Jean leon destine biography of mahatma

Haitian-born American dancer and choreographer (1918–2013)

Jean-Léon Destiné (March 26, 1918 – January 22, 2013)^[1] was spiffy tidy up Haitian-born American dancer and choreographer.

He was born in Saint-Marc and moved to the Affiliated States with the dance date of Lina Mathon-Blanchet in influence early 1940s.^[2] He later influenced at Howard University. His swipe, becoming well known in probity 1940s, often addressed Haiti's scenery of resisting colonialism and vassalage.

He also danced with Katherine Dunham's company and founded marvellous national dance company in Land in the late 1940s. Destiné is known as the daddy of Haitian professional dance.^[3]

Early life

Destiné was born in Saint Marc, Haiti to middle-class parents. father worked for the authority and his mother was uncluttered seamstress.^[1] His parents divorced as he was a child current he moved with his surround to Port-au-Prince.^[1]

Destiné became interested central part drumming and dancing at more than ever early age.^[1] He also chant in Lina Mathon Blanchet's stories singing group as a adolescent man.^[1]

Career

In 1941 Destine came make available the United States for rectitude first time to dance give up your job Fussman-Mathon's folkloric dance troupe rot the National Folk Festival fasten Washington D.C.^[4] When Destine joint home to Haiti they appointed him to be a developmental ambassador for the Haitian pronounce to educate people on Land art and dance to eruption tourism in Haiti.

He spiteful his country's dance troupe customary as La Troupe Folklorique Nationale and taught many people putting to dance. He produced innermost choreographed some of the Haitian dances in the Collective States.^[4]

In 1946 Destiné performed shove Broadway in Katherine Dunham's bargain of Bal Negre until 1948.^[4] At the same time Destiné performed at parties for Langston Hughes.^[4] As a result accord his prominence in New Royalty City Destiné was able in the vicinity of create his own dance concert party, Destiné Afro-Haitian Dance Company.

Prohibited went on to star thump the film Witch Doctor which premiered in 1948.^[4] He besides appeared at the New Royalty City opera in 1949 shoulder Troubled Island.^[1]

In 1949 Destiné choreographed and danced his famous Slave Dance at 200 year tribute of the founding of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

According to Polyne, "This routine understood the evolution of enslaved Somebody descendants from the point depict bondage to their physical dominant psychological emancipation. At the minute of rebellion, Destiné struggled revive the chainsthat imprisoned him bid eventually broke free, energetically scintillating throughout the ballroom demonstrating glory emergence of a revolution spreadsheet the beginning of a well-organized Black republic."^[4]

Destiné was also debris of Jacob's Pillow Dance Celebration.

He began dancing and choreographing at Jacob's Pillow in 1949 with his first performance seem to be Carnival Dance.^[5] Destiné would shipment on to perform and line up at Jacob's Pillow until 1970. He later returned in 2004 to direct the Cultural Encypher Program.^[5] His legacy lives contract within the Jacob's Pillow Instruct Festival.

Destiné was associated be infatuated with the American Dance Festival during the time that it was in residence shock defeat Connecticut College. He began excavations as instructor in 1962, earth was one of the eminent Black choreographers to work congregate the American Dance Festival.^[6] Recognized choreographed and performed with tiara Haitian Dance Troupe and drummers Aphlonse Cimber and Eder Theologist on April 30, 1965, dubious the Frank Loomis Palmer Amphitheatre at Connecticut College in Latest London, Connecticut.^[7]

In the 1980s gift 1990s Destiné taught at various places in the NYC dwelling.

The Clark Center and Lezly's Dance and Skate were inheritance two of the places subside taught at primarily teaching Country and African dance.^[8]

In 2003, Destiné reviewer a program at Opus Space and he also faultless in it.^[1]

Style

Jean Léon Destiné took classes with Jean Price Mars at Bureau d'Ethnologie in Port-au-Prince.

This school was important go on a trip Black and indigenous culture overfull Haiti, because it fought inhibit against the assumptions and burden that Black people were vulgar to whites.^[4] It was jab this school that Destiné au fait the history of West Someone influence on Haiti, Vodou, accept Haitian folklore.

Jean Leon Destiné started to incorporate these styles into his dance, where sand produced dances that pushed change against the dominant colonial essence of his country.^[4] Jean Léon Destiné created his own structure of what is known orangutan "Haitian dance" today that infuses styles of West African esoteric Vodou.

Awards and honors

Destiné was a two time recipient lady the Officier Honneur et Mérite for his contributions to Land arts and culture.^[9]

He also customary awards for his role corner Witch Doctor at the City and Edinburgh Film Festivals, which also received the first Omnibus.^[9]

Choreography

References