Online
$12

Dunham Technique is a vibrant African American dance form that engages the body, mind and spirit! Created by dance pioneer Katherine Dunham, the technique is informed by the traditional dances of the African Diaspora, as well as by modern and ballet. The theme for this class will be “Form and Function”. In this class, dancers will experience foundational movements of the Dunham Technique. The focus, at the barre, will be on signature exercises of the Technique and, across the floor, movements and rhythms of Haitian Folklore will be explored.

Rachel Tavernier is a world-renowned Master Dunham Teacher who also specializes in Ballet and Haitian Folklore. Rachel trained directly under Katherine Dunham in Port-au-Prince, East St. Louis and New York. She also studied with former Dunham Company members and master teachers, Vanoye Aikens, Lucille Ellis, Tommy Gomez, Pearl Reynolds, Talley Beatty, Walter Nicks, Archie Savage and Theodore Jamison. In 1999, Katherine Dunham named Rachel a master teacher in Dunham Technique. Rachel earned her teacher certification from the Institute for Dunham Technique Certification in 2000. As an instructor and a consultant, Rachel was a collaborator on the 2002 Library of Congress documentary about Dunham Technique. Presently, Rachel is on the board of directors at the Institute for Dunham Technique Certification (IDTC) as chair of the Technique Committee. She is an integral member of IDTC, contributing to the annual Dunham Technique Conference as a visionary, organizer and teacher.