The Legacy of Martha Graham: Pioneering Contemporary Dance

Martha Graham, born in 1894, revolutionized contemporary dance with her innovative technique and choreography. Despite initial challenges, she founded her company and created over 200 pieces, leaving a lasting impact on the art form. Influenced by Oriental themes, her technique focused on core movement, emphasizing contraction, release, and spiral actions. Explore the legacy of this trailblazing dancer who shaped American dance history.

• Martha Graham
• Contemporary Dance
• Dance Technique
• Oriental Influence
• Core Movement

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1. The Mother of Contemporary Dance

2. Born in 1894 in Pennsylvania. Her father was a psychiatrist. She trained at the Denishawnschool. Shawn used her as a soloist but she was shunned by Denis. Graham established a centre for contemporary dance in 1926 and her students danced in her company. She choreographed over 200 pieces for her company and performed until she was 76 years old! She was the first dance to perform at The White House. She died in 1991.

3. Oriental focus- India and China influenced everything from fashion to interior design and dance was focused upon the orient. Ballet was performed in Vaudeville and there was some ballet after the end of Dhiaghilev s ballet Russes. There was nothing truly American and this is what Graham set out to create.

4. Grahams technique is based on exercises that she created to train her dancers to move like her. The technique comes from the core and Graham believed it was the source of all emotion and motion. Much of her technique can be categorised under contraction, release and spiral. It is earthy, shunning the flightiness of ballet.

5. Contraction Spiral Release

6. Because Graham technique comes from the core there is a great deal of hip usage, make sure you stretch out your legs and hips tonight!