Dancer Katherine the Great

After a long, cold January, the best month of the year has arrived, somehow again almost unexpectedly! In this Black History Month, birthday celebration, and days of all kinds of love, I’m learning more about Black dancers who shaped the art. (Shout out to a young visitor to the Teddy Roosevelt Childhood Home for the suggestion!) As a lifelong dancer and lover of dance, I’m excited to learn more about so many people who shaped how we move to and appreciate music, rhythm, sound, each other!

Dr. Katherine Dunham was an anthropologist and ethnographer, alongside her career as a choreographer and dancer. She loved dancing, and that discipline grounded her and drove her desire to learn more about her own background and the art form. As an academic, she stood out for her studies and creativity. For her career, though, she chose to eschew formal academia in favor of public performance and involvement, preferring to spread knowledge and practice among people.

In her own words:

Katherine set up schools in order to continue training future generations. She paved the way, along with other dancers, for the growth of Black dance companies and the recognition of the community’s influences on many forms of dance.