Where it all started.
Welcome back. I have been learning so much about Katherine Dunham. I hope you all found her pictures and videos entertaining. Today’s blog will focus on Katherine Dunham’s lineage. Where did it all begin? Who inspired her? What inspired her? Who did she work with? How did such influences shape Katherine Dunham and what we know as The Dunham Technique.
Katherine was very close to her older brother Albert Jr. He was her influence to enroll in school at The University of Chicago. With anthropology being her field of study, Katherine combined her love of dance with anthropology. In her childhood, Dunham’s aunt would rehearse for theater gigs and she would sit and watch. This was also an inspiration to the up and coming Katherine Dunham. Dunham began with technique classes in ballet and modern. Some of her teachers were Ludmilla Speranzvera, Vera Mirova, Mark Turbyfill and Ruth Page. She was much more interested in dances from the Caribbean but felt like one trip to the Caribbean would not do her any justice. In her research, she discovered intellectually and kinesthetically about African dance. Learning about her roots, Dunham traveled to several islands, Jamaica, Trinidad and Haiti learning about African dance. She wrote several books about her journey, one of which is Katherine Dunham’s Journey to Accompong. Returning to America, Dunham was ready to create and perform her inspirations on stage.
Katherine Dunham opened The Dunham School in New York which later changed their name to The Katherine Dunham School of Cultural Arts. In her school, students took classes such as general anthropology, introduction to psychology, ballet, modern, dance notation, history of drama, and Caribbean folklore. Creating pieces, Dunham would expand and abstract different motifs until they became her own. Her technique, The Dunham Technique, was described as African Caribbean movement. The movements consist of having the torso and spine flexible, pelvis articulated, isolation of the limbs, mixed with some ballet and modern technique. What better way to create your own dance style by using what you know and learned. Some popular pieces by Dunham include, Tropics, Le Jazz Hot, Barrelhouse and La’Ag Ya. During tours Dunham and her company experienced hate and discrimination. Dunham spoke up about these issues and such events inspired her creative work as well. She fought for social justice and was a humanist.
The Dunham Technique is still danced and kept alive by dancers all around the world. She had many inspirations growing up, but it was curiosity that drove her. She wanted to learn more and experience more. She worked hard, did as she pleased and did not worry about being accepted. Her art form is unique to her and it gives great respect to her roots. So if you ever wonder what inspired Katherine Dunham, it was her roots.
https://youtu.be/UcN0G7xItwo
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