Dunham had one of the most successful dance careers in american and european theater of the 20th century, and directed her own dance company for many years. Katherine dunham, american dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist noted for her innovative interpretations of ritualistic and ethnic dances. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. To her only child mariechristine, katherine dunham was simply mother. I also had the honor of being invited to her home 2 to 3 times. Katherine dunham modern dance and social change youtube. Dunham invited me into her home and we became friends. Katherine dunham 19092006 some dance historians have named katherine dunham the most important women of african american dance. Katherine dunham studied african tribal dances and rituals and applied techniques to her own choreography. Katherine dunham, the dancer, choreographer, teacher and anthropologist whose pioneering work introduced much of the black heritage in. She was born in 1909 and died in 2006 at 96 years old. Beside of her childrens book project, she also write biography about a famous person such as leonardo da vinci, leonardo da vinci. Katherine dunham pioneer of black dance barbara oconnor. As one of the trailblazers series, this biography traces miss dunhams innovative work in the field of black dance.
In addition to her theatrical career, dunham did pioneering work in the field of dance anthropology and founded a school that embodied multi. She was a pioneer of american dance as an african american woman. New york ap katherine dunham, a pioneering dancer and choreographer, author and civil rights activist who left broadway to teach culture in one of americas poorest cities, has died. Katherine dunham was an african american dancer who had been awarded the national medal of the arts in 1990 and the kennedy center honors in 1988. By incorporating authentic regional dance movements and developing a technical system that educated her. She is best known for her katherine dunham dance company, the first independent black american dance company, which ran from 1939 to 1960. In 1938 she joined the federal theatre project in chicago and composed a ballet, lagya, based on caribbean dance. Katherine dunham modern dance and social change michael henderson. Katherine dunham pioneer of black modern dance sfgate.
Katherine mary dunham also known as kaye dunn, june 22, 1909 may 21, 2006 was an africanamerican dancer, choreographer, author, educator, anthropologist, and social activist. This is why the official language of ballet is french. Jazz dance has its roots in the afroamerican culture and tap dance of the late 1800s to the mid 1900s. When katherine was a college student, she won a scholarship to study anthropology in haiti. Katherine dunham and her haitian legacy dance australia. She opened the katherine dunham school of dance in new york in 1945 and earned accolades as both a broadway and hollywood performer and choreographe r. Our next dope queen is choreographer, dancer, and anthropologist katherine dunham. Utilizing aspects of black dance and rituals, and transforming them into unique choreography that moved audiences worldwide.
Dunham, a force of nature, and her extraordinary path. She was known for her fusion of african dance within modern dance and was called the matriarch and queen mother of black dance. Katherine dunham was an american dancer and choreographer, credited to have brought the influence of africa and the caribbean into american dance. Feb 14, 20 katherine dunham 1910 2006 pioneer of black dance katherine dunham was a dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist. She was a pioneer in the use of folk and ethnic choreography and one of the founders of the anthropological dance movement. While a student at the university of chicago, she formed a dance group that performed in concert at the chicago. She was a remarkable woman, one of the first black american women to go to university, and a pioneer in dance anthropology, specialising in the african roots of caribbean and american dance. She is a pioneer in the use of folk and ethnic choreography. Katherine dunham american dancer, choreographer, and. This series of schomburg center research guides will provide you with resources related to various topics and subjects related to the global black experience. Although long recognized as a major force in american dance, katherine dunham is less a household name than some of her contemporaries such as martha graham or george balanchine. Katherine mary dunham was an africanamerican dancer, choreographer, author, educator. In her lifetime, katherine dunham has worn many hats. She was a pioneer in the use of folk and ethnic choreography and one of the founders of the.
Katherine dunham revolutionized american dance by going to the roots of black dance and rituals transforming them into. Katherine dunham and her company town square dance. Dunham continued to dance, choreograph and direct on broadway with such productions as katharine dunham. Katherine dunham spent her life exploring the roots of africanamerican dance and anthropology, creating her unique dance style, and fighting against racism and prejudice. In the 1930s, dunham revolutionized american dance. Later as dunham established her own dance traveling dance troupe and danced and choreographed numerous pieces, she crafted a unique style of dance that mixed elements of haitian dance into movements of western origin looker.
The emergence of a black modern dance movement was inspired by the work of two black american women, katherine dunham and pearl primus. Both were academics as well as dancers and spent a great deal of time researching the origins of black dance in the usa. Katherine dunham biography childhood, life achievements. As a dance and anthropology student at the university of chicago, dunham focused her work on black dance traditions in the caribbean looker.
The chicago celebration of miss dunham s 107 th birthday was a wonderful experience. Katherine dunham, choreographer and dancer african. Dunham made her debut as a performer in 1934 in the broadway musical le jazz hot and tropics. Dunham opens her first dance school, the negro dance group, in chicago. New york katherine dunham, the dancer, choreographer, teacher and anthropologist whose pioneering work introduced much of the black heritage in dance to. Katherine dunham, of course, is one of the great pioneers in restoring the black cultural heritage to american dance. Katherine dunham revolutionized american dance in the 1930s by going to the roots of black dance and ritual and transforming them into significant artistic choreography that speaks to all. The board of directors and miss ruby streate send heartfelt thanks to everyone that helped the katherine dunham childrens workshop get to chicago to participate in such a. Dunham s influence crosses generations and genres and can be seen in the work of many contemporary dance choreographers and companies. These insightful biographies highlight men and women who have struggled to overcome adversity to accomplish their goals. Katherine dunham was born on june 22nd, 1909, in glen ellyn, illinois.
All ready established as a pioneer in dance, dunham used her ingenuity, creativeness, and educational background in anthropology to fashion programs to improve the community of east st. Katherine dunham queen of black dance katherine dunham american dancer, choreographer, author, educator, and social activist. A pioneer in her use of folk and ethnic choreography, dunham is considered one of the founders of the anthropological dance movement. Famous dancers from the early years of jazz include jack cole, lester horton, and katherine dunham. Born in chicago on june 22, 1909, to an african american father and frenchcanadian mother, dunham began her formal dance education in her late teens. Katherine dunham, a moderndance legend who blazed trails as choreographer and performer, activist and teacher, died sunday at an assistedliving home in new york. She was considered a pioneer in the uses of ethnic choreography and one of the founders of anthropological. Renaissance genius and katherine dunham, katherine dunham.
It was the first time europe had seen black dance as an art form and also the first time that the special elements of american modern dance appeared outside america. Katherine dunham obituary katherine dunham funeral. Jeanbertrand aristide, the first democratically elected president of haiti, proclaimed her the spiritual mother of haiti. Katherine dunham timeline articles and essays selections from. Dunham receives the dance pioneer award given by the alvin ailey american. Born in 1909 in chicago, katherine dunham is an american dancer choreographer who is best known for incorporating african american, caribbean, african. Born in chicago, dunham received her bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in anthropology from the university of chicago and later did extensive anthropological study, particularly in the caribbean. Dunham technique workshop series american dance festival. Pioneer of black dance trailblazer biographies barbara oconnor on. She was one of the really great african american pioneers of modern dance.
As it evolved and developed, jazz dance grew in popularity as the dance form of films and broadway shows. Dunham was born june 22 1909 in chicago, and showed great interest in writing and dance as a child. Dunham was one of the first modern dance pioneers in her own right, combining cultural, grounded dance movements with elements of ballet. Barbara oconnor goodreads author really liked it 4. In the beginning, ballet was only performed by royalty in the. Ballet basics ballet history ballet began in italy and france 400 years ago. Katherine dunham, a dance pioneer and passionate human rights advocate, died may 21, 2006, at age 96. Katherine dunham revolutionized american dance in the 1930s by going to the roots of black dance and rituals transforming them into significant artistic choreography that speaks to all. Worldrenowned dancer and social activist katherine dunham believed that dance and the arts had the power to transform lives and improve communities. Gr 58drawing on dunhams own autobiographical writings, oconnor details the life and achievements of this noted africanamerican dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Anna kisselgoff, a dance critic for the new york times, called dunham a major pioneer in black theatrical dance. This research guide will provide you with an overview of the schomburg center for research in black cultures holdings related to black dance pioneer, katherine dunham. I had the honor of meeting katherine dunham at one of her dance workshops. Following graduation, she founded the negro dance group.
A biography of katherine dunham, emphasizing her childhood, her love of anthropology and dance, and the creation of her unique dance style. Katherine dunham, a modern dance legend who blazed trails as choreographer and performer, activist and teacher, died sunday at an assisted. Along the way, these inspiring people have blazed a trail through history. Katherine dunham, the matriarch and queen mother of black. She was a choreographer who revolutinized american dance during the 1930s by going back to the roots of black dance and rituals, transforming them into choreography. The sun king, king louis xiv of france, began the first school of dance. She was an african american choreographer and dancer. Dunham had one of the most successful dance careers in africanamerican and european theater of the 20th century. Barbara oconnor a biography of katherine dunham, emphasizing her childhood, her love of anthropology and dance, and the creation of her unique dance style. Considered a pioneer in africanamerican styles of dance, katherine dunham used her talent as an artist and academic to show the beauty of africanamerican forms of dance. Nonetheless, her creative influence is just as profound. Dance historians salute her as the queen mother of black dance.
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