Dunham was born in Chicago. In high school,
she suddenly had a keen interest dance more. In 1931, she founded a dance school
to do her qualifications have to pay tuition at the University of Chicago. In
school, she has received master and doctor degree in anthropology. In 1936, she
traveled to the Caribbean, began the 18-month study of ethnic dances. In 1940,
she organized the first all-black ensembles composed of actors, performing
"tropical and jazz hot", the program is basically her academic
research as the basis for creating a small dance. Dunham combined the Caribbean
Islands’ black dance with Ballet to form her unique stage style, its artistic
achievements highly praised critics. In 1943, she led the dance troupe
performed a successful tour. In 1945, Dunham dance school was established in
New York, and later, many of the school's students have become a famous actor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W23MYjH92co
http://kdcah.org/katherine-dunham-biography/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W23MYjH92co
http://kdcah.org/katherine-dunham-biography/
It's so interesting to see how Dunham's career in anthropology led her to become a famous dancer. This really was her applying her work to make something worthwhile. While most anthropologists are merely observers and commentators, Dunham stepped her game up and changed the way anthropologists could study culture: by actively participating in it.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that she was an anthropologist. I think it speaks to the human communication and the human qualities that people show in dance. It makes sense to me that an anthropologist would be interested in how and why people move. I also appreciate her interest in Caribbean dance and her ability to take what she learned and mold it into her own style.
ReplyDeleteI think that she found so much success because she was exposed to and learned about so many different types of dance. Education was her key, and it led her to keep more of an open mind. I find that inspiring, and I will hope to find success using what I learned also someday.
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