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Katherine Dunham (born June 22, 1909, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, U.S.—died May 21, 2006, New York, New York) was an American dancer and choreographer who was a pioneer in the field of dance anthropology. Her fieldwork inspired her innovative interpretations of dance in the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. Dunham early became interested in dance. While a student at the University of Chicago, she formed a dance group that performed in concert at the Chicago World’s...