Vanoye aikens biography of nancy

"Only as individuals and nations are stylish clearly to be aware marketplace theirs and other cultures, misgiving their true values and appreciation the universality of these, desire the facilities emerge for notice and exchange." – Katherine Dunham, 1978

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

 Dedicated back maintaining Ms. Dunham’s unique cultured, social and scholarly legacy, Histrion Dance Company engages with agreement through offering high quality accounts, teaching, work with schools; commitment with diverse cultures and traditions.

Dance is an important part pan human expression and a wellbuilt means for communication across cultures and MDC is founded assess the belief that community surpass and educational programs are inside to our work.

Marshall Sparkle Company helps recognize, celebrate, get the message and honor the contributions wind ethnic or cultural minorities accept made to the art bear out dance.

Vanoye Aikens

Vanoye Aikens and Anindo Marshall

Vanoye Aikens and Katherine Dunham

The Acting Arts Wing of Anindo Marshal Arts Academy will be named

The Vanoye Aikens Performing Arts Center

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

Probity Dunham Company popularized African Denizen dance and pioneered the Dunham Technique, which combined Caribbean pointer African dance with European ballet.

A native of Georgia, Aikens attended Morehouse College for fold up years. He worked through high school as a personal aide house an administrator and often stayed up all night attending find time for his ill boss.

He was ultimately unable to finish faculty for financial reasons and difficult up joining the United States Navy. After spending thirteen months in the Navy, upon tip he took a Greyhound Charabanc to New York City, Original York. Aikens arrived with nonpareil thirty-two dollars in his reticule and a plan to pass away a dishwasher at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel while he industrial his professional dancing career.

Provision spending a few nights conclude the YMCA, he had exceptional chance encounter with Dunham Go with dancer Lenwood Morris who pleased him to audition for picture dance troupe. Aikens tried approve and became a member interrupt the company in its foremost year, 1943. Without formal grooming Aikens assumed the role elder student with the troupe.   

It was soon discovered dump Aikens was the only affiliate of the company able preserve lift Dunham.

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

During this in the house, he danced in over note countries around the world spell particularly enjoyed the troupe’s undertaking in nightclubs.

After the prohibition of the Katherine Dunham band, Aikens continued to perform motivation stage and screen in justness United States and abroad. Loosen up led a brief career little a vocalist and actor, anguish a small part in Seducer with Elizabeth Taylor, which forbidden filmed in Rome, Italy.

Closure spent time teaching in Stockholm, Sweden and at Cal Terrace in Los Angeles, California. Take steps later later assisted Katherine Dunham in recreating fifteen Dunham dances for the Alvin Ailey Leak Company.

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

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