[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 81 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H3920-H3921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT KATHERINE DUNHAM BE RECOGNIZED FOR 
     HER GROUNDBREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS IN DANCE, THEATER, MUSIC, AND 
   EDUCATION, AS WELL AS HER WORK AS AN ACTIVIST STRIVING FOR RACIAL 
                     EQUALITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 62) expressing the sense of 
Congress that Katherine Dunham should be recognized for her 
groundbreaking achievements in dance, theater, music, and education, as 
well as for her work as an activist striving for racial equality 
throughout the world.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 62

       Whereas Katherine Dunham was born on June 22, 1909, and 
     began formal dance training in her late teens;
       Whereas, in the 1930s, Katherine Dunham revolutionized 
     American dance by incorporating the roots of black dance and 
     ritual, and by transforming these elements into choreography 
     accessible to all through the Katherine Dunham Technique;
       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 utilized her dance career and 
     public status to draw attention to issues of segregation and 
     the civil rights movement;
       Whereas Katherine Dunham founded Les Ballet Negre in 1931, 
     the first black ballet company in the United States;
       Whereas Les Ballet Negre became known as the Katherine 
     Dunham Dance Company, touring in more than 60 countries 
     during the 1940s;
       Whereas Katherine Dunham was a dancer, choreographer, and 
     director on Broadway, and was the first black choreographer 
     at the Metropolitan Opera;
       Whereas, in 1945, Katherine Dunham founded the Dunham 
     School of Dance and Theatre in Manhattan, thereby providing a 
     centralized 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 established the 
     Performing Arts Training Center in East St. Louis, Missouri, 
     which enrolled high-risk youth into its programs in fine, 
     performing, and cultural arts;
       Whereas Katherine Dunham founded the Katherine Dunham 
     Centers for Arts and Humanities in 1969, and the Katherine 
     Dunham Museum and Children's Workshop in 1977;
       Whereas Katherine Dunham went on a 47-day hunger strike in 
     1993 to call attention to the welfare of Haitians, thereby 
     shifting public opinion concerning the United States' 
     relations with Haiti, and helping to precipitate the return 
     of Haiti's first democratically elected president;
       Whereas Katherine Dunham has received 10 honorary 
     doctorates and numerous awards, including the Presidential 
     Medal of Arts, the French Legion of Honor, the NAACP's 
     Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor's 
     Award; and
       Whereas Katherine Dunham continues to be an activist, 
     teacher, and mentor to young people throughout the world: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that Katherine 
     Dunham should be recognized for her work as a teacher, 
     dancer, choreographer, and actress, for her dedication to 
     improving the opportunities in the arts that are available to 
     the Nation's youth, and for her lifelong commitment to 
     humanitarian causes around the world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Delaware (Mr. Castle) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan ) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).


                             General Leave

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Con. Res. 62.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Delaware?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 62. Madam 
Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation which expresses the 
sense of Congress that Katherine Dunham should be recognized for her 
groundbreaking achievements in dance, theater, music, and education, as 
well as for her work as an activist striving for racial equality 
throughout the world.
  Katherine Dunham has been called the matriarch of black dance. Her 
unprecedented blend of cultural anthropology with the artistic genre of 
dance in the early 1930s produced groundbreaking forms of movement and 
in the United States established black dance as an art form in its own 
right.
  She was born on June 22, 1909 and began formal dance training in her 
late teens. She 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.
  Katherine Dunham utilized her dance career and public status to draw 
attention to issues of segregation and the civil rights movement. In 
1945, Katherine Dunham founded the Dunham School of Dance and Theater 
in Manhattan, thereby providing a centralized location for students to 
immerse themselves in dance technique while also studying topics in the 
humanities, languages, ethics, philosophy and drama.
  In 1967, Katherine Dunham established a performing arts training 
center in East St. Louis, Missouri, which enrolled high risk youth into 
its program in fine, performing and cultural arts.

[[Page H3921]]

  In 1993, she went on a 47-day hunger strike to call attention to the 
welfare of Haitians, thereby shifting public opinion concerning the 
United States public relations with Haiti, and helping to precipitate 
the return of Haiti's first democratically elected President.

                              {time}  1715

  During her career Katherine Dunham was a dancer, choreographer and a 
director on Broadway and was the first black choreographer at the 
Metropolitan Opera. She has received 10 honorary doctorates and 
numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Arts, the French 
Legion of Honor, the NAACP's Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kennedy 
Center Honors Award.
  She continues to be an activist, teacher and mentor to young people 
throughout the world. I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent 
Resolution 62, which expresses the sense of Congress that Katherine 
Dunham should be recognized for her work as a teacher, dancer, 
choreographer and actress, for her dedication to improving the 
opportunities in the arts that are available to the Nation's youth and 
for her lifelong commitment to humanitarian causes around the world.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 62. I support this resolution 
which honors Katherine Dunham. This renowned dancer was born in 
Illinois in 1909 and started studying dance in her early teens. She was 
one of the first African Americans to study at the University of 
Chicago, where she earned a doctorate degree in anthropology.
  As part of a research fellowship, Dunham studied the anthropological 
roots of dance in the Caribbean. Her research led to the creation of 
the anthropological dance movement which focuses on folk, ethnic and 
cultural choreography.
  In 1931, she started the first African-American ballet company in the 
United States. Later she joined the faculty of Southern Illinois 
University in Edwardsville, where she helped create a performing arts 
training center and established a dance anthropology program.
  She went on to create a community-based arts education program for 
impoverished young people in East St. Louis, the St. Louis metropolitan 
region's only multi-disciplinary arts organization devoted to the 
study, appreciation and celebration of diverse cultures.
  Throughout her illustrious career as one of the word's most respected 
dancers, choreographers and teachers, Ms. Dunham used her talents, fame 
and resources to call attention to social injustices at home and 
abroad.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, Katherine was dedicated to improving the 
lives of America's youth and correcting the social injustices at home 
and around the world, using her fame to increase support for the civil 
rights movement and to fight injustices worldwide. She is a good 
example of a person who has followed her passion and used her success 
for the greater good. We need more Americans to follow her fine 
example.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I encourage each of our Members to support 
the resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
62.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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