Dance

Dance: The Dunham Technique 

The Dunham technique was what she used combining interpretations from “Caribbean dances, traditional ballet, African rituals, and African American rhythms to create the Dunham Technique.” it was a modern dance that had African and Caribbean roots through movement and rhythm. Drawing from classical ballet and African and Caribbean movements that link Africa and North America. It focuses on an individual body part isolation and poly-movement that of African dance and music.  

Legacy: Dunham is often referred to as a pioneer of black dancing. She rose to popularity during the Jim Crow era and helped women of color gain popularity in the world of dance. Her dances were inspired by black and caribbean culture, which wasn't very prominent in American media at the time. She was also an avid advocate of civil rights and formed an all-black company that started touring in 1943 and was involved in many projects in black high schools. Today she is remembered for helping pave the way for black women in dance and her fight against racism and xenophobia.

Accomplishments:

• Over 30 years Dunham dance trope was able to tour in 57 countries. 

• Received a bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in anthropology.

• Her dance group performed at the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1934 and joined the Chicago Civic Opera Company a year later.

• She also built a school which opened in 1946, that offered studies in performing arts, anthropology, and many more.

• Formed an all-black dance company that began touring in 1943.

• She would refuse to perform in places that are segregated and use dance to highlight discrimination.

• In 1992, she went on a 47-day hunger strike in protest of the US government's policies towards Haitian immigrants.

Some of the Dances