Celebrity Series Book Club

Katherine Dunham: Dance and the African Diaspora by Joanna Dee Das

Before the performance of I AM by Camille A. Brown & Dancers

General Admission - Jordan Hall Classroom

Fri. November 14, 6:00 PM

Before enjoying Camille A. Brown & Dancers' presentation of I AM, you're invited to discuss the life and works of Katherine Dunham (1909-2006), the choreographer, dancer, and scholar whose work bridged anthropology and dance.

We'll gather at the Celebrity Series offices, close to the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, to talk about the book Katherine Dunham: Dance and the African Diaspora by Joanna Dee Das.

Please join us for light refreshments and a facilitated one-hour discussion about the book and related topics. Read part or all of the book selection: it's a jumping-off point for a lively and thought-provoking conversation!

Tickets for the performance are not required, and representatives from Camile A. Brown & Dancers will not be involved.

“[Camille A. Brown and Katherine Dunham] are both anthropologists. When [Brown] looks at a work, she is looking at the time period and the social class, every notion of what it should look like. And that's why she is an amazing choreographer, because that anthropological mindset of hers can switch into gear through research.”
Maleek Washington Assistant Choreographer / former Camille A. Brown & Dancers company member

Get the book

Barnes & Noble (Hardcover and ebook)

BPL Catalog

Minuteman Library Network

Katherine Dunham

After earning a degree in anthropology from the University of Chicago, Katherine Dunham pursued postgraduate research in Haiti. Her fieldwork helped her understand the African roots of Caribbean dance and incorporate those movements into her own choreographic practice.

She reclaimed history while reinventing modern dance, changing the course of twentieth century culture, and influencing generations to come.

Celebrity Series history

Katherine Dunham & Dancers' Tropical Revue: A Musical Heatwave was presented by Celebrity Series on January 14, 1944 at the Huntington Avenue Opera House. Audience reaction was positive, but city authorities banned the production after just one performance. The company never appeared on the Series again.