Katherine Dunham: SheLives

KATHERINE DUNHAM

June 22, 1909 - May 21, 2006

"When you have faith in something, it's your reason to be alive and to fight for it."

-- Katherine Dunham

Albirda Rose

Choreographer | Educator | Director, Dunham Technique Certification Board

Certified Master Teacher

ALBIRDA ROSE is known as Dr. Rose on the campus of San Francisco State University where she has taught for 36 years. Upon the recommendation of Miss Ruth Beckford, she began teaching Dunham Technique as an undergraduate student in 1970 at Hayward State University. After receiving her doctorate in 1982, she traveled to East St. Louis where her personal relationship began with Miss Katherine Dunham. In 1986 she traveled with Miss Dunham as a demonstrator and assistant to Brazil visiting six cities. She was the coordinator for the Dunham Technique Seminar for 10 years. In 1990 “Dunham Technique a Way of Life" was published, and she became the Director of Certification in 1991. In 1993, the first group of teachers were certified under her direction. In 2000, Miss Dunham granted Dr. Rose the title of Master Teacher.

Albirda Rose received her Doctorate in Education in 1982 from the University of San Francisco, her MA from Mills College in Dance 1973 where she received a full fellowship to teach Haitian Dance/Dunham technique, and her BS in Physical education (Dance Emphasis) and Minor Drama from Hayward State University (East Bay). Dr. Rose graduated in the spring of 1999, from the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley as a part of the American Baptist Seminar with a Masters in Divinity. Her roles are many yet all related: Choreographer, Performer, Educator, Minister, Writer, Wife, Mother, Mentor to many artist in the Bay Area and the Director of Certification for Dunham Technique.

For further information on certification, or the work of Dr. Rose, she can be reached in the following ways: birdrose@sfsu.edu | cell 650.270.6183

Dunham Institute-Atlanta, Inc. | P.O. Box 361780 | Decatur, GA 30036-1780

Founded in 1989