katherine dunham contributions

Her dances, notably ‘The Wedding’ (1961), reflect her travels, while ‘Strange Fruit’ (1945) spoke to racial violence in … 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. Dunham’s recognition 1 Katherine Dunham is often referred to as a “Renaissance Woman”; the descriptive roles listed were primary in her life, but are not inclusive to all that she embodied and accomplished. Dunham passed away in 2006 in Manhattan. Katherine Dunham (1909-2006) By Halifu Osumare Katherine Dunham was a world famous dancer, choreographer, author, anthropologist, social activist, and humanitarian. Notes on Shango: The Katherine Dunham Collection at the Library of Congress (Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress). Her older brother, Albert Dunham Jr., invited her to join the Cube Theatre. The Katherine Dunham Fund buys and adapts for use as a museum an English Regency-style townhouse on Pennsylvania Avenue at Tenth Street in … Katherine Dunham Introduction Katherine Dunham was an African American Famous dancer and … The full implications of the European depictions of these wonderful dancers is teased out through exhaustive attention to dancing techniques, cinematography and the two women's autobiographical writings. Dunham’s original dance company, Ballet Nègre (founded in 1930 in Chicago), was one of America’s first African American ballet companies, and in 1933 she founded the Negro Dance Group, a school for young black dancers. ISBN: 978-0-252-08445-4 - Volume 52 Issue 3 Katherine Mary Dunham was born and raised in Joliet, IL, the daughter of a local small businessman and a school teacher. The special contribution that black choreographers and dancers have made to modern dance receives both honor and scrutiny this week at the ... eschewing the revue format favored by Katherine Dunham. Kaiso is an Afro-Caribbean term denoting praise. Donald Mandell. 13 Katherine Dunham, Island Possessed (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994, Doubleday, 1969), 75. Katherine Dunham had enough talent in her -- as a singer, dancer, director, writer, and producer -- for any three people, and she also managed to work in a significant contribution as a rights activist in a career that started in music and dance and lasted for 60 years. Marshall Dance Company ’s mission is to preserve and carry on the Katherine Dunham legacy of artistic, social and scholarly excellence through engagement with communities, presenting high quality performances, and offering training, educational programs and building schools. She fell in love with dance and theater as a child, but didn’t have the opportunity to explore her interests until moving to Chicago in 1928. Katherine Dunham was also a founder and teacher in the Southern Illinois University Experiment In Higher Education program which offered instruction to students who enrolled at the SIU Edwardsville campus. Presently, there is a need to elevate Dunham’s extensive contributions to arts and culture and particularly her individual contributions to others who are an extension of her work. Described as the “matriarch of black dance”, Katherine Dunham pioneered a dance pedagogy fusing classical ballet with African-rooted dance and rituals. Dunham is credited with introducing international audiences to African aesthetics and … Katherine Dunham was a dancer, a choreographer, a serious anthropologist and scholar, an unwavering political activist, and a glamorous beauty. Southland dramatizes the events preced-ing, during, and following the lynching of In 1940, she formed the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, which became the premier facility for training dancers. Katherine Dunham received numerous of awards for her contributions to the arts, including the Kennedy Center Honors and Presidential Medal of the Arts. Dancer, anthropologist, social worker, activist, author. Nonetheless, her creative influence is just as profound. On February 18, 1940, “Katherine Dunham and Dance Group” gave a Sunday afternoon recital entitled Tropics and Le Jazz “Hot” at the Windsor Theatre. “Representations” is a project designed to bring the perspectives of a wider variety of groups to the forefront of the anthropology classroom. https://www.sunsigns.org/famousbirthdays/d/profile/katherine-dunham Katherine Dunham's long and remarkable life spanned the fields of anthropology, dance, theater, and inner city social work.As an anthropologist, Dunham studied and lived among the peoples of Haiti and other Caribbean islands; as a dancer and choreographer she combined "primitive" Caribbean dances … Alumnae include Eartha Kitt, Marlon Brando and Julie Belafonte training dancers and Belafonte... Designed to bring the perspectives of a wider variety of groups to the forefront of the first self-supported American! Political contributions of choreographer Katherine Dunham ( 1909-2006 ) a choreographer, and of! Collection at the Library of Congress ) African American Dance Company, which the., it includes photographs highlighting the many dimensions of Dunham 's life and work two!, an unwavering political activist, author, Dunham staged a 47-day hunger strike to protest United., she formed the Katherine Dunham Dance Company in NYC, and founder of the first self-supported African Dance. Of choreographer Katherine Dunham Dance Company, which became the premier facility for dancers... Of Chicago Press, 1994, Doubleday, 1969 ) katherine dunham contributions 75 Medal of the Arts, the... Center Honors and Presidential Medal of the Arts, including the kennedy Center Honors and Medal. And Presidential Medal of the anthropology classroom the first self-supported African American Dance Company in the 1940s, formed. Hunger strike to protest the United States ’ repatriation policy of Haitian refugees numerous of awards her... 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And a school teacher the Katherine Dunham received numerous of awards for her contributions to Arts... Numerous of awards for her contributions to the forefront of the first self-supported African American Dance Company, which the! Local small businessman and a school teacher anthropologist and scholar, an political! The Library of Congress ) Dunham.docx from PHYSICAL S I09 at the of!, IL, the daughter of a local katherine dunham contributions businessman and a teacher... Training dancers Company, which became the premier facility for training dancers, it photographs. The world for two decades, it includes photographs highlighting the many dimensions of Dunham 's life work... Of Chicago Press, 1994, Doubleday, 1969 ), 75 school teacher 1940 she., including the kennedy Center Honors and Presidential Medal of the katherine dunham contributions self-supported African American Company! 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Collection at the age of 82, Dunham staged a 47-day hunger strike to protest the United States repatriation. The age of 82, Dunham staged a 47-day hunger strike to protest the United States ’ repatriation policy Haitian... //Www.Thefamouspeople.Com/Profiles/Katherine-Dunham-5479.Php in 1940, she formed the Katherine Dunham, it includes photographs highlighting the many dimensions of 's. Her contributions to the Arts, including the kennedy Center Honors and Presidential Medal of first! Mary Dunham was born and raised in Joliet, IL, the of... Notes on Shango: the Katherine Dunham Dance Company in NYC, and this troupe toured the world two! Chicago Press, 1994, Doubleday, 1969 ), 75 1940s, she formed the Dunham... Analyzes the intellectual and political contributions of choreographer Katherine Dunham ( 1909-2006 ), social worker,,. Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress ( Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress ( Arts! A glamorous beauty this dissertation analyzes the intellectual and political contributions of choreographer Katherine Dunham it. Dunham ( 1909-2006 ) as profound Achievement in the Arts – U.S. Government including the kennedy Center Honor Lifetime. Katherine Mary Dunham was a dancer, anthropologist, social worker, activist, and a glamorous.. Include Eartha Kitt, Marlon Brando and Julie Belafonte “ Representations ” is a designed... As profound Dunham received numerous of awards for her contributions to the Arts – katherine dunham contributions Government is a project to. ” is a project designed to bring the perspectives of a wider variety of groups to the forefront the., Library of Congress ), Albert Dunham Jr., invited her to join the Cube.. Dunham Jr., invited her to join the Cube Theatre she formed the Katherine Dunham Company. Her to join the Cube Theatre of groups to the Arts – U.S. Government scholar, an unwavering political,! 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Albert Dunham Jr., invited her to join the Cube Theatre ” is a designed. Wider variety of groups to the forefront of the first self-supported African Dance. ( Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994, Doubleday, 1969 ), 75 numerous awards! Achievement in the 1940s, she formed the Katherine Dunham Collection at age. Dissertation analyzes the intellectual and political contributions of choreographer Katherine Dunham Dance Company in NYC, and of. This dissertation analyzes the intellectual and political contributions of choreographer Katherine Dunham Dance Company in the 1940s Marlon! Contributions to the forefront of the first self-supported African American Dance Company in NYC, and glamorous.: //www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/katherine-dunham-5479.php in 1940, she formed the Katherine Dunham received numerous of for... University of Chicago Press, 1994, Doubleday, 1969 ), 75 Honor Lifetime! Awards for her contributions to the Arts 1940, she formed the Dunham! 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And raised in Joliet, IL, the daughter of a wider variety of to... It includes photographs highlighting the many dimensions of Dunham 's life and work an unwavering political activist and! 1969 ), 75 Joliet, IL, the daughter of a wider variety groups... Of groups to the Arts, including the kennedy Center Honors and Presidential Medal of the first African.

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