Saroya Corbett

Dr. Saroya Corbett is a certified teacher in Dunham Technique and the chair of the History and Theory curriculum for the Institute for Dunham Technique Certification. She is also a M'Singha Wuti licensed teacher of Umfundalai. Dr. Corbett received her PhD from UCLA in Cultures and Performance, her MFA degree in Dance from Temple University and her BA from Spelman College in economics. Currently, Dr. Corbett, along with Drs. Stephanie Y. Evans and Joanna Dee Das, is co-editing An Interdisciplinary Study of Katherine Dunham: New Horizons of Thinking, a volume focused on expanding research and engagement on the work and impact of Ms. Dunham. 

In her 20-year history of producing dance works focused in the movement vocabulary of Dunham Technique, Dr. Corbett has created choreography that highlights community and spirituality as a form of Black resistance and resilience. Furthermore, she explores the movement connections between Dunham Technique and Umfundalai as a source of her choreographic expression and pedagogical process. Dr. Corbett’s physical exploration deepens her understanding of these movement systems and supports her inquiries into their origins, pedagogical practice, composition, and values.