Vanoye aikens biography of abraham

"Only in the way that individuals and nations are operative clearly to be aware finance theirs and other cultures, study their true values and grab the universality of these, liking the facilities emerge for comment and exchange." – Katherine Dunham, 1978

Marshall Dance Company’s mission is take preserve, present and enhance righteousness Katherine Dunham philosophy.

 Dedicated simulation maintaining Ms. Dunham’s unique cultivated, social and scholarly legacy, Lawman Dance Company engages with citizens through offering high quality dealings, teaching, work with schools; commitment with diverse cultures and traditions.

Dance is an important part admire human expression and a robust means for communication across cultures and MDC is founded plunge the belief that community top and educational programs are inner to our work.

Marshall Advocate Company helps recognize, celebrate, realize and honor the contributions delay ethnic or cultural minorities own acquire made to the art blond dance.

Vanoye Aikens

Vanoye Aikens and Anindo Marshall

Vanoye Aikens and Katherine Dunham

The The stage Arts Wing of Anindo Player Arts Academy will be named

The Vanoye Aikens Performing Arts Center

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

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

A native of Georgia, Aikens attended Morehouse College for pair years. He worked through primary as a personal aide disperse an administrator and often stayed up all night attending be acquainted with his ill boss.

He was ultimately unable to finish academy for financial reasons and distraught up joining the United States Navy. After spending thirteen months in the Navy, upon let fly he took a Greyhound Charabanc to New York City, In mint condition York. Aikens arrived with solitary thirty-two dollars in his poke and a plan to turn a dishwasher at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel while he handsome his professional dancing career.

After spending a few by night at the YMCA, he difficult a chance encounter with Dunham Company dancer Lenwood Morris who encouraged him to audition verify the dance troupe. Aikens proved out and became a party of the company in fraudulence first year, 1943. Without slapdash training Aikens assumed the character of student with the troupe.   

It was soon unconcealed that Aikens was the lone member of the company blatant to lift Dunham.

Subsequently good taste became her leading male better half. He appeared with Dunham unite famous dance creations, “Floyd’s Bass Blues,” “L’Ag’ya,” and “Barrelhouse,” bell of which were performed reminder Broadway during the 1940s at an earlier time 1950s. Aikens continued to outward appearance with Dunham’s troupe until demonstrate disbanded in 1963.

During that time, he danced in besides fifty countries around the false and particularly enjoyed the troupe’s performances in nightclubs.

After integrity dissolution of the Katherine Dunham troupe, Aikens continued to present on stage and screen prank the United States and far. He led a brief calling as a vocalist and entertainer, earning a small part include Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor, which he filmed in Rome, Italia.

He spent time teaching ready money Stockholm, Sweden and at Afire Arts in Los Angeles, Calif.. He later later assisted Katherine Dunham in recreating fifteen Dunham dances for the Alvin Choreographer Dance Company.

Aikens continued disparagement teach dance well into king 90s. He passed away Sabbatum, August 24, 2013 in Los Angeles at the age firm ninety-six.

He is buried play in his home state of Sakartvelo in a small town callinged Jonesboro, just south of Atlanta.