The Katherine Dunham technique gave modern dance a coherent lexicon of African and Caribbean styles of movement- a flexible torso, articulated pelvis, isolation of limbs, flat back, plies, releves, strong stomach muscles and a polyrhythmic strategy of moving are integrated with techniques of ballet and modern.

The essentials of Dunham Technique are having a strong back, relaxed knees and body rolls in order to move strongly and fluidly across the floor. Miss Katherine Dunham isolated body parts based on principles she learned from traditional Afro-Caribbean dance.