Preview

How Did Katherine Dunham Contribute To Dance

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
207 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Did Katherine Dunham Contribute To Dance
The dancer I have chosen is Katherine Dunham. Mrs. Dunham born June 22, 1909, to an African American father and French Canadian mother. She was born in Chicago Illinois. She performed many styles of dance. One style she's famous for is going back to her roots and taking black culture and making it acceptable to all. Other styles she contributed too were folk and ethnic. Choreography. One big contribution Mrs. Dunham contributed was making African American and Caribbean culture beautiful to all. At a time when very, few African American's had a chance at "commercial success" she gave them hope. At this time, dance in America was very vague for the African American women, especially not when accepting your own heritage and culture. She changed

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Alvin Ailey is a multicultural modern dancer known for his great accomplishments in dance and choreography. He founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and throughout his lifetime created some 79 ballets, many of which have appeared in the repertoire of major dance companies. It was on a junior high school class trip to the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, he fell in love with concert dance. He became inspired by performances of the Katherine Dunham Dance Company and classes with Lester Horton. Alvin Ailey would go on to create a legacy of versatility and cultural expression.…

    • 1214 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Josephine Baker was living proof that black people could achieve the same fame and fortune as whites without having to give up their personalities or their racial identities. She contributed so much to our society in many forms, such as her talent and her positivity. She truly believed that racial tolerance was unnecessary and that if we worked hard enough slowly but surely the line between races would get smaller and smaller. She worked hard everyday to make sure that she left this planet better than she found up until the day she passed…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    History of Jeni Legon

    • 912 Words
    • 4 Pages

    February is well known as Black History Month, but when we think of Black History Month we think of famous African Americans like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. In the world of dance, another African American woman is just as prevalent. Jeni LeGon, one of the first African American women to establish a solo career in tap dance, is one of the tap dance pioneers in America. Tap dance originated in the mid 1600’s from Scottish and Irish laborers brought to the New World. Slaves that resided in the south learned to imitate the rapid steps and combined them with African dance styles. The two styles combined and formed the American tap Hybrid.…

    • 912 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bessie Coleman Role Model

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Bessie Coleman was the first African American female pilot. Starting off in a racist Texas Bessie worked as a laundress after she dropped out of college. At the age of twenty three she decide to move in in with her brother in Chicago to find a better life. After hearing stories of World War I pilots she had a sudden interest in flying. Due to discrimination Bessie could not go to an aviation school in America, so she moved to France to pursue her dreams. After this she came back to America and became a stunt show pilot. Not only is she a role model for African Americans but also to women.…

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mr Bru

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Jazz and African American dance forms were a huge influence on Alvin Ailey. Talley Beatty, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and the Nicholas Brothers were four different choreographers in this genre. Name two others.…

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It is obvious that Katherine Dunham transformed American dance in 1930’s. By studying the foundation and roots of black dance and rituals, she was able to transform them into artistic pieces of choreography. She introduced the use of both ethnic and folk dance and is a prominent founder of the anthropological dance movement. At that time, dance was heavily influenced by Europe, but Dunham was able to create an impact in the dance world by bringing Caribbean and African…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Frank Lloyd Wright: The creator of “organic architecture” which the purpose was to create a harmony between the humans and environment.…

    • 720 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    During Martha Graham’s life, she has made some amazing accomplishments. When she was studying dance is bent the rules of ballet and created modern dance. Martha Graham went to her dream dance school Denishawn School of Dancing and Relative Arts after her father died she enrolled into the school was was doing great. When she was done teaching and being a student after several years Martha opened a dance studio of her own called Martha…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Katherine Dunham was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 22, 1909 as the youngest child of Albert Millard Dunham and Fanny June (Guillaume), with an older brother, Albert Jr., as well as children from her mother’s first marriage. Her heritage included Indian, French Canadian, English, Malagasy (Madagascan) and African ancestry (Aschenbrenner 7). Dunham’s mother passed away when Katherine was only four and their father left the children with their aunt Lulu, where Katherine faced multiple instances of prejudice as African Americans were flooding North at this time (Aschenbrenner 8). These early experiences of prejudice and as a go between in her aunt Lulu’s custody battle for Dunham and her brother played a large role her approach between classes, race and also as a “culture broker” for her dancers, students and people of other cultures (Aschenbrenner 8).…

    • 1405 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    She began to work on commercials, setting the “dance tone” for Macys and Ruffles Chips and many others. These commercials opened the door to many more commercials, allowing her to have six more commercials under her belt between 2000 and 2001 alone. This exposure bought her attention, and in 2001 she choreographed the season premiere of the Drew Carey Show. All these things had become door openers for Fatima Robinson, and doors were opening more and more for her journey to success. Fatima began to follow in her idols footsteps when in 2007 and 2009 she choreographed the Oscars, making her the second African American woman to do ever do so, Debbie Allen being the first. In 2007 Fatima choreographed the Inauguration event for President Barak Obama, which was one of the best highlights of her career. In addition to all the great work that Fatima Robinson has done now she is the choreographer behind a lot of the great memorable events we watch on TV. Her choreography being featured on Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol and many others. The list goes on and on of all the work she had done and all the awards she had received, this is why Robinson was named Entertainment Weekly’s most creative people in entertainment. New York Times notes, Fatima is "one of the most sought-after hip-hop and popular music choreographers in the…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “You can dream big and it doesn't matter what you look like, or where you come from. - Misty Copeland” Misty Copeland the first African American to be appointed as a principal dancer for American Ballet Theatre. Misty Copeland is inspires people to do great things, she encourages people to do what they want to do, even when there are people that will always tell you that you can’t do it. Misty Copeland is someone who was remembered for her determination, courage, and perseverance. By examining Misty Copeland’s determination, courage, and perseverance, it is clear that Misty Copeland models the true qualities of a hero.…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Alvin ailey

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Like many great dance choreographers, Alvin Ailey is one of the greatest and well known choreographers there is. I chose to to do my research on this man because i am very familiar with his name and know current dancers and choreographers who attend his dance school. Hearing about Ailey since i was twelve years old, i always wanted to know more about him but never took the initiative to do so. So here, in this biography i will explain to you what i have learned and researched about this famous dancer.…

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martha Graham once said, “great artists must reach beyond themselves, to the point of defying death” (Cass 255). She was known for her discipline and the way she encouraged her students to believe in their individual strengths. She was also a very determined and disciplined dancer in her years prior to teaching. She is “arguably the most legendary figure in U.S. modern dance” (Kowal 144). She continued to grow throughout her career as a very established dancer and teacher and is known by many today.…

    • 822 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Katherine Dunham Dance

    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages

    American dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham is one of the most famous African American dancers of all time. She strived to expose the awareness of the African Diaspora through her choreography. Her dance technique shows a collection of many cultures since she herself was a very cultural ethnic person. Dunham’s work has brought a great influence in the world of dance. Her hard work is still honored and appreciated to this day.…

    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martha Graham Biography

    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Her first real performance was actually with Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. “Working primarily with Shawn, Graham improved her technique and began dancing professionally. Shawn choreographed the dance production "Xochitl" specifically for Graham, who performed the role of an attacked Aztec maiden. The wildly emotional performance garnered her critical acclaim” (Martha Graham Biography). Her career was long and full of wonder, she performed and choreographed so many pieces of art. “After Graham's performance as the lead role in composer Igor Stravinsky's (1882–1971) American premiere of Rite of Spring (1930), Graham toured the United States for four years (1931–35) in the production Electra” (Encyclopedia of World Biography). As she continued dancing, she began an interest in American Indians. “Her increasing interest in the American past was seen in her dance based on the lives of American pioneer women, Frontier (1935), and in her famous Appalachian Spring (1944). In 1932 she became the first dancer to receive a Guggenheim fellowship (an award to promote artistic research and creation), and she danced for President Franklin Roosevelt (1882–1945) at the White House in 1937” (Encyclopedia of World Biography). Despite having some of her pieces called “ugly”, Graham pushed through her critics, which landed her in some of the most amazing and honorable places in the world. “Graham’s genius caught on and became increasingly respected over time, and her advances in dance are considered by many to be an important achievement in America’s cultural history. The Graham technique is a highly regarded form of movement taught by dance institutions across the globe” (Martha Graham…

    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays