Katherine Dunham
Katherine Dunham was born on June 22, 1909. She has had a love for dance ever since she was young. She was accepted into the University of Chicago and taught dance lessons there. While in Chicago, she studied modern dance and ballet. She joined with a member of the Chicago Civic Opera Company to establish a black dance group called Ballet Negre. She was also studying anthropology and the importance of dance as part of a social and ceremonial life. She presented her cultural knowlege through dance, rather than books or speeches. In 1940, Dunham established her own professional dance company and in 1943 she opened the Katherine Dunahm School of Arts and Research in New York in 1943. Dunham loved to choreograph and teach rather than be a dancer herself.
One of the most interesting aspects of her dance career was that she was African-American. There were not a lot of black dancers back then. They mostly were seen in movies and in film. However, Dunham changed that. Through her work and dance routines she proved that one could live their dreams no matter what their backgroud was. She was not ashamed that she was a black woman who loved dance, rather she embraced it. She incorporated African dance techniques and movements into her choreography. She developed the Dunham technique, which was a system representing her artistic conception uniting African and balletic movement. Dunham revealed the beauty of African-American movement and demonstrated it as an artistic impression. Throughout her life, she has taken controversial stands regarding race. Many dancers and choreographers look to her and admire her work because it was so unique. Most importantly, she proved that even though she was black, she was one of the most influential dancers and artists in her day.
Some of Katherine Dunham's work and awards include: Her autobiography: Island Possessed (1969). Her dances: Barrelhouse Blues, Cabin in the Sky (1940), Guitar Blues, L'Ag'Ya Awards: Smithsonian Award (1999), Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award (1986), Kennedy Center Award (1983) Albert Schweitzer Music Award (1979), the Dance Magazine Award (1968), and the University of Chicago Alumni Professional Acheivement Award (1968).
One of the most interesting aspects of her dance career was that she was African-American. There were not a lot of black dancers back then. They mostly were seen in movies and in film. However, Dunham changed that. Through her work and dance routines she proved that one could live their dreams no matter what their backgroud was. She was not ashamed that she was a black woman who loved dance, rather she embraced it. She incorporated African dance techniques and movements into her choreography. She developed the Dunham technique, which was a system representing her artistic conception uniting African and balletic movement. Dunham revealed the beauty of African-American movement and demonstrated it as an artistic impression. Throughout her life, she has taken controversial stands regarding race. Many dancers and choreographers look to her and admire her work because it was so unique. Most importantly, she proved that even though she was black, she was one of the most influential dancers and artists in her day.
Some of Katherine Dunham's work and awards include: Her autobiography: Island Possessed (1969). Her dances: Barrelhouse Blues, Cabin in the Sky (1940), Guitar Blues, L'Ag'Ya Awards: Smithsonian Award (1999), Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award (1986), Kennedy Center Award (1983) Albert Schweitzer Music Award (1979), the Dance Magazine Award (1968), and the University of Chicago Alumni Professional Acheivement Award (1968).
This dance, "Barrelhouse Blues" was one of Katherine Dunham's most famous dances because it featured slow, yet sensual movements of the body as opposed to sharp and elaborate dance steps. She preferred to work in groups or with a partner rather than to perform by herself. She uses a lot of her Africa-American background into these dance steps and she tells a story of a simple lifestyle of an African-American woman through this piece. She has a lot of technique and passion involved into her dance styles. It was also unusual during this time period to perform a dance routine involving provacative dance movements as shown in the video. Nevertheless, Katherine Dunham's unique ability to blend her culture with her dance was incredible and contributed to the idea of modern dance.