Katherine Dunham, African-American Choreographer

Katherine Dunham (1909-2006) was an African-American dancer, choreographer, and company director as well as an author, educator, and social activist. For almost thirty years she maintained the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, the only self-supported American black dance troupe at that time, and over her long career she choreographed more than ninety individual dances. Dunham was an innovator in African-American modern dance as well as a leader in the field of dance anthropology, or ethnochoreology. Katherine Dunham died in her sleep in New York City from old age in 2006. She was 96

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Activist African American Anthropology Choreographer Dunham Educator Innovator

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