Biography of Martha Graham

1154 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: EssayUk on Martha Graham biography

Martha Graham began her life in Alleghany, Pennsylvania on May 11, 1894. She would be the oldest of Jane and George Graham’s three girls. Her father was “alienist” that specialized in nervous disorders; a modern day psychologist.1 Although his Presbyterian beliefs were conservative, Dr. Graham’s unusual methods to diagnose through physical movement and his ideas about the body’s unique way to express its inner senses was an influence on his eldest daughter Martha. She would later quote his slogan, “Movement never lies”.2 The idea of body movement expressing emotion and feelings would become Martha Graham’s vocabulary, language and passion through a form of dance she would develop and perfect over her lifetime.
Her father unknowingly turned a key for Graham when he took her to see Ruth St. Denis perform at the Mason Opera House in 1911. She immediately became interested in dance but her parents did not approve due to their religious beliefs. She later enrolled in Cummock College, an arts related junior college. However, only after her father’s death and her graduation did she feel free to pursue her dream to dance.
In 1916, at age 22, Graham enrolled in Dennishawn School founded by her idol, Ruth St. Denis and her husband Ted Shawn. She was far older, heavier and more inexperienced than most of the students. St. Denis first impression was, “Totally hopeless….What can I do with this?” 3What she lacked in experience she made up for in determination and perseverance. Soon she was showing her flair for performance and ability to show emotions. Two years in, she was teaching students at Dennishawn. Shawn choreographed the dance production “Xochitl” specifically for Graham. She did not disappoint in the role of a raped maiden as she r...

... middle of paper ...

...enberg. Bird's eye view: dancing with Martha Graham and on Broadway. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1997.

Dalzell, Jenny. "Martha Graham." Dance Teacher 35, no. 1 (01, 2013): 52-52,54. http://search.proquest.com/docview/1272090071?accountid=27372.

"The History of Modern Dance." Ballet Austin. http://www.balletaustin.org/education/documents/HistoryofModernDanceStudentHandout.pdf (accessed April 2, 2014).

Mille, Agnes. Martha: the life and work of Martha Graham. New York: Random House, 1991.

"Martha Graham." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in Context. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

" The Modern Dancers." University of Pittsburgh. http://www.pitt.edu/~gillis/dance/martha.html (accessed March 30, 2014).

PBS. "." PBS. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/martha-graham/about-the-dancer/497/ (accessed March 28, 2014).

Show More
Related

  • The Lives and Work of James Earl Jones and Geoffrey Holder

    2296 Words  | 5 Pages

    Gill, Glenda Eloise. No Surrender! No Retreat! : African American Pioneer Performers of Twentieth-Century American Theater. New York: St. Martin's, 2000. Print.

    Read More

  • African American Dance: Katherine Dunham School Of Dance

    1601 Words  | 4 Pages

    Katherine Dunham died on May 21, 2006. (Katherine) “As artist, educator, anthropologist, and activist, Katherine Dunham transformed the field of the twentieth-century dance” (Das

    Read More

  • Martha Graham The Day Dance

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    Her goal was to move, not dance. She challenged the notions of what a quote on quote “female dancer” was and could do. Dance to her was an exploration, a celebration of life, and religious calling that required an absolute devotion (pg. 11, Freedman). She considered her dancers “acrobats of God”. An example of a dance which symbolized the “essentialized” body was Martha Graham’s Lamentation, choreographed in 1930, which served as an expression of what person’s grief, with Graham as the solo dancer in the piece. The costume, a tube-like stretchy piece of fabric, only allowed her face, hands, and feet to be seen, and, as Graham stated, “The garment that is worn is just a tube of material, but it is as though you were stretching inside your own skin.” In the beginning of the piece, she started out by sitting on a bench with her legs wide spread and arms held tight. Her head was going back and forth as if she was feeling sadness or maybe replaying thoughts in her head. By the way she was holding her hands so tight and close to her body, it symbolized the deep pain within her––the essence of her piece was grief, and she danced it from inside out. Russel Freedman, the author of Martha Graham A Dancers Life, stated, “She did not dance about grief, but sought “the thing itself”- the very embodiment of grief (p. 61).” Graham, dancing with strength and power, was encapsulated with her movement and was completely surrendered

    Read More

  • Agnes de Mille’s Impact in the World of Dance

    1399 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the years, America has pursued the performing arts in a large variety of ways. Theatre plays a dramatic and major role in the arts of our society today, and it takes great effort in all aspects. Musical Theatre, specifically, involves a concentration and strength in dance, acting, and singing. This is the base that Musical Theatre is built upon. For my Senior Project, I helped choreograph multiple scenes in a community musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie”. Choreography is a way of expressing oneself, but it has not always been thought of for that purpose. Agnes de Mille’s expressive talent has drastically affected how people see choreography today. Agnes de Mille’s influence in the world of dance has left a lasting impact in the Performing Arts Department, and her revolutionary works are still known today for their wit, lyricism, emotion, and charm.

    Read More

  • A Critical Look at Histories of Hutchinson and the Antinomians

    4911 Words  | 10 Pages

    Williams, Selma. Divine Rebel: The Life of Anne Marbury Hutchinson. New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 1981.

    Read More

  • Contemporary Modern Dance: The Work Of Alvin Ailey And Katherine Dunham

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout this analytical essay I will discuss, analyse and conclude the work of two contemporary modern dance pioneers, Alvin Ailey and Katherine Dunham. I will pay particular attention to the era 1935-1980 and focus on socio elements of this time period, using relevant literature to support my findings.

    Read More

  • Vuth St. Denis Theory Of Dance

    1491 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...tions and practices of the vaudeville stage into the world of serious concert dance and her unique solos and contemporary dance steps successfully combined theatrical and concert dance traditions. Despite the cultural struggle to separate from classical ballet and the aristocratic spectrum of the performing arts, St. Denis was able to captivate her audience by integrating spirituality and open-mindedness in Incense by incorporating ideas and symbols of the Orient. St. Denis’s drive to foster the divine and spiritual within the human accompanied her throughout life. In fact, she continued to perform, lecture, and teach well into the 1960s, until she passed away at the age of 89 on July 21, 1968 . Ruth St. Denis's gifts to the modern dance universe and the entertainment industry have been a major contribution to the world and her work will live with us for all time.

    Read More

  • Katherine Dunham: Modern Dance Women

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    Katherine Dunham was an important figure in pushing for equality among all races. She became remembered through her unique twist she put on her ballet movements. Instead of pursuing traditional ballet, she choreographed ballets that incorporated African-American movements. Because of this, she has always been referred to as one of the “modern dance pioneers” (Cass 303). Even through struggles, she continued to strive to focus more on the dance traditions of other cultures and slowly help work towards the end of oppression towards particular races.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Victoria Marks's 'Mothers And Daughters'

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    Victoria Marks’ most recent contemporary dance pieces all were fascinating, but the two that drew me in the most were “Men” and “Mothers And Daughters”. Both of these pieces made in the spring of 2014, focus on the idea of celebrating the life you have been given, leaving your mark on the world, and getting the most out of every opportunity you have to be with someone you care about. Victoria Marks is a dance professor at UCLA, who also choreographs dances for the stage, and films. “Marks’ recent work has considered the politics of citizenship, as well as the representation of both virtuosity and disability. These themes are part of her ongoing commitment to locating dance-making within the sphere of political meaning.” Marks in both films “Men” and “Mothers And Daughters” believes that , "Your Dancing ability does not matter because we are all differently-abled", which is why she used both trained and untrained actors to create these two pieces of art.

    Read More

  • Love in Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Autobiography of My Mother

    982 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kincaid, Jamaica. The autobiography of my mother . New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1996. Print.

    Read More

  • New Dance: Evolution and Influence in the 20th Century

    964 Words  | 2 Pages

    The new dancers wanted their movements to be authentic and to tell a story. An example of this is Isadora Duncan, a dancer and choreographer of the 20th century, when “in 1904 [she] established a school in Grunewald, Germany (and others in France and Russia), in which pupils were trained through gymnastic exercises and encouraged to express themselves through movement” (Kassing). Duncan inspired dancers to unravel themselves in their own movements, and to use the music and nature as a muse: “My art is an effort to

    Read More

  • Marianne Moore's Life

    1564 Words  | 4 Pages

    Elaine Oswald and Robert L. Gale, On Marianne Moore’s Life and Career, (Modern American Poetry). http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/m_r/moore/life.html

    Read More

  • A Brief Biography of Katherine Dunham

    1261 Words  | 3 Pages

    Early life and introductions to theater and dance began when Katherine was just a young girl. Katherine’s childhood was neither the easiest nor the best. Grew up as a middle class child, till the loss of her mother whom died and left her brother and herself to their father, later due to financial situations the family had to sell their home (Banes, 1998). With no place to go Katherine’s sibling and her self, went to permanently live with their aunt (O’Connor, 2002). Living with Katherine’s aunt is where she acquired interest in the world of entertainment as she watched her aunt and cousin rehearse for black vaudeville shows. Shortly after that Kather...

    Read More

  • Isadora Duncan

    412 Words  | 1 Pages

    The fine art of modern dance is like many other fields in that it is based on the actions and deeds of those who were pioneers in the field. These pioneers helped to mold modern dance into what it is today. Of the many people who are partially responsible for this accomplishment is Isadora Duncan. Duncan, often referred to as the “mother of modern dance,” inspired many other dancers to the extent that the art of dance would not be the same today without her many contributions.

    Read More

  • Influence of Trisha Brown and Steve Paxton on Modern Dance

    2275 Words  | 5 Pages

    Ross, Janice. “Judson Dance Theatre: Performative Traces.” TDR: The Drama Review 53, no. 2 (2009): 161-164

    Read More

More about Biography of Martha Graham

Open Document