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She was born in Chicago Illinois to Albert Millard Dunham and Fanny June Dunham.
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At age 12, he short story, "Come Back to Arizona", is published into volume 2 of "The Brownies' Book" (edited by W.E.B. Du Bois).
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In high school, she joined a Terpsichorean Club and leans a free-style modern dance (based on works of Jaques-Dalcroze and Rudolf von Laban).
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She organized a cabaet party to raise money for her church. She produced, directed, and starred in this cabaret.
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Speranzeva was one of the first ballet teachers to accept a black student but she saw Dunham's potential and she introduces Dunham to several Spanish dancers and dancers that introduce her to dance forms such as East Indian, Javanese, and Balinese.
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Ballet Negre is opened which happens to be one of the first negro ballet companies in America.
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Althought the first performance was well recieved, nothing else came after this and the company broke up.
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After asking for her adivce to opening up a new studio, Speranzeva advises Dunham to start her own, new, modern style of dance.
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She restarts the old Ballet Negre group, and they preform at the Chicago World's Fair.
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Dunham recieves a bachelor of philosophy from the University of Chicago for social anthropology.
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What makes this show even more special to Dunham, is that it was composed by Florence B. Price, the first African-American female to compose a symphony.
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Named "L'Ag'Ya", preformed at the Federal Theater in Chicago.
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Dunham begins her film career with "Carnival of Rhythm" (produced by Warner Brothers), and satrts her broadway career with "Pins and Needles".
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Dunham and her company perform in "Stormy Weather", a Twentieth Century Fox production.
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Dunham speaks to an all white audience at Memorial Auditorium in Louisville Kentucky, speaking out against segregation.
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"The Dunham School" is changed to "Katherine Dunham School of Arts and Research", and offers studies in dance and theater, cultural studies, and Caribbean research.
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Her first book is published, "Journey to Accompong", about her trip to Jamaica and her experiences with the Maroon people.
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"Mambo" is an Italian-American film and shows the Dunham dancers taking part in the Dunham technique
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After spending much time in Haiti, Dunham opens a medical clinic there.
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Dunham is named a grand officer of the Haitian Légion d'Honneur et Merite, recieves the Professional Achievement Award from the University of Chicago Alumni Association, named honoree on the President's Council on Youth Opportunity in Washington, D.C., and recieves a Dance Magazine Award.
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Dance Division Heritage Award from the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.
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She recieves the Albert Schweitzer Music Award "for her contributions to the performing arts and her dedication to humanitarian work." The award was given to her at her own gala ("A Katherine Dunham Gala") at Carnegie Hall in New York.
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The "Dunham Technique" is finalized amd is taught in seminars by Dunham herself and other members of her company.
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Dunham is honored as a Founder of Dance in America at The National Museam of Dance in Saratoga Springs, New York.
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