Who is Martha Graham?

Martha Graham (1894–1991) was an American modern dancer and choreographer who is one of the pioneers of modern dance. She changed the world of dance by rejecting classical ballet rules and building a powerful new physical language.

Graham Technique: She based her movements on the human body's core actions of contraction and release. Her style used sharp, angular, and jagged motions to show deep, raw human emotions.

In 1926, she started the Martha Graham Dance Company, which is the oldest contemporary dance company in the world. Her 181 ballets focused on real psychological, social, and political issues, often starring powerful women from history and mythology like Joan of Arc and Medea. She taught famous dancers and choreographers like Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, and Twyla Tharp as well as movie stars and musicians (such as Madonna).

Martha Graham won numerous awards for her work including the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was awarded to her in 1976.

“Martha Graham and her Company have expanded contemporary dance’s vocabulary of movement and forever altered the scope of the art form by rooting works in contemporary social, political, psychological, and sexual contexts, deepening their impact and resonance.” - Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance