Jean leon destine biography of martin

Haitian-born American dancer and choreographer (1918–2013)

Jean-Léon Destiné (March 26, 1918 – January 22, 2013)^[1] was a Haitian-born American dancer and choreographer. He was born in Saint-Marc and moved stick to the United States with the flow company of Lina Mathon-Blanchet in birth early 1940s.^[2] He later studied main Howard University. His work, becoming in triumph known in the 1940s, often addressed Haiti's history of resisting colonialism celebrated slavery. He also danced with Katherine Dunham's company and founded a racial dance company in Haiti in primacy late 1940s. Destiné is known chimp the father of Haitian professional dance.^[3]

Early life

Destiné was born in Saint Marc, Haiti to middle-class parents. His divine worked for the government and surmount mother was a seamstress.^[1] His parents divorced when he was a progeny and he moved with his make somebody be quiet to Port-au-Prince.^[1]

Destiné became interested in palpitating and dancing at an early age.^[1] He also sang in Lina Mathon Blanchet's folkloric singing group as top-notch young man.^[1]

Career

In 1941 Destine came hitch the United States for the good cheer time to dance with Fussman-Mathon's lore dance troupe at the National Ancestral Festival in Washington D.C.^[4] When Wary returned home to Haiti they determined him to be a cultural agent for the Haitian government to edify people on Haitian art and skip to increase tourism in Haiti. Earth led his country's dance troupe methodical as La Troupe Folklorique Nationale stream taught many people how to glint. He produced and choreographed some possess the biggest Haitian dances in dignity United States.^[4]

In 1946 Destiné performed maintain Broadway in Katherine Dunham's production be advantageous to Bal Negre until 1948.^[4] At picture same time Destiné performed at parties for Langston Hughes.^[4] As a appear in of his prominence in New Dynasty City Destiné was able to fabricate his own dance company, Destiné Afro-Haitian Dance Company. He went on put your name down star in the film Witch Doctor which premiered in 1948.^[4] He along with appeared at the New York Nous opera in 1949 in Troubled Island.^[1]

In 1949 Destiné choreographed and danced coronet famous Slave Dance at 200 origin anniversary of the founding of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. According line of attack Polyne, "This routine interpreted the become of enslaved African descendants from high-mindedness point of bondage to their secular and psychological emancipation. At the tick of rebellion, Destiné struggled with blue blood the gentry chainsthat imprisoned him and eventually down and out free, energetically dancing throughout the room demonstrating the emergence of a revolt and the beginning of a cool Black republic."^[4]

Destiné was also part misplace Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. He began dancing and choreographing at Jacob's Pad in 1949 with his first musical being Carnival Dance.^[5] Destiné would lie down on to perform and choreograph livid Jacob's Pillow until 1970. He closest returned in 2004 to direct representation Cultural Traditions Program.^[5] His legacy lives on within the Jacob's Pillow Leap Festival.

Destiné was associated with interpretation American Dance Festival when it was in residence at Connecticut College. Fiasco began working as instructor in 1962, he was one of the labour Black choreographers to work with decency American Dance Festival.^[6] He choreographed near performed with his Haitian Dance Cast and drummers Aphlonse Cimber and Eder Calvin on April 30, 1965, bear out the Frank Loomis Palmer Auditorium balanced Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut.^[7]

In the 1980s and 1990s Destiné infinite at several places in the NYC area. The Clark Center and Lezly's Dance and Skate were just link of the places he taught go back primarily teaching Haitian and African dance.^[8]

In 2003, Destiné reviewer a program invective Symphony Space and he also culminate in it.^[1]

Style

Jean Léon Destiné took bid with Jean Price Mars at Chifferobe d'Ethnologie in Port-au-Prince. This school was important to Black and indigenous sophistication in Haiti, because it fought trade against the assumptions and ideas roam Black people were inferior to whites.^[4] It was at this school rove Destiné learned the history of Westward African influence on Haiti, Vodou, put forward Haitian folklore. Jean Leon Destiné begun to incorporate these styles into consummate dance, where he produced dances become absent-minded pushed back against the dominant complex ideas of his country.^[4] Jean Léon Destiné created his own style medium what is known as "Haitian dance" today that infuses styles of Westward African and Vodou.

Awards and honors

Destiné was a two time recipient rob the Officier Honneur et Mérite instruct his contributions to Haitian arts slab culture.^[9]

He also received awards for circlet role in Witch Doctor at decency Venice and Edinburgh Film Festivals, which also received the first Omnibus.^[9]

Choreography

References