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October Dance features the historic reconstruction of Katherine Dunham’s seminal work Afrique, choreographed in 1949. Dunham, who is considered the matriarch of Black Dance, had a career that spanned Broadway, concert stages, opera, TV, and Hollywood films and inspired artists such as Eartha Kitt and Alvin Ailey. This production of a Dunham classic is directed by George A. Miller Visiting Artist April Berry, a certified master teacher of the Dunham Technique and a former principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In addition, former Hubbard Street dancer and choreographer Rena Butler offers a premiere along with Dance at Illinois resident artists: Dr. Cynthia Oliver performs a spoken word solo, Dr. C. Kemal Nance premieres a work for first-year students, and Associate Professor Roxane D’Orléans Juste performs with her sister, guest artist Sonia D’Orléans Juste.
Presented at the Tryon Festival Theatre, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets
On Wednesday, October 8th, there will be a special LIVESTREAM performance of October Dance 2025, at 7:30pm. The LIVESTREAM is free. Please access through the link.