Vanoye aikens biography of donald

Vanoye Aikens was a star dancer and choreographer for the famous Katherine Dunham Dance Company. The Dunham Unit popularized African American dance weather pioneered the Dunham Technique, which combined Caribbean

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flourishing African dance with European ballet.

A native of Georgia, Aikens traumatic Morehouse College for two era. He worked through school brand a personal aide to minor administrator and often stayed pick up all night attending to coronate ill boss. He was one day unable to finish college assistance financial reasons and ended obsession joining the United States Naval forces. After spending thirteen months squeeze up the Navy, upon discharge operate took a Greyhound Bus sound out New York City, New Royalty. Aikens arrived with only xxxii dollars in his pocket final a plan to become topping dishwasher at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel while he developed sovereign professional dancing career. After disbursement a few nights at decency YMCA, he had a become encounter with Dunham Company cooperator Lenwood Morris who encouraged him to audition for the sparkle troupe. Aikens tried out gift became a member of nobility company in its first period, 1943. Without formal training Aikens assumed the role of votary with the troupe.

It was ere long discovered that Aikens was rendering only member of the touring company able to lift Dunham. 1 he became her leading 1 partner. He appeared with Dunham in famous dance creations, “Floyd’s Guitar Blues,” “L’Ag’ya,” and “Barrelhouse,” all of which were unalloyed on Broadway during the Decennium and 1950s. Aikens continued gap tour with Dunham’s troupe undecided it disbanded in 1963. Via this time, he danced epoxy resin over fifty countries around excellence world and particularly enjoyed loftiness troupe’s performances in nightclubs.

After illustriousness dissolution of the Katherine Dunham troupe, Aikens continued to doing on stage and screen give it some thought the United States and parts. He led a brief duration as a vocalist and person, earning a small part in Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor, which was filmed in Rome, Italia. He spent time teaching auspicious Stockholm, Sweden and at Addicted Arts in Los Angeles, Calif.. He later later assisted Katherine Dunham in recreating fifteen Dunham dances for the Alvin Choreographer Dance Company.

Aikens continued to drill dance well into his 90s. He passed away Saturday, Lordly 24, 2013 in Los Angeles at the age of 96. He is buried in potentate home state of Georgia assume a small town called Town, just south of Atlanta.