Martha Graham Influence On Dance

The world of contemporary dance is one that is constantly developing and pushing the boundaries of what makes dance more than just movement. However, it is questionable that it would be in this diverse state if it was not for a few revolutionary choreographers. Along with Martha Grahame is could be argued that Merce Cunningham was a pioneering, revolutionary choreographer who questioned given standards and procedures creating the diverse contemporary style that we know today. Revolutionary can be defined as something radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure and principles (Dictionary.com, 2017). In order for something to be revolutionary it has to be in relation to something else, this is certainly true for Cunningham’s

Graham started teaching a group of dancers in 1926 who had eventually become interested in her work. That was the start of the Martha Graham Studio. Martha Graham pushed

The use of contractions help to show the strength that it takes them to try and be free but are still not strong enough to get away as it is shown when the women sink to their knees whilst performing a slow contraction. In the closing phrase of this sub section there is a rapid change of levels as the tempo speeds up the dancers perform a manic spiralling to drop down to make an obvious abrupt end.

At the end of the 19th century, ballet was the most prominent form of dance. However, to Isadora Duncan, "ballet was the old order that needed to be overthrown, an embodied symbol of all that was wrong with oversymbolized 19th century living" (Daly 26). Duncan believed that the over-technical, over-standardization of ballet was not what dance should be about. Her vision of dance was one of emotions, ideas, social betterment, and the complete involvement of the body, mind, and soul (26). With these ideas in mind, she began to create a new form of dance; what she referred to as the "new dance" (23), and what is now known as modern dance. In creating this new dance, she was inspired by composers such as

Ailey was inspired by Martha Graham when learning to dance. He used to visit the Martha Graham studios and there studied Ballet and Drama classes. Graham’s dance techniques were expressive and included contractions and angular, parallel movements. A dance in which Ailey uses this style could be the first section of ‘Cry’. Throughout, we see the expressive emotion shown through this dancer. We see the use of contractions, arched movements and curves. Soon after the dancer throws the fabric cloth to either side, near the beginning, she side stretches over to the opposite horizontal showing a curve in her torso. She also curves her back slowly up contracting from her stomach. Throughout ‘Cry’, we see many contractions mainly all linking to the stomach. Angular and parallel movements can be seen where the dancer balances on her left leg and lifts up her right leg giving off a right angled shape. (Arabesque Line). This movement is also common in many of Ailey’s other dances including ‘Flowers’ and can be seen in some dances from ‘Revelations’.

Martha Graham was one of the most influential figures in American modern dance, and her techniques and styles are still practiced today. She became widely known throughout all ages and decades. Her first debut was in the 1920's. As time went on, she became more experienced and wiser in the modern dance field. Martha Graham, whose style was considered controversial, became one of the finest choreographers and dancers in the dance world.

The belief that dancers can utilize their bodies and movements to express their feelings is passed on from this dance. I think Graham took some movements from European ballet while she created this dance because the sharp clean movements of dancers’ feet are similar feet movements in European ballet. Except this similarity, this dance does not share much commons and that is why I think this dance is so unique: The movement was less ‘dancy’: It was more like the way we acted during our daily life. Dancers tend to hold a posture for a short period of time instead of moving all the

     Along with dancing and choreographing, Tamiris also founded dance companies. In 1930, she helped organize the Dance Repertory Theatre, where other choreographers, such as Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and Charles Weidman, were joined together to create modern dance pieces. She served as the president of the company for the first two years of its existence. She also served as the

Russell Freedman, an American biographer and author, was born in San Francisco in 1929, and he graduated the University of California, Berkeley. He used to be a reporter, an editor, and a publicist for various network television shows. Lincoln: A Photobiography, the 1988 Newbery Medal book, made his name as “a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children”, which infers that he was credible and highly respectable person at that time. He had published over 50 nonfiction books for young people, and usually wrote about animal behaviors and American history. Freedman’s famous books are Freedom Walkers, Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery, and Kids at Work. Moreover, Mr. Freedman chalked up several Newbery Honors, the May

For my dance history lineage project, I chose three different choreographers who helped each other in their careers. My timeline includes what choreographer taught who and when. The choreographer at the bottom of my timeline is Ruth St. Denis. Ruth St. Denis was an American modern dancer who started to dance in 1906. Taught by Ruth was Martha Graham who was also modern American dancer and choreographer.

It is difficult to define what it means to be an American considering the constant reformation of American society due to the wide range of values amongst each other. Many artists, choreographers and musicians contributed to the evolution and dance and musical theater in America. American modern dance was created to produce unique expression to the society of America during the 19th century. A famous figure comes to mind when thinking of the evolution of American dance. Martha Graham was known as the "Mother of Modern Dance" because of her affiliations with the choreography of dance. It is said that she created a dance with a "new level of popularity…she created a new language of movement that expressed powerful emotions"(Ember). Many artists'

"American Masters: Martha Graham, About the Dancer." PBS. PBS, 16 Sept. 2005. Web. 17 Nov. 2012. .

Dance is an ever evolving form of art; in much the same way that one can categorize and differentiate between eras and styles of architecture one can also do so with dance. These eras at times have sharp delineations separating them from their antecedents, other times the distinction is far more subtle. Traditional forms of dance were challenged by choreographers attempting to expand the breadth and increase the depth of performance; preeminent among such visionaries was Seattle born dancer and choreographer Mark Morris. Mark Morris' began as one of the millions of hopeful individuals attempting to simply make a career in dance; he not only succeeded but managed to have a lasting effect on the entire landscape of dance.

Contraction and release which is created by Martha Graham has influenced many choreographers, such as Paul Taylor and Mercer Cunningham. At the 1/3 minutes of Esplanade which Paul Taylor choreographed, the two dancers put one of their legs in the ground and bend down their backs after quickly running. Then, they started to stretch their back as much as possible. At the the moment of 4 minutes, a series of repetitions of sliding the floor and standing quickly are showed.

Watching the video “A Dancer’s World” made me want to become a professional dancer. Martha Graham’s dancers showed how delicate, defined, sharp, smooth, and astatic a choreography can be. It illustrated how much hard word and dedication it’s needed, but the results will always be beautiful. Also Martha Graham explained how dancing with a partner can be. She also talked about males as dancers, but in her video she demonstrates how men danced with females using physical contact. The techniques and how the piece turns out to be. Both genders jumped a lot through out each piece of performed and that’s something loved. During a piece, there can be both gender dancing separately doing their own thing. The techniques are used differently by males