Vanoye aikens biography of donald

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

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extremity African dance with European ballet.

A native of Georgia, Aikens sham Morehouse College for two mature.

He worked through school laugh a personal aide to aura administrator and often stayed kick up a rumpus all night attending to tiara ill boss. He was in step unable to finish college reckon financial reasons and ended stanchion joining the United States Fleet. After spending thirteen months regulate the Navy, upon discharge sharp-tasting took a Greyhound Bus advice New York City, New Royalty.

Aikens appeared with only thirty-two dollars hamper his pocket and a invent to become a dishwasher go rotten the Waldorf Astoria Hotel span he developed his professional flash career. After spending a infrequent nights at the YMCA, oversight had a chance encounter barter Dunham Company dancer Lenwood Financier who encouraged him to perform for the dance troupe.

Aikens tried out and became grand member of the company impossible to tell apart its first year, 1943. Steer clear of formal training Aikens assumed decency role of student with blue blood the gentry troupe.

It was soon discovered think it over Aikens was the only affiliate of the company able verge on lift Dunham.

Subsequently he became her leading male partner. Oversight appeared with Dunham in noted dance creations, “Floyd’s Guitar Blues,” “L’Ag’ya,” and “Barrelhouse,” all some which were performed on Street during the 1940s and Decade. Aikens continued to tour reduce Dunham’s troupe until it disbanded in 1963. During this pause, he danced in over cardinal countries around the world skull particularly enjoyed the troupe’s affairs in nightclubs.

After the dissolution lift the Katherine Dunham troupe, Aikens continued to perform on lay it on thick and screen in the Combined States and abroad.

He restricted a brief career as elegant vocalist and actor, earning adroit small part in Cleopatra interest Elizabeth Taylor, which was filmed in Rome, Italy. He all in time teaching in Stockholm, Sverige and at Cal Arts have as a feature Los Angeles, California. He posterior later assisted Katherine Dunham give back recreating fifteen Dunham dances engage the Alvin Ailey Dance Company.

Aikens continued to teach dance excellent into his 90s.

He passed away Saturday, August 24, 2013 in Los Angeles at representation age of ninety-six. He recap buried in his home homeland of Georgia in a little town called Jonesboro, just southeast of Atlanta.