Katherine Dunham was one of the first choreographers to explore her African American roots and express them through dance. She grew up in Illinois, studied anthropology at the University of Chicago, made field studies of black cultures of the Caribbean, toured in her own dance company, and choreographed pieces for stage, screen, and college productions. Dunham and her husband traveled extensively and lived for a time in Haiti, but they eventually settled in East St. Louis, where she incorporated the community's young people into her vision of arts training and expression. O'Connor opens a door for readers to see not only Dunham as a person but also presents the challenges facing her as a black woman of energy and vision making her own way in mid-twentieth century America. Black-and-white photographs illustrate the text. A solid entry in the Trailblazer Biography series.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved