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

Theodore Jamison

Actor | Choreographer | Dancer | Vocalist | Dunham Technique Certification Board

Certified Master | Katherine Dunham Demonstrator

Theodore H. Jamison (Theo) is a Program Director for Southern Illinois University East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts, formerly known as the Katherine Dunham Center for the Performing Arts. Theo received a B.S. in Theater and Fine Arts/Dance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is certified by Katherine Dunham to teach the Dunham Technique as a master instructor and performer. He also served as her demonstrator for over 20 years.

Theo has been trained by original members of the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, including Lucille Ellis, Tommy Gomez, Archie Savage, Lenwood Morris, Pearl Reynolds, Vanoye Aikens, Wilburt Bradley, Norman Davis and Lavinia Williams. His honors include the Outstanding Young Men of America, Outstanding Achievement Award (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.) and Credos Artist Award - Mexico, D.F. Theo has choreographed and performed with Les Ballet Bacoulou in Petionville, Haiti, Eugene Joseph Dance Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Joyce Ballet of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Theo has also served as guest artist for Darlene Blackburn Dance Company, Joseph Holmes Dance Company, Muntu, Uhuru Dance Company, Nashiville, TN, American College Dance Festival, Katherine Dunham Seminar, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Philadanco, Lula Washington Dance Company, Fundisha Dance Company, Colorado Springs University Fine Arts Program, Tennessee State University Theater Program, Lincoln University Dance Troupe and the Contemporary Dance in America Black Influence and Expressions Conference, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Theo taught and performed at the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) Conference. He was also guest artist at Carnegi Hall in New York for the Katherine Dunham Gala and Faces of Love Gitano Productions and the St. Louis Municipal Opera. He performed at the St. Louis Black Repertory Company as a singer, dancer, and actor and has performed and choreographed at an International Dance Festival in Vienna Austria.