There was an aura about the Dunham dancers.

She is in New York at the suggestion of Harry Belafonte and his wife, Julie, a former Dunham dancer.

The second point to stress is that the inevitable generation gap between the Dunham dancers of yore and the current Ailey dancers does make itself felt at times.

Ailey returned to the show several times a week, let into the theater by the Dunham dancers who had looked so unapproachably exotic on that first backstage visit.

Glory Van Scott and Jean-Léon Destiné were among other former Dunham dancers who remained her lifelong friends.

Participants include dancers, choreographers, historians and former Dunham dancers.

A model to be emulated was Mr. Destiné, a former Dunham dancer.

The tight-knit family of vivid original Dunham dancers will be on hand, in an afternoon of reminiscences about an artist who was truly a great lady.

Mr. Ailey started out with Thelma Robinson, a Dunham dancer who gave her classes in a nightclub.

Her death was confirmed by Dr. Glory Van Scott, a friend and former Dunham dancer.