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Katherine Dunham
American dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist
Katherine Dunham (born June 22, 1909, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, U.S.—died May 21, 2006, New York, New York) was an American dancer and choreographer who was a pioneer in the field of dance anthropology. Her fieldwork inspired her innovative interpretations of dance in the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. Dunham early became interested in dance. While a student at the University of Chicago, she formed a dance group that performed in concert at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1934 and with the Chicago Civic Opera company in 1935–36. On graduating with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology she undertook field studies in ...(100 of 397 words)