Katherine Dunham

Katherine Dunham (1909–2006) was an influential African American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and social activist, recognized for her pioneering contributions to modern dance and dance anthropology. Born in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, she studied anthropology at the University of Chicago and conducted significant ethnographic research in the Caribbean, which informed her creative work. Dunham founded her own dance company, the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, which was notable for promoting African American dance in the mid-20th century. She developed the Dunham Technique, integrating traditional African dance forms into American dance, and is celebrated for her efforts to address cultural misrepresentations of African heritage.

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