KD
DUNHAM TECHINQUE
KD has the rare experience of being approached directly by Katherine Dunham to be a teacher of her technique, as well as being one of two ever assistants to the renowned teacher and choreographer, Ned Williams Jr. This is who KD is to Dunham Technique. She has the unique gift and strength to go deep with dancers, working from the inside out to fully grasp the art and experience. She embraces a nuanced approach to movement initiation and execution and has keen ability to breakdown movement. In the Dunham Technique legacy KD is a teacher that develops strong embodied dancers honoring authenticity into thriving collectives.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Dunham Isolations
Dunham Barre
Dunham Floorwork
Dunham Philosophy & Theory
Progressive Technique
Breath, Energy, Body Integration
Somatic Delivery of Rigorous Training
Versatile Biomechanics
Depths & Nuances of Movement
Movement Initiation
Injury Prevention
Dunham Technique as a Healing Modality
Educating Beginner Movers through Performance Athletes
Integrative Arts Curriculum & Program Development
ARTIST. EDUCATOR
Dunham Technique lineage: Katherine Dunham, Ned Williams, Jr, Dunham Technique Seminar, Institute for Dunham Technique Certification
Katherine Dunham’s request to KD in 2000 was that she “must teach…carry out the technique as it is being lost.”
Studying mostly under Ned Williams, Jr., KD had the rare opportunity to learn Dunham Technique “as it was taught in the Dunham School,” and integrative dance, arts, and humanities school in NYC in the 1940s. While 1st generation Dunham Technique is rare to find now, through the rigorous and demanding approach to learning the technique, KD moved through the technique with quantum focus.
Performed for Ned Williams, Jr. becoming his second-ever assistant as well as demonstrator in his over fifty-year career- As quoted from Ned Williams, Jr., “I haven’t seen anyone able to do this in 50yrs.”
Approaches Dunham Technique as a preservation of the body, mind energy for mobility and injury prevention.
LEADING & TEACHING DUNHAM TECHNIQUE (1998 to Present)
Ned Williams Dance Theater Workshop - Assistant & Teacher, Dunham Technique to Professional Artists. NYC
Alvin Ailey - Dunham Technique, Ailey professional division. NYC
AntiGravity® Inc - Dunham Informed Technique, AntiGravity® Broadway performer workshop. NYC
Djoniba Dance & Drum Center - Dunham Technique, open level classes. NYC
East Tennessee State University - Dunham Informed Technique, dance department workshop. TN
Cumbe - Dunham Informed Technique, open level classes. NYC
*Over the course of 20+ yrs, KD has taught world wide across cultures and movement modalities.
*Through the language of movement, KD has been in the seedling beginnings of some of the most influential revolutionary movement cultures, techniques, spaces and practices.
*In addition, KD has taught in iconic studio spaces such as Fazil’s, Peridance, Soulbox Jakarta, Virgin Active Singapore & Italy.
*Through customized privates, specialty classes, group class, workshops, immersions, teacher trainings, and programming development, KD teaches a range from beginner movers to performance athletes to professional clinicians.
EDUCATION 1994 to Present
Goddard College - Graduate Studies, Health Arts & Sciences: Embodiment Studies.
SUNY Empire State College - AA & BS Interdisciplinary Multidisciplinary Studies “Education of Movement Arts”, NYC
NC School of the Arts - HS Contemporary Program, NC
Institute for Dunham Technique Teacher Certification (Candidate) - INTERNATIONAL
Dunham Technique - Ned Williams, Jr., NYC
Dunham Technique Seminar - IL
Dunham Technique Master Classes - NYC
Dunham Technique Intensive - NOLA
American Dance Festival - NC
Lincoln Center Institute - Imaginative Learning, NYC
West African & Diaspora Dance - Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, NC, NYC
AntiGravity® - Techniques & Teacher Certifications. NYC, INTERNATIONAL
X-Pert - Teacher Certification. NYC
Sense Writing - NYC
Pre-Natal Yoga - Teacher Certification. NYC
Balinese Massage & Raindrop Therapy - Jakarta & Bali, Indonesia
Institute for the Development of Human Arts - NYC.
Anti-Racism, Diversity, Inclusion in Early Childhood Education - NYC
Decolonizing Gender - NYC
Dance.NYC Symposium - NYC
*Iconic teachers world wide such as Katherine Dunham, Ned Williams, Jr., Vanoye Aikens, Theo Jameson, Keith Tyrone Williams, Rachel Tavernier, Penny Godboldo, Baba Chuck Davis & AADE members, Ron Brown, Heidi Latsky, Jaqueline Villamil, Julio Jean, Richard Gonzales, “Pupy”, Tina Leak, Amo Woods, Siaka Disoko, Tenefe Doukante, Lamine Thiam, Awa Camara, and Ballet Soilel Du’Afrique.
*Assisted and demonstrated for masters in their fields Ned Williams, Jr (Dunham Technique) and Christopher Harrison (AntiGravity Techniques).