Jean-Léon
Destiné, born in Saint-Marc, Haiti, has dedicated his career to
cultivating the appreciation of Haitian performance art. He spent time
as a dancer and journalist in New York in the early 1940’s, and joined
Katherine Dunham’s troupe in 1946. Destiné formed his own
Destiné Afro-Haitian Dance Company in 1949, and made his Pillow
debut during thas first year. He would return to Jacob’s Pillow for
more than ten visits up until the early 1970’s. Destiné was at
the festival once again during the 2003 season’s tribute to Katherine
Dunham, taking part in classes and lectures. He was very generous not
only in his participation for the portrait, but also to indulge me by
patiently enduring my attempts with the French language.
