Jean-Léon Destiné (March 26, 1918 – January 22, 2013)[1] was a Haitian-born American dancer and choreographer.
He was born in Saint-Marc and moved to the United States with the dance company of Lina Mathon-Blanchet in the early 1940s.
[1] He also sang in Lina Mathon Blanchet's folkloric singing group as a young man.
[1] In 1941 Destine came to the United States for the first time to dance with Fussman-Mathon's folkloric dance troupe at the National Folk Festival in Washington D.C.[4] When Destine returned home to Haiti they assigned him to be a cultural ambassador for the Haitian government to educate people on Haitian art and dance to increase tourism in Haiti.
[4] In 1946 Destiné performed on Broadway in Katherine Dunham's production of Bal Negre until 1948.
According to Polyne, "This routine interpreted the evolution of enslaved African descendants from the point of bondage to their physical and psychological emancipation.
[4] It was at this school that Destiné learned the history of West African influence on Haiti, Vodou, and Haitian folklore.
Destiné was a two time recipient of the Officier Honneur et Mérite for his contributions to Haitian arts and culture.