Dunham, Katherine Mary
1909-2006 · Contribution: 1931-1967
Dancer, Choreographer & Anthropologist
Pioneered Black theatrical dance by fusing African, Caribbean, and modern dance traditions, and developed the Dunham Technique, the first codified dance system based on African-diasporic movement; anthropologist, Kennedy Center Honoree (1983), and National Medal of Arts recipient (1989)
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Quick facts
- Born
- 1909
- Active since
- 1931
- Category
- Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech
- Best known for
- Created the Dunham TechniqueFused African & Caribbean dancePioneer of Black concert dance
Impact on the world
Dunham merged scholarship and art to legitimize African and Caribbean movement as concert dance, building a technique still taught today. She created a foundation for Black theatrical dance.
An alternative history
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Sources
- Primary recordFind
Library of Congress (Katherine Dunham Collection)
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