Katherine Dunham's Death

The dancer Katherine Dunham died at the age of 96. Here is all you want to know, and more!

Biography - A Short Wiki

Choreographer, dancer, and anthropologist all in one, she collected ethnic, ritualistic dances, re-interpreted and staged them.

She married John Pratt, a theatrical designer, who worked with her in 1938 at the Chicago Federal Theatre Project and became her artistic partner.

Quotes

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“I used to want the words ‘She tried’ on my tombstone. Now I want ‘She did it.'” (Katherine Dunham)

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“Black people should have recognition for themselves and their backgrounds and their relationships with other people in the world and thus lose some of their alienation. This museum has certainly stood for that in this town.” (Katherine Dunham)

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“Haiti itself was also photographed, some of the streets, some of the mountains, rivers, streams, etc. were photographed before talking with me about how I felt about Haiti. Then the camera went to our voodoo temple and saw a serious ceremony, a real ceremony.” (Katherine Dunham)

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“I really think that aside from admiring my talent you really admire me as a person and as a woman.” (Katherine Dunham)

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“We have a group of friends of the museum who try to raise, if they can, periodically something to help us. Of course, the main thing about a building like this is its upkeep. It needs central heating and it needs central air conditioning.” (Katherine Dunham)