The Resume

(June 22, 1909-May 21, 2006)
Born in Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Died in New York City, New York
Founder, Katherine Dunham Company
Nicknamed 'La Grande Katherine' and 'Matriarch and Queen Mother of Black Dance'

Why she might be annoying:

She suffered a nervous breakdown (1949).
She was divorced.
Her legs were insured for $1 million.
While married to second husband, John Pratt, she romanced world-class playboy Porfirio Rubirosa, who also dated troupe dancer, Eartha Kitt.
At 82, she went on a hunger strike to protest the treatment of Haitian immigrants.

Why she might not be annoying:

She was an innovator in Modern Dance.
She pioneered Ethno Choreology, studying dances native to a specific race or ethnicity.
Legendary Alvin Ailey was a protégé.
She rejected a Hollywood contract because it called for her to exclude darker-skinned dancers.
In 1963, she became the first African-American to choreograph for the Metropolitan Opera.

Credit: Black Chic

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• BC/Black Chic's Profiles [Series 08]
• Black and Beautiful
• Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Members and Honorees [1973-2005] (Ranked: 1974)
• Choreographers
• Ebony Magazine's 100 Most Fascinating Black Women of the 20th Century [March 1999]
• Ed Sullivan Show Guests
• His and Hers
• I Adopted a Child
• I am an Adulterer
• I am from Chicago
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [D-G]
• I Attended University of Chicago
• I Died in 2006 (Ranked: 96)
• I Had a Nervous Breakdown
• I Married Outside My Race
• Insured Body Parts
• Kennedy Center Honorees (Ranked: 1983)
• Look at Me, I Got My Hands Up
• Look at Me, I'm Dancing
• Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball Attendees [May 2005]
• Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball Honorees [May 2005]
• Profiles 24751-25000 (Ranked: 24862)
• Unknown's Least Annoying
• Unknown's Most Annoying
• Women Known for their Great Legs

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 16 Votes: 81.25% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 20 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 57 Votes: 64.91% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 45 Votes: 71.11% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 72 Votes: 61.11% Annoying