Katherine Dunham
1909-

Dunham, Katherine (b. June 22, 1909, Glen Ellyn, Ill.), American dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist, who incorporated African-based cultural forms into dance.

Born to Fanny June Taylor, a French Canadian and Native American, and Albert Dunham, Katherine Dunham attended school in Chicago and began to dance at a young age. After a short time at Joliet Junior College, she attended the University of Chicago, where she received B.A., M.A. and Ph.D degrees in Cultural anthropology. To help finance her education, she worked as a librarian and taught dance. Eventually, Dunham opened a dance school and established a black dance troupe later called the Chicago Negro School of Ballet.

In order to explore the cultural and social dimensions of African-based dance forms, Dunham obtained a Guggenheim Award from the Julius Rosenwald Foundation for travel to the Caribbean. In Jamaica, she was accepted into a community of Maroon peoples, who allowed her to view their sacred war dance, the Koromantee (see Maroonage in the Americas. Similarly, in Haiti, she was initiated into the Vaudun and subsequently permitted to participate in secret ritual dances. Throughout her life, Dunham maintained a special relationship with Haiti through continued association with Haitian arts, politics, and society. As a result, the Haitian government awarded her several medals and citations, including honorary citizenship.

Dunham wrote several books, including Journey to Accompong (1946), A Touch of Innocence (1959), Kasamance (1967), and Islands Possessed (1969). She presented lectures and demonstrations at Yale, Case Western Reserve, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Chicago. She also served as a committee member of the Illinois Project of the Federal Writers' Project from 1935 to 1940.

Dunham communicated her knowledge of cultures primarily through choreography and dance performance. In 1940, she formed the Katherine Dunham Dance Company that toured the world performing dances she choreographed. These include L'An'Ya (1938), Le Jazz Hot (1939) and Tropics (1939), Bal Nègre (1943), Tropical Revue (1943) and Shango (1945). Dunham choreographed and performed in several shows and films such as the Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky (1940) and the motion picture Star-Spangled Rhythm (1942). In 1943, she established the Dunham School of Arts and Research in New York City, which offered classes in dance, theatre and world cultures. Dunham became the first black woman to choreograph an opera, Aida, for the New York City Metropolitan Opera's 1963-1964 season.

After her company's last appearance in 1965, Dunham went on to represent the United States in the Festival of Black Arts in Senegal. She also acted as cultural adviser for the Senegalese government, and helped train the National Ballet of Senegal. In 1967 Dunham relocated to St. Louis, and in affiliation with the Edwardsville campus of Southern Illinois University, developed and directed the Performing Arts Training Center, a school for disadvantaged youth.

For her accomplishments, Dunham has received many honorary degrees and awards including, the Dance Magazine Award (1968), the University of Chicago Alumni Professional Achievement Award (1968), the Albert Schweitzer Music Award (1979), the Kennedy Center Award (1983), and the Distinguished Service Award of the American Anthropological Society (1986).