Katherine Dunham was an internationally renowned anthropologist, dancer, choreographer and humanitarian whose groundbreaking work transformed American concert dance and established a new movement language rooted in African and diasporic traditions. Drawing on anthropological research throughout the Caribbean, Africa and Latin America, Dunham developed the polyrhythmic vocabulary known as Dunham Technique. In 1931, she founded Ballet Negre, which developed into the Katherine Dunham Company that toured at least 57 countries during segregation. Company members including Talley Beatty, Jean Leon Destine, Walter Nicks and Syvilla Fort went on to establish dance companies, while Eartha Kitt became an acclaimed singer. Dunham also founded The Katherine Dunham School in New York City, influencing Alvin Ailey, Geoffrey Holder, Arthur Mitchell and Louis Johnson. She later created the Katherine Dunham seminar in East St. Louis, Illinois. Dunham choreographed more than 150 ballets, films, operas and Broadway productions. She also collaborated with George Balanchine to choreograph “Aida” for the Metropolitan Opera. Her honors included the Kennedy Center Honors, National Medal of Arts and French Legion of Honor. The Library of Congress credits Dunham with creating “the first African American Concert Dance Technique.”