Ailey Dance Class: Dunham Technique   

Ailey Dance Class: Dunham Technique   

A group of four people stand in a dance studio, stretching their arms out to the sides. They are dressed in athletic wear and face forward in a line. The studio has large windows revealing an urban cityscape outside. The lead person wears a blue top and a headscarf.

Dunham at Ailey Extension. Photo by Kyle Froman.

A group of four people stand in a dance studio, stretching their arms out to the sides. They are dressed in athletic wear and face forward in a line. The studio has large windows revealing an urban cityscape outside. The lead person wears a blue top and a headscarf.

Tickets

Tickets are required and include Museum admission. $35 General Admission $10 Members. 

Doors open approximately 30 minutes prior to start time. To protect the focus and integrity of our teachers, latecomers will not be admitted. Tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged. Additional tickets may become available closer to the program date. Check back often. Participants may be required to remove shoes during the class.

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The Susan and John Hess Family Theater is equipped with an induction loop and infrared assistive listening system. Accessible seating is available.

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Floor 3, Theater

October 20 at 12–1 pm and 4–5 pm 

Created by dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist Katherine Dunham, the Dunham technique uses spinal twists and undulations, polyrhythms, and a grounded use of the feet to propel the body through space to the rhythm of drumming. Dunham studied African and Caribbean dance forms as well as classical ballet and modern dance and fused them into a signature style, blending polyrhythms and steps from ancient ceremonial dances with European styles. 

This technique concentrates on building strength, flexibility, and the ability to undulate your torso and hips fully and rapidly. Accompanied by live drumming, students are fully immersed in the magic of the Dunham technique.   

Instructor 
April Berry is a dance director, master teacher, dance educator, and internationally acclaimed former principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Born and raised in New York, Berry began her professional training in ballet at the National Academy of Ballet and Theatre Arts under the direction of founder Thalia Mara, also founder of the prestigious International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. As a young dance student, she was a scholarship student and a company apprentice with the Dance Theatre of Harlem under directors Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook.   

As a former principal dance artist with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Berry traveled the world working under Alvin Ailey and Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison. She has been actively involved in dance education and community engagement since 1992. Berry is a certified master instructor in Dunham technique, having successfully completed all certification requirements after extensive work with American dance pioneer Katherine Dunham. Berry has taught at Dance Theatre of Harlem, Charlotte Ballet, and BalletMet, and has created award-winning dance scholarship programs and served as an artist-in-residence, guest lecturer, and adjunct faculty member at some of the most prestigious universities around the United States. Since 2024, she has been Director of Education and Community Engagement at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.