Vanoye William Aikens (27 November 1922 – 24 August 2013), also known as Van Aikens, was an American dancer and actor. He was known for his work with fellow dancer Katherine Dunham, with whom he danced internationally on stage and screen.

Vanoye Aikens
Portrait of Vanoye Aikens by Annemarie Heinrich, 1958.
Born27 November 1922
Georgia, USA
DiedAugust 24, 2013(2013-08-24) (aged 90)
Los Angeles, California, USA
Burial placeJonesboro, Georgia, USA
Known forDancing with the Katherine Dunham Company

Biography

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Aikens was born in Georgia[1] on 27 November 1922.[citation needed] He attended Morehouse College but was unable to complete his degree due to financial issues.[2] He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy.[1]

Afterwards, he traveled to New York City,[1] where Katherine Dunham Company dancer Lenwood Morris encouraged him to audition for the dance troupe.[3] He joined the troupe as a student in 1943. He went on to perform on Broadway with the company through the 1940s and 1950s, as well as tour through United States, Europe and South America until the troupe disbanded in 1963.[2]

After the dance group was disbanded, Aikens briefly worked in film as an actor, singer, and dancer.[2][3] He then taught dance as a lecturer at the Danshögskolan in Sweden, as well as in Germany and Spain until the mid-1980s.[citation needed] Later, he returned to the United States, where he worked with Katherine Dunham and the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in Los Angeles.[3]

Aikens died in Los Angeles on August 24, 2013. He is buried in Jonesboro, Georgia.[2][4]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Director(s)
1954 Mambo Dancer (uncredited) Robert Rossen
1960 The Revolt of the Slaves (La rivolta degli schiavi) Iface (credited as "Van Aikens") Nunzio Malasomma
1961 Barabbas (Barabba) Prisoner in Mines (uncredited) Richard Fleischer
1961 The Story of Joseph and His Brethren (Giuseppe venduto dai fratelli) Slave on the hunting expedition (uncredited) Irving Rapper, Luciano Ricci
1961 Rage of the Buccaneers (Gordon, il pirata nero) Does not appear (credited as "Van Aikens") Mario Costa
1961 The Giant of Metropolis (Il gigante di Metropolis) Dancer (uncredited) Umberto Sarpelli
1961 Goliath and the Vampires (Maciste contro il vampiro) Amahil (credited as "Van Aikens") Sergio Corbucci, Giacomo Gentilomo
1961 Tropico di notte Dancer (credited as "Van Aikins") Renzo Russo
1962 Eve (Eva) Nightclub dancer (credited as "Van Eicken") Joseph Losey
1962 Sodom and Gomorrha Specialty Dancer (uncredited) Robert Aldrich
1963 Cleopatra[1] Dancer (uncredited) Joseph L. Mankiewicz
1971 I Eat Your Skin Robey Del Tenney

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Katherine Dunham dancer Vanoye Aikens dies at 96". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2013-08-28. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  2. ^ a b c d "VANOYE AIKENS (1917 - 2013)". Marshall Dance Company. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  3. ^ a b c "La Danse Noire Magazine Premier Issue No 1". La Danse Noire. 2015-01-07. p. 34. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  4. ^ Warren, Charmaine Patricia (2013-09-12). "Katherine Dunham dancer Vanoye Aikens passes". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
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