with Marcea Daiter

Saturday, February 11, 2023 |  3:30pm - 5:00pm

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THIS WORKSHOP DATE HAS PASSED, REGISTRATION IS NO LONGER OPEN.

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A teenaged Alvin Ailey first saw Katherine Dunham perform at the Biltmore Theater in Los Angeles. He had never dreamed he’d see a Black company dance in the venue and was mesmerized by Dunham, a stunning performer, choreographer, author, educator, and activist. So began Ailey’s lifelong admiration and eventual friendship with Katherine Dunham who became a major influence on Mr. Ailey’s life and work.

Katherine Dunham and Alvin Ailey both highlighted the beauty and artistry of Black dancers while using their platforms for social change. Mr. Ailey once said that Dunham’s repertory is the closest thing to a “unified Afro-American dance,” and, along with dancers Pearl Primus and Beryl McBurnie, declared her as one of the “pioneering ladies” of Afro-Caribbean dance. 

Katherine Dunham’s legacy lived on at Ailey through the commitment of teaching artists like Joan Peters. As a former Alvin Ailey dancer, Ms. Peters was the Chairperson for the Dunham technique at The Ailey School for almost four decades.

Join Dunham instructor Marcea Daiter to explore the Dunham technique, a polyrhythmic blend of traditional modern dance, ballet, African, and Afro-Caribbean styles, and learn more about Katherine Dunham’s legacy