In the latest session of our series The Dance Historian Is In, dance scholar Dr. Dasha A. Chapman curates selections from and speaks about the Haitian folkloric dance materials held at the Jerome Robbins Dance Division at the Library for the Performing Arts. These moving documents register points on the continuum of Haitian folkloric dance’s history, which began with the documentation and staging of Haitian traditional dances in the 1930s and 1940s, and still evolves today with contemporary dance artists. 

What is Haitian folkloric dance? How was it first developed and how can we understand its more recent trajectories? Who are influential artists in the shaping, teaching, choreographing, and dissemination of the form? What motivates artists to continue shepherding Haitian folkloric dance despite the many social, cultural, and economic barriers to its thriving? Dr. Chapman will answer these questions and more.

In this presentation, Chapman will share glimpses into archival footage of the sacred contexts from which this concert dance form derives, folkloric dance classes taught by luminary pedagogues, and performances by renowned companies and choreographers. Some artists featured include Jean-Léon Destiné, Viviane Gauthier, Katherine Dunham, Lavinia Williams, Emerante de Pradines Morse, and Odette Weiner.