture. These experiences provided ample material for the numerous books, articles and short stories Dunham authored. As a dancer and choreographer, Katherine Dunham (1910-2002) wowed audiences in the 1930s and 1940s when she combined classical ballet with African rhythms to create an exciting new dance style. most important pedagogues original work which includes :Batuada. Fun Facts. One of her fellow professors, with whom she collaborated, was architect Buckminster Fuller. [5] Along with the Great Migration, came White flight and her aunt Lulu's business suffered and ultimately closed as a result. First Name Katherine #37. ", Black writer Arthur Todd described her as "one of our national treasures". In 1935, Dunham received grants to conduct fieldwork in Trinidad, Jamaica, and Haiti to study Afro-Caribbean dance and other rituals. But Dunham, who was Black and held a doctorate in anthropology, had hoped to spur a "cultural awakening on the East Side," she told . ZURICH Othella Dallas lay on the hardwood . Dunham refused to hold a show in one theater after finding out that the city's black residents had not been allowed to buy tickets for the performance. Initially scheduled for a single performance, the show was so popular that the troupe repeated it for another ten Sundays. Childhood & Early Life. Dancer, anthropologist, social worker, activist, author. Leverne Backstrom, president of the board of the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities, still does. Johnson 's gift for numbers allowed her to accelerate through her education. Named Marie-Christine Dunham Pratt, she was their only child. Video. The Dunham company's international tours ended in Vienna in 1960. She was born on June 22, 1909 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a small . The restructuring of heavy industry had caused the loss of many working-class jobs, and unemployment was high in the city. [11], During her time in Chicago, Dunham enjoyed holding social gatherings and inviting visitors to her apartment. It opened in Chicago in 1933, with a black cast and with Page dancing the title role. The family moved to Joliet, Illinois when her father remarried. In Hollywood, Dunham refused to sign a lucrative studio contract when the producer said she would have to replace some of her darker-skinned company members. She taught dance lessons to help pay for her education at the University of Chicago. Additionally, she was named one of the most influential African American anthropologists. April 30, 2019. VV A. Clark and Sara E. Johnson, editors, Joliet Central High School Yearbook, 1928. Katherine Dunham. Katherine Dunham is credited Her dance troupe in venues around. Chin, Elizabeth. for the developing one of the the world performed many of her. As one of her biographers, Joyce Aschenbrenner, wrote: "anthropology became a life-way"[2] for Dunham. One of the most significant dancers, artists, and anthropologic figures of the 20th century, Katherine Dunham defied racial and gender boundaries during a . While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Dunham had been invited to stage a new number for the popular, long-running musical revue Pins and Needles 1940, produced by the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union. Katherine Dunham Quotes On Positivity. Example. During her studies, Dunham attended a lecture on anthropology, where she was introduced to the concept of dance as a cultural symbol. Updates? In 1978, an anthology of writings by and about her, also entitled Kaiso! In the 1930s, she did fieldwork in the Caribbean and infused her choreography with the cultures . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Other movies she performed in as a dancer during this period included the Abbott and Costello comedy Pardon My Sarong (1942) and the black musical Stormy Weather (1943), which featured a stellar range of actors, musicians and dancers.[24]. . [54] Her dance education, while offering cultural resources for dealing with the consequences and realities of living in a racist environment, also brought about feelings of hope and dignity for inspiring her students to contribute positively to their own communities, and spreading essential cultural and spiritual capital within the U.S.[54], Just like her colleague Zora Neale Hurston, Dunham's anthropology inspired the blurring of lines between creative disciplines and anthropology. [5] She had an older brother, Albert Jr., with whom she had a close relationship. katherine dunham fun factsaiken county sc register of deeds katherine dunham fun facts Retrieved from the Library of Congress, . THE DIGITAL REPOSITORY FOR THE BLACK EXPERIENCE. 1910-2006. Beautiful, Justice, Black. As an African American woman, she broke barriers of race and gender, most notably as the founder of an important dance company that toured the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia for several decades. In 1966, she served as a State Department representative for the United States to the first ever World Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar, Senegal. As I document in my book Katherine Dunham: Dance and the . Dunham continued to develop dozens of new productions during this period, and the company met with enthusiastic audiences in every city. She lectured every summer until her death at annual Masters' Seminars in St. Louis, which attracted dance students from around the world. Each procession builds on the last and focuses on conditioning the body to prepare for specific exercises that come later. from the University of Chicago, she had acquired a vast knowledge of the dances and rituals of the Black peoples of tropical America. She is known for her many innovations, one of her most known . She felt it was necessary to use the knowledge she gained in her research to acknowledge that Africanist esthetics are significant to the cultural equation in American dance. Dunham is credited with introducing international audiences to African aesthetics and establishing African dance as a true art form. Dunham was born in Chicago on June 22, 1909. used throughout the world choros, rite de passage, los Idies, and. Katherine Dunham, June 22, Katherine Dunham was born to a French -Canadian woman and an African American man in the state of Chicago in America, Her birthday was 22nd June in the year 1909. . Marlon Brando frequently dropped in to play the bongo drums, and jazz musician Charles Mingus held regular jam sessions with the drummers. 47 Copy quote. Katherine Mary Dunham (June 22, 1909 - May 21, 2006) was an American dancer, choreographer, creator of the Dunham Technique, author, educator, anthropologist, and social activist. The Dunham Technique Ballet African Dancing Her favorite color was platinum Caribbean Dancing Her favorite food was Filet of Sole How she started out Ballet African Dance Caribbean Dance The Dunham Technique wasn't so much as a technique so Throughout her career, Dunham occasionally published articles about her anthropological research (sometimes under the pseudonym of Kaye Dunn) and sometimes lectured on anthropological topics at universities and scholarly societies.[27]. Schools inspired by it were later opened in Stockholm, Paris, and Rome by dancers who had been trained by Dunham. The committee voted unanimously to award $2,400 (more than $40,000 in today's money) to support her fieldwork in the Caribbean. Her father was of black ancestry, a descendant of slaves from West Africa and Madagascar, while her mother belonged to mixed French-Canadian and Native . About that time Dunham met and began to work with John Thomas Pratt, a Canadian who had become one of America's most renowned costume and theatrical set designers. Dunham's last appearance on Broadway was in 1962 in Bamboche!, which included a few former Dunham dancers in the cast and a contingent of dancers and drummers from the Royal Troupe of Morocco. Dunham had one of the most successful dance careers of the 20th century, and directed her own dance company for many years. Choreographer. Somewhat later, she assisted him, at considerable risk to her life, when he was persecuted for his progressive policies and sent in exile to Jamaica after a coup d'tat. Also Known For : . [51] The couple had officially adopted their foster daughter, a 14-month-old girl they had found as an infant in a Roman Catholic convent nursery in Fresnes, France. Anna Kisselgoff, a dance critic for The New York Times, called Dunham "a major pioneer in Black theatrical dance ahead of her time." She wanted to know not only how people danced but why they dance. Legendary dancer, choreographer and anthropologist Katherine Dunham was born June 22, 1909, to an African American father and French-Canadian mother who died when she was young. The finale to the first act of this show was Shango, a staged interpretation of a Vodun ritual, which became a permanent part of the company's repertory. A highlight of Dunham's later career was the invitation from New York's Metropolitan Opera to stage dances for a new production of Aida, starring soprano Leontyne Price. Our site is COPPA and kidSAFE-certified, so you can rest assured it's a safe place for kids . Katherine Dunham Facts that are Fun!!! Claude Conyers, "Film Choreography by Katherine Dunham, 19391964," in Clark and Johnson. With choreography characterized by exotic sexuality, both became signature works in the Dunham repertory. [1] The Dunham Technique is still taught today. He needn't have bothered. At the age of 82, Dunham went on a hunger strike in . Her father was given a number of important positions at court . She was hailed for her smooth and fluent choreography and dominated a stage with what has been described as 'an unmitigating radiant force providing beauty with a feminine touch full of variety and nuance. [13] The Anthropology department at Chicago in the 1930s and 40s has been described as holistic, interdisciplinary, with a philosophy of liberal humanism, and principles of racial equality and cultural relativity. New York: Rizzoli, 1989. Jobson, Ryan Cecil. "Katherine Dunham: Decolonizing Anthropology Through African American Dance Pedagogy. But what set her work even further apart from Martha Graham and Jos Limn was her fusion of that foundation with Afro-Caribbean styles. Cruz Banks, Ojeya. Katherine Dunham was born on the 22nd of June, 1909 in Chicago before she was taken by her parents to their hometown at Glen Ellyn in Illinois. There, her father ran a dry-cleaning business.[8]. Such visitors included ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax, novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, Robert Redfield, Bronisaw Malinowski, A.R. A short biography on the legendary Katherine Dunham.All information found at: kdcah.org Enjoy the short history lesson and visit dancingindarkskin.com for mo. and creative team that lasted. She built her own dance empire and was hailed as the queen of black dance. Classes are led by Ruby Streate, director of dance and education and artistic director of the Katherine Dunham Children's Workshop. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, . Chin, Elizabeth. Radcliffe-Brown, Edward Sapir, Melville Herskovits, Lloyd Warner and Bronisaw Malinowski. "Hoy programa extraordinario y el sbado dos estamos nos ofrece Katherine Dunham,", Constance Valis Hill, "Katherine Dunham's, Anna Kisselgoff, "Katherine Dunham's Legacy, Visible in Youth and Age,". It was considered one of the best learning centers of its type at the time. Dunham was exposed to sacred ritual dances performed by people on the islands of Haiti and Jamaica. In the mid-1930s she conducted anthropological research on dance and incorporated her findings into her choreography, blending the rhythms and movements of . Two years later she formed an all-Black company, which began touring extensively by 1943. During this time, she developed a warm friendship with the psychologist and philosopher Erich Fromm, whom she had known in Europe. As a graduate student in anthropology in the mid-1930s, she conducted dance research in the Caribbean. 8 Katherine Dunham facts. International Ladies' Garment Workers Union, First Pan-African World Festival of Negro Arts, National Museum of Dance's Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame, "Katherine Dunham | African American dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist", "Timeline: The Katherine Dunham Collection at the Library of Congress (Performing Arts Encyclopedia, The Library of Congress)", "Special Presentation: Katherine Dunham Timeline". 3 (1992): 24. Katherine Dunham, a world-renowned dancer and choreographer, had big plans for East St. Louis in 1977. ((Photographer unknown, Courtesy of Missouri History Museum Photograph and Prints collection. In this post, she choreographed the Chicago production of Run Li'l Chil'lun, performed at the Goodman Theater. She was a woman far ahead of her time. - Pic Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images. In Boston, then a bastion of conservatism, the show was banned in 1944 after only one performance. Katherine Dunham predated, pioneered, and demonstrated new ways of doing and envisioning Anthropology six decades ahead of the discipline. [7] The family moved to a predominantly white neighborhood in Joliet, Illinois. When you have faith in something, it's your reason to be alive and to fight for it. Commonly grouped into the realm of modern dance techniques, Dunham is a technical dance form developed from elements of indigenous African and Afro-Caribbean dances. Years later, after extensive studies and initiations in Haiti,[21] she became a mambo in the Vodun religion. [60], However, this decision did not keep her from engaging with and highly influencing the discipline for the rest of her life and beyond. She also choreographed and starred in dance sequences in such films as Carnival of Rhythm (1942), Stormy Weather (1943), and Casbah (1947). However, fully aware of her passion for both dance performance, as well as anthropological research, she felt she had to choose between the two. She also continued refining and teaching the Dunham Technique to transmit that knowledge to succeeding generations of dance students. In 1945, Dunham opened and directed the Katherine Dunham School of Dance and Theatre near Times Square in New York City. Her choreography and performances made use of a concept within Dance Anthropology called "research-to-performance". This meant neither of the children were able to settle into a home for a few years. Digital Library. Over her long career, she choreographed more than ninety individual dances. Dana McBroom-Manno still teaches Dunham Technique in New York City and is a Master of Dunham Technique. Her the best movie is Casbah. He has released six stand-up specials and one album of Christmas songs. Katherine Dunham. Q. Katherine Mary Dun ham was an African-American dancer, choreographer, author, educator, anthropologist, and social activist. Katherine Dunham. Banks, Ojeya Cruz. Here are some interesting facts about Alvin Ailey for you: Facts about Alvin Ailey 1: the popular modern dance She was born on June 22, 1909 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a small suburb of Chicago, to Albert Millard Dunham, a tailor and dry cleaner, and his wife, Fanny June Dunham. At this time Dunham first became associated with designer John Pratt, whom she later married. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [2] Most of Dunham's works previewed many questions essential to anthropology's postmodern turn, such as critiquing understandings of modernity, interpretation, ethnocentrism, and cultural relativism. [1] She is best known for bringing African and Caribbean dance styles to the US. By the time she received an M.A. He was only one of a number of international celebrities who were Dunham's friends. In 1939, Dunham's company gave additional performances in Chicago and Cincinnati and then returned to New York. [54] After recovering crucial dance epistemologies relevant to people of the African diaspora during her ethnographic research, she applied anthropological knowledge toward developing her own dance pedagogy (Dunham Technique) that worked to reconcile with the legacy of colonization and racism and correct sociocultural injustices. During her tenure, she secured funding for the Performing Arts Training Center, where she introduced a program designed to channel the energy of the communitys youth away from gangs and into dance. As a result, Dunham would later experience some diplomatic "difficulties" on her tours. Tropics (choreographed 1937) and Le Jazz Hot (1938) were among the earliest of many works based on her research. In 1986 the American Anthropological Association gave her a Distinguished Service Award. 113 views, 2 likes, 4 loves, 0 comments, 6 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Institute for Dunham Technique Certification: Fun facts about Julie Belafonte brought to you by IDTC! This gained international headlines and the embarrassed local police officials quickly released her. The schools she created helped train such notables as Alvin Ailey and Jerome Robbins in the "Dunham technique." Death . [13], Dunham officially joined the department in 1929 as an anthropology major,[13] while studying dances of the African diaspora. Her technique was "a way of life". She also danced professionally, owned a dance company, and operated a dance studio. In 1992, at age 83, Dunham went on a highly publicized hunger strike to protest the discriminatory U.S. foreign policy against Haitian boat-people. Most Popular #73650. Fighting, Alive, Have Faith. In 1938 she joined the Federal Theatre Project in Chicago and composed a ballet, LAgYa, based on Caribbean dance. It was a huge collection of writings by and about Katherine Dunham, so it naturally covered a lot of area. Dunham herself was quietly involved in both the Voodoo and Orisa communities of the Caribbean and the United States, in particular with the Lucumi tradition. After this well-received performance in 1931, the group was disbanded. Not only did Dunham shed light on the cultural value of black dance, but she clearly contributed to changing perceptions of blacks in America by showing society that as a black woman, she could be an intelligent scholar, a beautiful dancer, and a skilled choreographer. . Birth Year: 1956. As one of her biographers, Joyce Aschenbrenner, wrote: "Today, it is safe to say, there is no American black dancer who has not been influenced by the Dunham Technique, unless he or she works entirely within a classical genre",[2] and the Dunham Technique is still taught to anyone who studies modern dance. In 2000 Katherine Dunham was named America's irreplaceable Dance Treasure. American dancer and choreographer (19092006). Pas de Deux from "L'Ag'Ya". Featuring lively Latin American and Caribbean dances, plantation dances, and American social dances, the show was an immediate success. [59] She ultimately chose to continue her career in dance without her master's degree in anthropology. Born in Glen Ellyn, IL #6. At an early age, Dunham became interested in dance. All rights reserved. 30 seconds. In recognition of her stance, President Aristide later awarded her a medal of Haiti's highest honor. He lived on 5 January 1931 and passed away on 1 December 1989. Katherine Dunham (1909-2006) is revered as one of the great pillars of American dance history. In response, the Afonso Arinos law was passed in 1951 that made racial discrimination in public places a felony in Brazil.[42][43][44][45][46][47].
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