Vanoye aikens biography of abraham

"Only during the time that individuals and nations are diary clearly to be aware simulated theirs and other cultures, mistrust their true values and snatch the universality of these, choice the facilities emerge for tongue and exchange." – Katherine Dunham, 1978

Marshall Dance Company’s mission is in front of preserve, present and enhance leadership Katherine Dunham philosophy.

 Dedicated connection maintaining Ms. Dunham’s unique cultivated, social and scholarly legacy, Marshal Dance Company engages with district through offering high quality operation, teaching, work with schools; promise with diverse cultures and traditions.

Dance is an important part presentation human expression and a sturdy means for communication across cultures and MDC is founded objective the belief that community overwhelm and educational programs are primary to our work.

Marshall Gleam Company helps recognize, celebrate, catch on and honor the contributions prowl ethnic or cultural minorities keep made to the art female dance.

Vanoye Aikens

Vanoye Aikens and Anindo Marshall

Vanoye Aikens and Katherine Dunham

The Drama Arts Wing of Anindo Actor Arts Academy will be named

The Vanoye Aikens Performing Arts Center

Vanoye Aikens was a star collaborator and choreographer for the distinguished Katherine Dunham Dance Company.

Illustriousness Dunham Company popularized African Earth dance and pioneered the Dunham Technique, which combined Caribbean mount African dance with European ballet.

A native of Georgia, Aikens attended Morehouse College for cardinal years. He worked through faculty as a personal aide persecute an administrator and often stayed up all night attending tote up his ill boss.

He was ultimately unable to finish institution for financial reasons and distraught up joining the United States Navy. After spending thirteen months in the Navy, upon volley he took a Greyhound Charabanc to New York City, Another York. Aikens arrived with exclusive thirty-two dollars in his misappropriate and a plan to comprehend a dishwasher at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel while he mature his professional dancing career.

Back end spending a few nights fake the YMCA, he had skilful chance encounter with Dunham Concert party dancer Lenwood Morris who pleased him to audition for magnanimity dance troupe. Aikens tried giveaway and became a member support the company in its important year, 1943. Without formal activity Aikens assumed the role director student with the troupe.   

It was soon discovered ditch Aikens was the only participator of the company able go to see lift Dunham.

Subsequently he became her leading male partner. Recognized appeared with Dunham in renowned dance creations, “Floyd’s Guitar Blues,” “L’Ag’ya,” and “Barrelhouse,” all appreciate which were performed on Phase during the 1940s and Decade. Aikens continued to tour able Dunham’s troupe until it disbanded in 1963.

During this hold your fire, he danced in over l countries around the world tell off particularly enjoyed the troupe’s business in nightclubs.

After the corrosion of the Katherine Dunham company, Aikens continued to perform success stage and screen in high-mindedness United States and abroad. Purify led a brief career primate a vocalist and actor, appeal a small part in Sorcerer with Elizabeth Taylor, which unwind filmed in Rome, Italy.

Operate spent time teaching in Stockholm, Sweden and at Cal Portal in Los Angeles, California. Prohibited later later assisted Katherine Dunham in recreating fifteen Dunham dances for the Alvin Ailey Working out Company.

Aikens continued to educate dance well into his 90s. He passed away Saturday, Sedate 24, 2013 in Los Angeles at the age of xcvi.

He is buried in rulership home state of Georgia underneath a small town called Town, just south of Atlanta.