Katherine Dunham and Her Dance Company [Cover title]
- Hollywood: Amusement Program Publications, 1941
Hollywood: Amusement Program Publications, 1941. Very good +. 11¾" x 8 7/8". Stapled self wrappers. Pp. [16] + original performance handbill tipped in to penultimate page. Very good plus with minimal wear and a few patches of light toning.
This is a rare program documenting a revue by the exceptionally important dancer and choreographer, Katherine Dunham; it also includes a single leaf documenting a specific series of performances in Los Angeles in the fall of 1941.
The program begins with some background on Dunham's work with the text later explaining how some of the routines came about. Complementing the text are 42 photographic images as well as a full page drawing of costumes for various dances. There are many images of Dunham performing in various roles, as well as a number of identified dances such as the Conga Barra, Florida Swamp Shimmy, Boogie Woogie, and Rhumba.
This particular copy is tied to a series of performances at the Biltmore Theater in Los Angeles held in late October/early November 1941. The event was hotly anticipated with the California Eagle stating:
"Katherine Dunham and her exciting West Indian dancers will return by popular demand for four performances at the Biltmore Theater . . . They will offer new numbers . . . and other dances which scored a sensational hit last Friday at the Philharmonic. John Pratt, of the Chicago Art Institute, is designing new costumes. Dale Wasserman, Hollywood color expert, is arranging new light effects."
After the performances, the Pittsburgh Courier exclaimed:
"Katherine Dunham and her sparkling company of dance artists, continued their sensational sweep of the West Coast . . . named by critics to be true evaluators of the Negro dance and outstanding contributors to modern dance, the troupe's performance bordered on the sensational."
OCLC locates two copies with no mention of an individual performance program tipped in.
This is a rare program documenting a revue by the exceptionally important dancer and choreographer, Katherine Dunham; it also includes a single leaf documenting a specific series of performances in Los Angeles in the fall of 1941.
The program begins with some background on Dunham's work with the text later explaining how some of the routines came about. Complementing the text are 42 photographic images as well as a full page drawing of costumes for various dances. There are many images of Dunham performing in various roles, as well as a number of identified dances such as the Conga Barra, Florida Swamp Shimmy, Boogie Woogie, and Rhumba.
This particular copy is tied to a series of performances at the Biltmore Theater in Los Angeles held in late October/early November 1941. The event was hotly anticipated with the California Eagle stating:
"Katherine Dunham and her exciting West Indian dancers will return by popular demand for four performances at the Biltmore Theater . . . They will offer new numbers . . . and other dances which scored a sensational hit last Friday at the Philharmonic. John Pratt, of the Chicago Art Institute, is designing new costumes. Dale Wasserman, Hollywood color expert, is arranging new light effects."
After the performances, the Pittsburgh Courier exclaimed:
"Katherine Dunham and her sparkling company of dance artists, continued their sensational sweep of the West Coast . . . named by critics to be true evaluators of the Negro dance and outstanding contributors to modern dance, the troupe's performance bordered on the sensational."
OCLC locates two copies with no mention of an individual performance program tipped in.
Details
Title
Katherine Dunham and Her Dance Company [Cover title]
Condition
Very Good
Publisher
Amusement Program Publications: Hollywood
Date
1941