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1909 - 2006
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June 22, 1909
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Born in Chicago to Albert Milard Dunham, black, and Fanny June Dunham, French-Canadian and American Indian heritage.
1913
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Mom dies. she and her brother are sent to live with their dads sister, Lulu, South of Chicago.
1915
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Dad marries Annette Poindexter, she and her brother move in with them . Dad begins using physical discipline (abuse) on her and her brother.
1921
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Her first book she wrote at age twelve, "Come back to Arizona" is appears in W.E.B Du Bois volume two off the "Brownie book".
1922
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Joins the Terpsichorean Club in high school. Learns modern dances from history.
1928
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Starts studying ballet with Ludmilla Speranzeva in Chicago.
1929
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Went to a Junior college in Juliet Illinois. Atteneded a lecture by Robert Redfield at the University of Chicago, who specialized in Indian and African cultures, who influenced her dream.
1930
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Forms Ballet Negre; one of the first Negro ballet companies in America.
1936
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Arives in Haiti's. Presents her results in June of 1936 to sponsors at Rosenwald Fund.
1938
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Produces and corregraphs her first full length ballet.
1940
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Collaborates with Balanchine on choreography for dances in the musical play Cabin in the Sky.
1941
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Marries Canadian John Pratt , A white costumee designer for her company.
1942
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Contracted to be a featured dancer in the patriotic film Star Spangled Rhythm.
1943
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Dunham and her company appear in such clubs as Chez Paree in Chicago.
1945
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The Dunham School in New York moves to 220 West 43rd Street
1947
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Dunham choreographs the musical play Windy City, which premieres at the Great Northern Theater in Chicago.
1949
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She and her company appear in the Italian film Botta e risposta
1952
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The Dunham school in New York is renamed to the "Katherine Dunham school of Cultural Arts".
1954 - 1955
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Dunham and company tour South America and Europe.
1955
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Duham and company preform in Los Angeles at the Greek Theater.
1955
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Dunham and company tour Mexico.
1956
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Dunham and company tour New Zealand and Austrillia.
1958
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Dunham and company tour East Asia.
1959
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Publishes her third book
1965
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Directs Albert Husson's musical comedy "Deux Anges Sont Venus and Ciao", Rudi in Rome.
1966
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Is invited by President Léopold Senghor to train the National Ballet of Senegal.
1968
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Dunham is named a grand officier of the Haitian Légion d'Honneur et Merite.
1969
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Fourth book is published
1971
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Recieved the Dance Division Heritage Award from the American Association
1974
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Fifth book is published : Kasamance: a Fantasy.
1974
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Is named to the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame and in the Entertainment Hall in Fame Foundation
1977
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Dunham recieves an honorary decorate from Atlanta of literature.
1978
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Katherine recieves the Dance Pioneer Award from Alvin Ailey Dance Theater.
1979
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Given the Albert Schweitzer Music Award for contributing to the performing arts, and her dedication to humanitarian work.
1980
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Recieves National Dance Week Award from the Dance Concert Society.
1981
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Recieves an award of fine arts from Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri.
1982
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Retires from Southern Illinois University.
1983
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Recieves honor award from Southern Illinois University for fine arts.
1984
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Recieves honorary doctorate of laws from Lincoln University and an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Howard University.
1986
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Recieves the Distinguished Service Award from the American Anthropological Association; the Southern Cross, Award of Honor and Merit from the Government of Brazil; the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award; the Medal of Artistic Merit in Dance, given by the International Council on Dance, UNESCO; and the Oral Self-Portrait from the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.
1987
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Recives the Ebony Magazine American Achievement Award in Fine Arts.
1988
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Designated by the Governments of Haiti and France as an officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in their countries.
1989
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Dunham is one out of nine awarded for the National Medal of the Arts presentation made by President Bush in the east room of the White house.
1990
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Recieves an honarary decorate of humne letters from Spellman college.
1993
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Awarded citizenship by the Government of Haiti.
1994
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Become artist-in-residence and lecturer at the University of Hawaii.
1995
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Recieves an honorary doctorate of fine arts from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
2000
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Is named by the Dance Heritage Coalition one of "America's Irreplaceable Dance Treasures"
2002
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Recieves an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Harvard University.
2003
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Honored with a three-day tribute in New York City with special presentations and performances at Symphony Space on upper Broadway.
2006
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The famous Katherine Dunham dies.