Viviane Gauthier, Haitian dancer, Died at 99

Viviane (or Vivianne) Gauthier was born on March 17, 1918, and died on June 1, 2017.

She was a Haitian dancer and teacher of Haitian folkloric dance.

Gauthier studied Haitian folklore with Katherine Dunham-trained Lavinia Williams of which she is considered the heir.

Gauthier eventually opened the Viviane Gauthier School of Dance in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

One of her students has opened a dance company in Paris and another is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in the United States.

The Haitian-American singer Riva Nyri Précil is another alumna of her dance school.

Many famouse Haitian dancers and dance teachers have received training from her at some point in their career, including Lynn William Rouzier, Joëlle Donatien Belot, Jean Appolon, Mikerline Pierre and Lionel St. Surin.

Viviane Gauthier passed away at 99 years old.