[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 414 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 414

Recognizing and honoring the life achievements of Katherine Dunham for 
  being one of the world's most respected dancers, a teacher, mentor, 
           choreographer, author, actress, and humanitarian.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 23, 2006

    Mr. Clay (for himself and Mr. Costello) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
                           and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing and honoring the life achievements of Katherine Dunham for 
  being one of the world's most respected dancers, a teacher, mentor, 
           choreographer, author, actress, and humanitarian.

Whereas Katherine Dunham was born in 1909 in Chicago, Illinois, and began formal 
        dance training in her late teens;
Whereas Katherine Dunham completed her bachelor's degree in social anthropology 
        at the University of Chicago, was a pioneer in the use of folk and 
        ethnic choreography, and was one of the founders of the anthropological 
        dance movement;
Whereas Katherine Dunham was a dancer, choreographer, and director on Broadway, 
        and was the first black choreographer at the Metropolitan Opera;
Whereas in the late 1930s, Katherine Dunham served as an inspiration to black 
        artists by establishing her own dance school and touring company, the 
        Katherine Dunham Dance Company, which was one of the first predominantly 
        black dance troupes;
Whereas Katherine Dunham revolutionized American dance by incorporating the 
        roots of black dance and ritual and making her choreography accessible 
        to all through the Dunham Technique;
Whereas during the 1940s, the Katherine Dunham Dance Company toured in more than 
        60 countries;
Whereas in 1945, Katherine Dunham founded the Dunham School of Dance and Theatre 
        in Manhattan, which provided a central location for students to immerse 
        themselves in dance technique while also studying topics in the 
        humanities, languages, ethics, philosophy, and drama;
Whereas in 1967, Katherine Dunham joined the faculty of Southern Illinois 
        University in Edwardsville, where she established a dance anthropology 
        program and helped create the Performing Arts Training Center;
Whereas Katherine Dunham used her dance career and public status to draw 
        attention to social injustices at home and abroad;
Whereas during World War II, Katherine Dunham successfully filed law suits 
        against hotels in Cincinnati and Chicago for racial discrimination;
Whereas in 1964, Katherine Dunham was deeply moved by the poverty in East St. 
        Louis, Illinois, and proposed an education project that she hoped would 
        reach far beyond dance and be concerned with the fundamentals of human 
        society;
Whereas in 1969 Katherine Dunham created a community-based arts education 
        program in East St. Louis, Illinois, called the Katherine Dunham Centers 
        for Arts and Humanities, which enrolls at-risk youth in programs in 
        fine, performing, and cultural arts;
Whereas the Katherine Dunham Center is the only multi-disciplinary arts 
        organization in the St. Louis Metropolitan region devoted to the study, 
        appreciation, and celebration of diverse cultures;
Whereas in 1993, Katherine Dunham went on a 47-day hunger strike at the age of 
        82 to protest the United States policy of deporting Haitian refugees and 
        to call attention to the welfare of Haitians;
Whereas Katherine Dunham has received 10 honorary doctorates, the French Legion 
        of Honor, Southern Cross of Brazil, Grand Cross of Haiti, NAACP Lifetime 
        Achievement Award, Lincoln Academy Laureate, the Urban Leagues' Lifetime 
        Achievement Award, and the Presidential Medal of Arts and has been 
        inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame; and
Whereas Katherine Dunham died at the age of 96 while striving to continue giving 
        hope to the poverty stricken community of East St. Louis, Illinois 
        through her museum: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That Congress recognizes Katherine Dunham--
            (1) for being one of the world's most respected dancers;
            (2) for her work as a teacher, mentor, choreographer, 
        philosopher, author, and actress;
            (3) for her dedication to improving the opportunities in 
        the arts that are available to the Nation's youth; and
            (4) for her lifelong commitment to humanitarian causes 
        around the world.
                                 <all>