Before Alvin Ailey started his self-titled American Dance Theater and Arthur Mitchell gave birth to the Dance Theatre of Harlem, there was a sister successfully adding both her colorful and cultural take on the world of dance. Katherine Dunham gave black dance both credibility and visibility and earned the title thrust upon her “The Matriarch of Black Dance” at a time when we were still living in an unequal society.
What’s amazing is that Dunham had quite a far reach—starting in the 1940s and peaking during the 50s and 60s. Although she might be most well know for her eponymous dance company and technique, this choreographer and dance anthropologist also influenced and impacted ballet, she was a prima ballerina of the Chicago Opera. On Broadway she originated the role of seductress Georgia Brown in “Cabin in the Sky” (played by Lena Horne in the film). In Hollywood she danced in such flicks as “Stormy Weather”—which only revealed a small portion of her talent. She also used her position as an artist to bring attention to racial inequality, racism, and violence against black—both here in the US as well as in South and Central America. Later in life, at the age of 82 to be exact, she went on the legendary 47-day hunger strike to protest the unfair treatment of Haitian boat people.
Once she opened she school in New York City, creative folks of all types and ethnicities flocked to be under her tutelage. She talked actors how to move and inhabit space in a new way while she unleashed greatness in dancers like the late, great divine Miss Eartha Kitt—who of course became so much more to us and the world.
Although her presence continued to loom large in the dance community her prominence in the spotlight did begin to wan by the late 1960s. She announced her retirement but never really stopped influencing others—especially in her new hometown of East St. Louis.
Now I am sure that most of us have heard of Ms. Dunham, but most of us have never seen her dance. Therein lies the beauty of You Tube. Unlike so many brothers and sisters who’ve made great contributions that have been lost to us forever, there are an impressive number of vintage clips and interview featuring this great sister. I have featured two below. Her awesome talent should be appreciated and enjoyed:
If you liked this post, we think you might like these too:
