[52], On May 21, 2006, Dunham died in her sleep from natural causes in New York City. She also appeared in the Broadway musicals "Bal . Having completed her undergraduate work at the University of Chicago and decided to pursue a performing career rather than academic studies, Dunham revived her dance ensemble. The Black Tradition in American Modern Dance. She returned to graduate school and submitted a master's thesis to the anthropology faculty. The recipient of numerous awards, Dunham received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1983 and the National Medal of Arts in 1989. She has been called the "matriarch and queen mother of black dance." [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. [17] She was one of the first African-American women to attend this college and to earn these degrees. Katherine Dunham Facts that are Fun!!! 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. This gained international headlines and the embarrassed local police officials quickly released her. Dunhams writings, sometimes published under the pseudonym Kaye Dunn, include Katherine Dunhams Journey to Accompong (1946), an account of her anthropological studies in Jamaica; A Touch of Innocence (1959), an autobiography; Island Possessed (1969); and several articles for popular and scholarly journals. The impresario Sol Hurok, manager of Dunham's troupe for a time, once had Ms. Dunham's legs insured for $250,000. A fictional work based on her African experiences, Kasamance: A Fantasy, was published in 1974. [16], After her research tour of the Caribbean in 1935, Dunham returned to Chicago in the late spring of 1936. Many of her students, trained in her studios in Chicago and New York City, became prominent in the field of modern dance. 7 Katherine Dunham facts. Dunham's dance career first began in Chicago when she joined the Little Theater Company of Harper Avenue. ", "Dunham's European success led to considerable imitation of her work in European revues it is safe to say that the perspectives of concert-theatrical dance in Europe were profoundly affected by the performances of the Dunham troupe. Omissions? There, her father ran a dry-cleaning business.[8]. The next year, after the US entered World War II, Dunham appeared in the Paramount musical film Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) in a specialty number, "Sharp as a Tack," with Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. Dance is an essential part of life that has always been with me. She established the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities in East St. Louis to preserve Haitian and African instruments and artifacts from her personal collection. She was a woman far ahead of her time. Katherine Dunham (1909-2006) By Halifu Osumare Katherine Dunham was a world famous dancer, choreographer, author, anthropologist, social activist, and humanitarian. He needn't have bothered. June 22 Dancer #4. Using some ballet vernacular, Dunham incorporates these principles into a set of class exercises she labeled as "processions". As celebrities, their voices can have a profound influence on popular culture. Barrelhouse. The result of this trip was Dunham's Master's thesis entitled "The Dances of Haiti". (Below are 10 Katherine Dunham quotes on positivity. Dancer. Short Biography. "In introducing authentic African dance-movements to her company and audiences, Dunhamperhaps more than any other choreographer of the timeexploded the possibilities of modern dance expression.". [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. A actor. Dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist Katherine Dunham was born on June 22, 1910, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a small suburb of . Never completing her required coursework for her graduate degree, she departed for Broadway and Hollywood. Katherine Dunham (1909-2006) is revered as one of the great pillars of American dance history. Known for her many innovations, Dunham developed a dance pedagogy, later named the Dunham Technique, a style of movement and exercises based in traditional African dances, to support her choreography. Time reported that, "she went on a 47-day hunger strike to protest the U.S.'s forced repatriation of Haitian refugees. Dunham created Rara Tonga and Woman with a Cigar at this time, which became well known. Katherine Dunham (born June 22, 1909) [1] [2] was an American dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist. 8 Katherine Dunham facts. Her world-renowned modern dance company exposed audiences to the diversity of dance, and her schools brought dance training and education to a variety of populations sharing her passion and commitment to dance as a medium of cultural communication. There is also a strong emphasis on training dancers in the practices of engaging with polyrhythms by simultaneously moving their upper and lower bodies according to different rhythmic patterns. Katherine returnedto to the usa in 1931 miss Dunham met one of. katherine dunham fun factsaiken county sc register of deeds katherine dunham fun facts Another fact is that it was the sometime home of the pioneering black American dancer Katherine Dunham. She choreographed for Broadway stage productions and operaincluding Aida (1963) for the New York Metropolitan Opera. In 1948, she opened A Caribbean Rhapsody, first at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, and then took it to the Thtre des Champs-lyses in Paris. In the mid-1950s, Dunham and her company appeared in three films: Mambo (1954), made in Italy; Die Grosse Starparade (1954), made in Germany; and Msica en la Noche (1955), made in Mexico City. "Katherine Dunham's Dance as Public Anthropology. 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. Radcliffe-Brown, Fred Eggan, and many others that she met in and around the University of Chicago. Katherine Dunham, was mounted at the Women's Center on the campus. [21] This style of participant observation research was not yet common within the discipline of anthropology. Transforming Anthropology 20, no. 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. The original two-week engagement was extended by popular demand into a three-month run, after which the company embarked on an extensive tour of the United States and Canada. International dance icon Katherine Dunham (right,) also an anthropologist, founded an art museum in East St. Louis, IL. 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. Intrigued by this theory, Dunham began to study African roots of dance and, in 1935, she traveled to the Caribbean for field research. She was also consulted on costuming for the Egyptian and Ethiopian dress. In 1949, Dunham returned from international touring with her company for a brief stay in the United States, where she suffered a temporary nervous breakdown after the premature death of her beloved brother Albert. He has released six stand-up specials and one album of Christmas songs. Based on this success, the entire company was engaged for the 1940 Broadway production Cabin in the Sky, staged by George Balanchine and starring Ethel Waters. Dancer, anthropologist, social worker, activist, author. In the 1930s, she did fieldwork in the Caribbean and infused her choreography with the cultures . [1] The Dunham Technique is still taught today. Facts About Katherine Dunham. . Dunham had one of the most successful dance careers of the 20th century, and directed her own dance company for many years. She was instrumental in getting respect for Black dancers on the concert dance stage and directed the first self-supported Black dance company. Dunham's background as an anthropologist gave the dances of the opera a new authenticity. Katherine Mary Dunham was born in Chicago in 1909. Later in the year she opened a cabaret show in Las Vegas, during the first year that the city became a popular entertainment as well as gambling destination. Dunham also studied ballet with Mark Turbyfill and Ruth Page, who became prima ballerina of the Chicago Opera. Tropics (choreographed 1937) and Le Jazz Hot (1938) were among the earliest of many works based on her research. By the time she received an M.A. ", Examples include: The Ballet in film "Stormy Weather" (Stone 1943) and "Mambo" (Rossen 1954). Dunham, Katherine Mary (1909-2006) By Das, Joanna Dee. The prince was then married to actress Rita Hayworth, and Dunham was now legally married to John Pratt; a quiet ceremony in Las Vegas had taken place earlier in the year. [60], However, this decision did not keep her from engaging with and highly influencing the discipline for the rest of her life and beyond. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Among Dunham's closest friends and colleagues was Julie Robinson, formerly a performer with the Katherine Dunham Company, and her husband, singer and later political activist Harry Belafonte. Later Dunham established a second home in Senegal, and she occasionally returned there to scout for talented African musicians and dancers. Dunham saved the day by arranging for the company to be paid to appear in a German television special, Karibische Rhythmen, after which they returned to the United States. A carriage house on the grounds is to . Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He was the founder of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. The group performed Dunham's Negro Rhapsody at the Chicago Beaux Arts Ball. At an early age, Dunham became interested in dance. For almost 30 years she maintained the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, the only self-supported American black dance troupe at that time. Over her long career, she choreographed more than ninety individual dances. What are some fun facts about Katherine Dunham? Beda Schmid. 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. [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. Grow your vocab the fun way! By 1957, Dunham was under severe personal strain, which was affecting her health. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Alumnae include Eartha Kitt, Marlon Brando and Julie Belafonte. Smith, Linda Tuhiwai. April 30, 2019. [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]. USA. 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. As a choreographer, anthropologist, educator, and activist, Katherine Dunham transformed the field of dance in the twentieth century. In 1945, Dunham opened and directed the Katherine Dunham School of Dance and Theatre near Times Square in New York City. Katherine Dunham was an African-American dancer and choreographer, producer, author, scholar, anthropologist and Civil Rights activist. It opened in Chicago in 1933, with a black cast and with Page dancing the title role. Charm Dance from "L'Ag'Ya". [7] The family moved to a predominantly white neighborhood in Joliet, Illinois. Also that year they appeared in the first ever, hour-long American spectacular televised by NBC, when television was first beginning to spread across America. First Name Katherine #37. Her mother passed away when Katherine was only 3 years old. Born in 1512 to Sir Thomas Parr, lord of the manor of Kendal in Westmorland, and Maud Green, an heiress and courtier, Catherine belonged to a family of substantial influence in the north. Katherine Dunham: The Artist as Activist During World War II. Alvin Ailey later produced a tribute for her in 198788 at Carnegie Hall with his American Dance Theater, entitled The Magic of Katherine Dunham. Katherine Dunham died on May 21 2006. Unlike other modern dance creators who eschewed classical ballet, Dunham embraced it as a foundation for her technique. Others who attended her school included James Dean, Gregory Peck, Jose Ferrer, Jennifer Jones, Shelley Winters, Sidney Poitier, Shirley MacLaine and Warren Beatty. Marlon Brando frequently dropped in to play the bongo drums, and jazz musician Charles Mingus held regular jam sessions with the drummers. As this show continued its run at the Windsor Theater, Dunham booked her own company in the theater for a Sunday performance. In 1940, she formed the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, which became the premier facility for training dancers. Dunham and her company appeared in the Hollywood movie Casbah (1948) with Tony Martin, Yvonne De Carlo, and Peter Lorre, and in the Italian film Botta e Risposta, produced by Dino de Laurentiis. In Boston, then a bastion of conservatism, the show was banned in 1944 after only one performance. [15] He showed her the connection between dance and social life giving her the momentum to explore a new area of anthropology, which she later termed "Dance Anthropology". The company soon embarked on a tour of venues in South America, Europe, and North Africa. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. However, one key reason was that she knew she would be able to reach a broader public through dance, as opposed to the inaccessible institutions of academia. It was not a success, closing after only eight performances. Katherine Dunham (born June 22, 1909) [1] was an American dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist [1]. forming a powerful personal. ", "Kaiso! She majored in anthropology at the University of Chicago, and after learning that much of Black . Died On : May 21, 2006. She is a celebrity dancer. Dunham and Kitt collaborated again in the 1970s in an Equity Production of the musical Peg, based on the Irish play, Peg O' My Heart. In August she was awarded a bachelor's degree, a Ph.B., bachelor of philosophy, with her principal area of study being social anthropology. In 1931, at the age of 21, Dunham formed a group called Ballets Ngres, one of the first black ballet companies in the United States. On February 22, 2022, Selkirk will offer a unique, one-lot auction titled, Divine Technique: Katherine Dunham Ephemera And Documents. In 1947 it was expanded and granted a charter as the Katherine Dunham School of Cultural Arts. Her mother, Fanny June Dunham, who, according to Dunham's memoir, possessed Indian, French Canadian, English and probably African ancestry, died when Dunham was four years old. Katherine Mary Dunham, 22 Jun 1909 - 21 May 2006 Exhibition Label Born Glen Ellyn, Illinois One of the founders of the anthropological dance movement, Katherine Dunham distilled Caribbean and African dance elements into modern American choreography. Luminaries like Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey and Katherine Dunham began to shape and define what this new genre of dance would be. [41] The State Department was dismayed by the negative view of American society that the ballet presented to foreign audiences. She wrote that he "opened the floodgates of anthropology" for her. While in Haiti, Dunham investigated Vodun rituals and made extensive research notes, particularly on the dance movements of the participants. 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. ", Black writer Arthur Todd described her as "one of our national treasures". In my mind, it's the most fascinating thing in the world to learn".[19]. THE DIGITAL REPOSITORY FOR THE BLACK EXPERIENCE. All rights reserved. Years later, after extensive studies and initiations in Haiti,[21] she became a mambo in the Vodun religion. Her the best movie is Casbah. After he became her artistic collaborator, they became romantically involved. teaches us about the impact Katherine Dunham left on the dance community & on the world. Katherine Mary Dunham (June 22, 1909 May 21, 2006)[1] was an American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and social activist. Pratt, who was white, shared Dunham's interests in African-Caribbean cultures and was happy to put his talents in her service. Later that year she took her troupe to Mexico, where their performances were so popular that they stayed and performed for more than two months. . In this post, she choreographed the Chicago production of Run Li'l Chil'lun, performed at the Goodman Theater. She was one of the first researchers in anthropology to use her research of Afro-Haitian dance and culture for remedying racist misrepresentation of African culture in the miseducation of Black Americans. 1910-2006. In 1978, an anthology of writings by and about her, also entitled Kaiso! In recognition of her stance, President Aristide later awarded her a medal of Haiti's highest honor. In her biography, Joyce Aschenbrenner (2002), credits Ms Dunham as the "matriarch and queen mother of black dance", and describes her work as: "fundamentally . She also developed the Dunham Technique, a method of movement to support her dance works. The school was managed in Dunham's absence by Syvilla Fort, one of her dancers, and thrived for about 10 years. She was born on June 22, 1909 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a small . Katherine Dunham facts for kids. [1] She is best known for bringing African and Caribbean dance styles to the US. Despite these successes, the company frequently ran into periods of financial difficulties, as Dunham was required to support all of the 30 to 40 dancers and musicians. If Cities Could Dance: East St. Louis. With choreography characterized by exotic sexuality, both became signature works in the Dunham repertory. Dancer Born in Illinois #12. 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. 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Her work inspired many. Born in 1909 #28. [36] Her classes are described as a safe haven for many and some of her students even attribute their success in life to the structure and artistry of her technical institution. Each procession builds on the last and focuses on conditioning the body to prepare for specific exercises that come later. The family moved to Joliet, Illinois when her father remarried. Receiving a post graduate academic fellowship, she went to the Caribbean to study the African diaspora, ethnography and local dance. Dunham was born in Chicago on June 22, 1909. Lyndon B. Johnson was in the audience for opening night. Katherine Dunham on dance anthropology. Birth Country: United States. movement and expression. Regarding her impact and effect he wrote: "The rise of American Negro dance commenced when Katherine Dunham and her company skyrocketed into the Windsor Theater in New York, from Chicago in 1940, and made an indelible stamp on the dance world Miss Dunham opened the doors that made possible the rapid upswing of this dance for the present generation." [13] University of Chicago's anthropology department was fairly new and the students were still encouraged to learn aspects of sociology, distinguishing it from other anthropology departments in the US that focused almost exclusively on non-Western peoples. 52 Copy quote. [15] It was in a lecture by Redfield that she learned about the relationship between dance and culture, pointing out that Black Americans had retained much of their African heritage in dances. London: Zed Books, 1999. A dance choreographer. Dunham technique is a codified dance training technique developed by Katherine Dunham in the mid 20th century. "Between Primitivism and Diaspora: The Dance Performances of Josephine Baker, Zora Neale Hurston, and Katherine Dunham". ..American Anthropologist.. 112, no. Katherine Dunham (1909-2006) brought African dance aesthetics to the United States, forever influencing modern and jazz dance. 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. Retrieved from the Library of Congress,
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