Dancer Katherine Mary Dunham
"So she went to Cuba. She went to Haiti. She went to Jamaica, to study the dance that the inhabitants did there. Because they were a part of the French and Spanish in those cultures and allowed them to practice their African roots." said Director of the Katherine Dunham Dance Center Ruby Streate.
Dunham's dancing feet took her around the globe and back to Haiti on numerous occasions. She even set up a residence for some time. Her dance company employed as many as 40 members touring extensively. Sometimes stepping on toes to break down racial barriers. Her fame gained in Europe and she showcased her troupe in film. Most notably the breakthrough musical "Stormy Weather" in 1943. She continued to dance, teach and perform in the then segregated South. But it was the 1960's she answered the call to help once again.
It's been said, dance is a delicate balance between perfection and beauty. Katherine Dunham did both with grace and ease.
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Stormy Weather Dance Sequence
This dance scene is often overshadowed by Lena Horne. However, Katherine Dunham was an amazing dancer/choreographer and a star in her own right.
Katherine Dunham's "Shango (1945)"
Charles Moore Dance Company (DanceAfrica)
Katherine Dunham on "Shango"
In this series of clips recorded in September 2002, Katherine Dunham speaks about her influence on American dance; dance anthropology; her anthropological films; Shango; L'Ag'Ya; the Mazouk from L'Ag'Ya; the need for a Dunham Technique; breathing in Dunham Technique; the circle of energy; the concept of the "pole through the body" in Dunham Technique; the hand in Dunham Technique; the position of the arm in Dunham Technique; and the use of the foot in Dunham Technique.