Katherine Dunham
Katherine Dunham
Katherine Mary Dunhamwas an American dancer, choreographer, author, educator, and social activist. Dunham had one of the most successful dance careers in American and European theater of the 20th century, and directed her own dance company for many years. She has been called the "matriarch and queen mother of black dance."...
ProfessionDancer
Date of Birth22 June 1909
CityGlen Ellyn, IL
fighting alive have-faith
When you have faith in something, it’s your reason to be alive and to fight for it.
hardship wanted concerned
I wasn't concerned about the hardships because I always felt I was doing what I had to do, what I wanted to do and what I was destined to do.
dance essentials parts-of-life
You dance because you have to. Dance is an essential part of life that has always been with me.
real talking rivers
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.
successful belief always-believe
I always believed that if you set out to be successful, then you already were.
careers dancing dancer
So many dancers paint. I used to paint. I started again recently. While I was dancing, I was very busy with my career. Start something else that makes use of your creative ability because if you don't you will die inside as a person.
success tombstone black-history
I used to want the words 'She tried' on my tombstone. Now I want 'She did it.'
strength emotional blow
Go within every day and find the inner strength so that the world will not blow your candle out
moving thinking delight
There is an energy within... pure strength... the energy of the person which is put in different forms, in different shapes... once we discover that energy I think that such a thing as dance becomes such a delight because you're moving on a stream that is you but it is even over and beyond you...