Katherine Dunham Quotes

Katherine Dunham — American Dancer born on June 24, 1909, died on May 21, 2006

Katherine Mary Dunham was an American dancer, choreographer, author, educator, and social activist. Dunham had one of the most successful dance careers in American and European theater of the 20th century, and directed her own dance company for many years. She has been called the "matriarch and queen mother of black dance"... (wikipedia)

I certainly feel my career was a great career because it inspired so many many people, literally hundreds of people to follow a new kind of life and to realize that they could make out and advance their own professional and private and social lives.

A creative person has to create. It doesn't really matter what you create. If such a dancer wanted to go out and build the cactus gardens where he could, in Mexico, let him do that, but something that is creative has to go on.

I really think that aside from admiring my talent you really admire me as a person and as a woman.

I used to want the words 'She tried' on my tombstone. Now I want 'She did it.'

We don't intend to always keep this necessarily African oriented. Originally I had hoped to have African American Indian of this area, and the Appalachian of this area, but at the same time, just as we have the Haitian room, we will always have room for another exhibit.

Katherine Dunham Quotes

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