Dance History Research Project-Martha Graham PDF

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Summary

Essay about Martha Graham, her achievements, techniques and contributions to Modern Dance. Includes additional information from teacher....

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Dance History Research Project Martha Graham Martha Graham is regarded as one of the Mothers of Modern Dance and contributed greatly to modern dance through her revolutionary techniques and bold choreography. Graham began her dancing career in 1916 at Denishawn and although she was in her 20s when she started dance, and was older and shorter than most dancers, she used her body to her advantage and developed a technique to fit it (brittanica.com). She left Denishawn in 1923 in search of a more raw form of dance that was directly connected to human experience (biography.com). Graham founded the Martha Graham company in 1926, which is still running today as the oldest dance company in America (biography.com). She choreographed 181 pieces throughout her career, many of which continue to be performed today by her dance company (marthagram.org). The history section of her company’s website tells how Graham created pieces that were relevant to important topics of the day: “Consistently infused with social, political, psychological, and sexual themes, Graham’s choreography is timeless, connecting with audiences past and present… and distinguish her as a conscientious and politically powerful artist”(marthagram.org). She was also the first choreographer to regularly employ AfricanAmerican and Asian dancers (PBS). Graham also created the Martha Graham Technique which is based on contraction and release (or fall), and focuses on awareness of space, and utilized many sharp and angular movements (biography.com). Martha Graham helped to shape modern dance and was recognized for her efforts with the Presidential Medal of Freedom (PBS). 

Mothers of Modern Dance

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she was in her 20s when she started dance, and was older and shorter than most dancers, she used her body to her advantage and developed a technique to fit it

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Graham founded the Martha Graham company in 1926, which is still running today as the oldest dance company in America

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choreographed 181 pieces

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“Consistently infused with social, political, psychological, and sexual themes, Graham’s choreography is timeless, connecting with audiences past and present… and distinguish her as a conscientious and politically powerful artist”(marthagram.org).

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first choreographer to regularly employ African-American and Asian dancers

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Works such as Revolt (1927), Immigrant: Steerage, Strike (1928), and Chronicle (1936) —created the same year she turned down Hitler’s invitation to perform at the International Arts Festival organized in conjunction with the Olympic Games in Berlin— personify Graham’s commitment to addressing challenging contemporary issues

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Martha Graham Technique which is based on contraction and release (or fall), and focuses on awareness of space, and utilized many sharp and angular movements

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Presidential Medal of Freedom

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TIME Magazine named her the “Dancer of the Century.”...