Charles Moore

Charles Moore (May 22, 1928 – January 23, 1986) was an African-American dancer, choreographer, teacher and founder of The Charles Moore Dance Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. Early life Moore was born in Cleveland, Ohio. As a child, he sang as a soprano soloist in churches as well as studying voice at the Karamu House, an arts center near his home that celebrated the African-American experience through the arts. At Severance Hall in Cleveland, Moore saw West African dancer and choreographer, Asadata Dafora, perform the Ostrich Dance. Inspired to begin studying dance himself, Moore later recalled that he would "never forget that first glimpse of Africa". In 1948, Moore moved to New York City after receiving the Charles Weidman dance scholarship. It was there where he began studying ballet, modern and African dance from Charles Weidman, Asadata Dafora, Pearl Primus, and Katherine Dunham. Moore also studied with Nigerian dancers M. Olatunji and S. Ilori, as well as Ghanaian dancers Kobla Ladzekpo and A. Opoku. Between 1952 and 1960, Moore was a member of Katherine Dunham's dance company at the Dunham School of Dance and Theater. Career In 1959, Moore began teaching Katherine Dunham's technique in New York City at the Clark Center, the New Dance Group Studio, and for Harlem Youth Activities (Har-You-Act), Hunter College, Medgar Evers College, City College, and the Hanson Place Methodist Church in Brooklyn.