Katherine Dunham
Katherine Dunham (born June 24, 1909 in Joliet (Illinois) , † May 21, 2006 in New York ) was an American dancer , anthropologist , choreographer , civil rights activist and author .
Life
Katherine Dunham studied dance and anthropology at the University of Chicago, where she was one of the first African American students. She completed her studies with a doctorate in anthropology and with her groundbreaking work laid the foundations for the academic discipline of Brazilian and Caribbean dance anthropology.
In 1931, Dunham founded her first dance school in Chicago . A successful career as a dancer, with important roles in musicals, cabarets and operas, took her to major theaters in America and Europe. From 1936 she spent some time in Haiti , where her dance was further enriched by Caribbean influences.
Dunham was a major black dance pioneer . In 1937 Dunham founded the Negro Dance Group , which only "blacks" belonged to. With her appearances in the 1930s and 1940s, she took a stand against racial segregation in everyday American life. The dance troupe was later renamed the Katherine Dunham Dance Company .
In 1945 Dunham opened the Dunham School of Dance and Theater . One of her most famous students was Eartha Kitt . In 1963 she became the first African American choreographer at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Her dance educator students included James Dean and Marlon Brando .
Dunham has received several awards for her work, including ten honorary doctorates. In 1974 she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame .
She documented her solidarity with the Haitian people and her commitment to civil rights in the early 1990s, when she resolutely advocated the rights of Haitian refugees. At the age of 82, she went on a 47-day hunger strike to raise awareness for the fate of Haiti.
literature
Books by Katherine Dunham (selection)
- A Touch of Innocence: A Memoir of Childhood. University of Chicago Press, Chicago 1994, ISBN 0-226-17112-4 .
- Equality for a Lightning Bug: A Small Collection of Poems by Katherine Dunham. Authorhouse, 2004, ISBN 1-4184-0495-0 .
Books about Katherine Dunham (selection)
- Veve A. Clark, Sara E. Johnson (Eds.): Kaiso !: Writings by and about Katherine Dunham. (Studies in Dance History). University of Wisconsin Press, 2006, ISBN 0-299-21274-2 .
- Barbara O'Connor: Katherine Dunham: Pioneer of Black Dance. (Trailblazer Biographies). Lerner Pub, 2001, ISBN 1-57505-353-5 .
- Jeannine Dominy: Katherine Dunham. (Black Americans of Achievement). Chelsea House Publication, 1992, ISBN 0-7910-1123-2 .
Web links
- Katherine Dunham - Centers for Arts and Humanities ( Memento February 2, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
- Katherine Dunham in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Selections from the Katherine Dunham Collection at the Library of Congress
- Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities ( February 2, 2006 memento on Internet Archive )
- Jack Anderson: Katherine Dunham, Dancer, Is Dead at 96 . New York Times , May 23, 2006
- Jennifer Dunning: How Katherine Dunham Revealed Black Dance to the World . New York Times , May 23, 2006
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Dunham, Katherine |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American dancer, anthropologist, choreographer, civil rights activist, and author |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 24, 1909 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Joliet (Illinois) |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 21, 2006 |
| Place of death | new York |