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Birth
Katherine Dunham was born on June 22, 1909 in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother was French-Canadian and her father from African descent. Her "mixed-race" will influence her style of dance. -
First Exposure and Mother's Death
After her mother's death, Katherine was sent to live with her aunt. During this time, she was first exposed to music and dance. -
Learning history of modern dance
Katherine joined the Terpsichorean Club in high school and learned the history of modern dance. -
Studying Ballet
Katherine begins to study ballet with Ludmilla Speranzeva. She was one of the first ballet teachers to be willing to teach black students. -
University of Chicago
In 1929, Katherine Dunham attended the Junior College in Juliet, Illinois. At the university, she studied Anthropolgy, which will eventually shape her style of dance. -
First Dance Company
In 1930, she formed her first dance company called "Ballet Negre". It was one of the first Black ballet companies in America. -
Ballet Negre First Debut
Approximately one year after Ballet Negre was formed, the compant gave its first debut performance at an annual arts ball in Chicago, Illinois. -
First Dance School
Katherine opened her first dance school in Chicago. The school focused on modern dance. At this moment, she was able to teach about African heritage and develop her own dance style. -
Leading Role
In 1934, Katherine Dunham recieved the leading role in Ruth Page's ballet that features all black dancers. -
Julius Rosenwald Grant
In 1935, Katherine Dunham received the Julius Rosenwald Grant to study dance in the West Indies. She began her research into dances in the Caribbean. -
Haiti
While on her trip to the West Indies, Katherine Dunham became interested in the Haitain religion dance Vodun. This dance style will eventually contribute to her signature dance style -
Full Length Ballet
She choreographed and produced her first full-length ballet, L'Ag'Ya in Chicago. The dance potrayes love, jealousy, and revenge. -
United States Tour
In 1941, Katherine and her dancers explored the United States for the Broadway production "Cabin in the Sky" -
School moves
In 1945, Katherine Dunham moved her school to New York where it operated and flourished until 1957. -
School is renamed
In 1952, the Dunham School in New York is renamed the Katherine Dunham School of Cultural Arts. -
Last Broadway Performance
In 1962, Katherine Dunham appeared in her last Broadway Performance. -
Hall of Fame
In 1974, Katherine Dunham was named to the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame and the Entertainment Hall of Fame Foundation. -
Award
In 1978, Katherine Dunham received the Dance Pioneer Award from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater -
Dunham Technique
After her retirement in 1982, the "Dunham Technique" was integrated in 1984. The technique focused on the isolation of body parts while integrating African and Caribbean dance into modern dance. -
Dance Treasure
In 2000, Katherine Dunham was named one of America's Irreplacable Dance Treasures by the Dance Heritage Coalition . -
Death
On May 21, 2006, Katherine Dunham died in her sleep in New York, New York. Tributes in her honor were held in various cities throughout the United States.