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

Jeanelle Stovall

Katherine Dunham Centers

Dynamic Museum -- Institute for Intercultural Communities

Former Associate Director -- 37 Years

JEANELLE STOVALL was a native of Atlanta, who lived in East St. Louis for more than 37 years.  Born into a career military family, Ms. Stovall traveled extensively as a child before graduating from Spelman College.  Fluent in several languages, including French, she was employed as one of the first Black United Nations simultaneous translators ever.  She spent extensive time being trained in Europe for this very difficult, specialized and prestigious role.  During her service as a simultaneous interpreter to the UN in 1966, she met Miss Dunham at the First World Festival of Negro Arts (later, FESTAC) in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa.  In 1967, when Miss Dunham became Artist-in-Residence and Director of the Performing Arts Training Center at Southern Illinois University-East St. Louis, she invited Ms. Stovall to become the executive director of the Centers.  However, characteristic of her modesty, Ms. Stovall insisted that as creator of the vision, Miss Dunham should always be listed as Founder and Executive Director.  She said she was more than content to be listed as associate director.  They formed a brilliant working relationship during which Ms. Stovall became what some described as Ms. Dunham’s “right hand.” Their association blossomed into a lifelong friendship that lasted beyond the SIUE-PATC years. At the time of her death, Ms. Stovall taught French part-time at McKendree College.

@2005 - 2007 www.katherinedunham.org   All Rights Reserved.

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

Founded in 1989

Jeanelle Stovall was responsible for the success of the International Dunham Technique Seminar for over 20 years. The Dunham Technique Seminar was made possible by funding and/or assistance from Anheuser-Busch, Inc., the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal Agency; the Illinois Arts Council, a State Agency; the Missouri Arts Council, a State Agency; the Regional Arts Commission, a State Agency; the City of East St. Louis, the City of Saint Louis; the St. Louis Public School Board and  the Caribbean Cultural Center.