Sunday, May 8, 2011
Why do i care?
I appreciate what Martha Graham did in her lifetime and realize that she paved the way for me in the modern dance world. Being from a classical ballet background I found it extremely helpful transitioning to modern dance through graham technique. Like classical ballet technique, Graham is also a technique where there are placements for the body to be and ways of doing certain movements. Graham technique is difficult, but in learning this technique i grew an appreciation for modern dance because before i attended University Wisconsin Milwaukee i thought that modern was just people flinging themselves around the space. Now i know that graham technique is a valuable building block for modern dancers to start with so that they can work towards more effortless movement in the future. Graham gives modern dancers a sturdy foundation of technique so that they can do much more and be versatile dancers. The Martha Graham Dance Company is still around 85 years later and I believe that Graham technique will be around as long as modern dance is around. Graham left behind a legacy for all of us to cherish and hold to the highest degree of admiration. Her influences span worldwide, and will in the coming years
Contributions
Martha Graham had an extremely influential career that shaped modern dance as we know it today. Graham was a very motivated individual and her strength was displayed through her dance presence, technique, and choreography. She presented 181 works in her life time and was known as the "mother of modern dance." Martha Graham has inspired many dancers and choreographers through her persistence to be on stage, starring in her own works. Graham refused to give up performing as she was getting older, her last performance was at age 76. The core of Graham's importance was that she codified a dance technique that utilizes the whole body, and the emotion comes from the core of the dancer. She also had elaborate costuming, props, sets, and collaborated with some amazing figures in other art-forms. She paved the way for more innovative choreographers such as, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, and Erik Hawkins.
video clips and pictures
Link to Martha Graham's famous work, "Lamentation."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb4-kpClZns
Clip of another work by Martha called, "Night Journey."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFNsKeMbW20
Link to a video that shows the Graham dance technique.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p78zYG6-aHI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb4-kpClZns
Clip of another work by Martha called, "Night Journey."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFNsKeMbW20
Link to a video that shows the Graham dance technique.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p78zYG6-aHI
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The bigger picture
What was happening in the world that might have shaped the thinking and subsequent creative output of your choreographer? There were many events happening in the 1920’s and 30’s some progressive and some detrimental. Graham was witnessing various political, industrial, technological, and social events during the prime of her career. After the end of WW1 in 1918, the 18th amendment was set in place, also known as, prohibition. Crime went hand in hand with prohibition, there was organized crime with figures like Al Capone, and bootlegging. In the mid 1920’s there was an agricultural depression as a result of the overproduction throughout the first world war. Graham took a lot of inspiration from the culture of the American pioneers and farmers, and this must have had some impact on her. There was a lot of urbanization going on due to the agricultural depression, people were moving into cities where there were many more jobs and easy access to amenities. Shortly after, in 1929 there was the devastating stock market crash which turned the economic system of the united states upside down. The market crash of 29’ marked the start of the great depression. Everyone and anyone was affected by the great depression and although times were extremely difficult, Graham managed to choreograph seven pieces including, Heretic, Moment Rustica, Vision Of The Apocalypse, Danza, Adolescence, Resurrection, and Figure Of A Saint.
Franklin Roosevelt took the American presidency in 1932, and in 1933 Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany and kick started the Nazi regime which is considered to this day, a mass genocide. Graham’s notable work, “Chronicle” was influenced by the Spanish Civil war, the great depression, and the wall street crash of 29’.
During the 1920’s and 30’s there were other political and social things going on such as, communism, fascism, and racism with the acceptance of the Klu Klux Klan. The 1940’s was another time of transition for America due to WWII. The Martha graham center of contemporary dance was established in 1926 and she continued to dance and choreograph works until 1969. Throughout her time dancing and choreographing she was developing her modern technique, and being inspired by cultural events while choreographing. She was also concerned with being the principal dancer in every one of her dances.
She collaborated with composers such as Louis Horst, Aaron Copeland, Samuel Barber, and William Schuman. She also had a lighting designer Jean Rosenthal that she worked closely with. She worked very little with photographers because she didn’t like to document her pieces, but she worked with Imogen Cunningham, Barbara Morgan, and Philippe Halsman.
Franklin Roosevelt took the American presidency in 1932, and in 1933 Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany and kick started the Nazi regime which is considered to this day, a mass genocide. Graham’s notable work, “Chronicle” was influenced by the Spanish Civil war, the great depression, and the wall street crash of 29’.
During the 1920’s and 30’s there were other political and social things going on such as, communism, fascism, and racism with the acceptance of the Klu Klux Klan. The 1940’s was another time of transition for America due to WWII. The Martha graham center of contemporary dance was established in 1926 and she continued to dance and choreograph works until 1969. Throughout her time dancing and choreographing she was developing her modern technique, and being inspired by cultural events while choreographing. She was also concerned with being the principal dancer in every one of her dances.
She collaborated with composers such as Louis Horst, Aaron Copeland, Samuel Barber, and William Schuman. She also had a lighting designer Jean Rosenthal that she worked closely with. She worked very little with photographers because she didn’t like to document her pieces, but she worked with Imogen Cunningham, Barbara Morgan, and Philippe Halsman.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Grahams Inspirations
Martha Graham decided after her father passed away, that she was going to pursue her dream of dancing. In the early 1900's Graham joined the Denishawn school under the instruction of Ruth St Denis and Ted Shawn. This was her first bit of formal dance training and technique. Graham ended up leaving the Denishawn to dance as a soloist for two years with the Greenwich Village Follies. Around 1925 she started teaching at the Eastman Music school and theater in New York, where she started experimenting with modern dance. She was influenced by the Denishawn, Isadora Duncan, as well as Louie Horst, a former Denishawn composer. Horst was an extremely important friend and mentor through Graham's years of choreographing and dancing. He helped her explore emotion within the music and inspired her with different sound scores. With Horst she also explored angular, percussive movements, and contract/release. She taught many dancers that became well known including, Alvin Ailey, Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, and Twyla Tharp. The Works that Graham had choreographed in her life were inspired by Greek mythology, cubism, Early America, religion, and native American culture.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Biography of Martha Graham
Martha Graham was born May 11, 1894, in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. She had two sisters and her father was a physician. Her family moved in 1909 to Santa Barbara, California, where she discovered her interest in the rhythm of the sea, and oriental art. These things were some of her inspirations for choreography throughout her career.
Graham's professional career started in 1916 at Denishawn, where she was introduced to a repertory and curriculum that explored dances such as, folk, classical, experimental, Oriental, and American Indian.
Ted Shawn was her main teacher, and he discovered that Martha had "dramatic power," within her dancing. Shawn translated that power into an Aztec ballet called, "Xochtil." The dance was successfull in vaudeville and in concert performance and exposed her raw talent.
Graham stayed with the Denishawn until 1923 but then she left to be a featured dancer in the Greenwich Village Follies revue. She danced with Greenwich village for two years, and then in 1924 she went to teach and explore her talent at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
In 1926 Martha took her choreography and dancing to the new york scene, and was thought of by the critics as graceful and lyrical. starting 1927, and continuing for over a decade, her dances that were performed were said to be ugly. Graham called this decade as, “my period of long woolens,” because she wore a plain jersey dress in many of her dances throughout this time period.
Louis Horst, was Martha's main influence, and the musical director at Denishawn. Louis left the school two years after Martha, and soon after became her musical director. He would compose her music and they spent a lot of time together for nearly 20 years. Louis would watch the dance that Martha was working on, and would create a score to fit the movement. He would also inspire her to keep making movement as well. Louis and Martha stayed friends until 1964 when he passed away.Graham's performed the lead role in Igor Stravinsky's premiere of, Rite of Spring in 1930. In 1931 through 1935 Graham toured the United States in the production, Electra. In this tour, Graham became very interested in American Indians of the Southwest. In 1932 she became the first dancer to receive a Guggenheim fellowship, and she danced for President Franklin Roosevelt at the White House in 1937.
Martha founded the Dance Repertory Theater in New York City in 1930, and she helped establish the Bennington School of Arts at Bennington College in Vermont. Her teaching made Bennington the center of experimental dance in America. later on she established the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City where she taught a large number of modern dancers who continue to carry on her legacy.
Graham danced for the last time in 1969, but continued to choreograph. In 1976 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1990, she choreographed Maple Leaf Rag a year before her death. Martha Graham died on April 1, 1991, leaving behind an empire of revolutionary modern dance, as well as a new technique.
http://www.biography.com/articles/Martha-Graham-9317723
.
Graham's professional career started in 1916 at Denishawn, where she was introduced to a repertory and curriculum that explored dances such as, folk, classical, experimental, Oriental, and American Indian.
Ted Shawn was her main teacher, and he discovered that Martha had "dramatic power," within her dancing. Shawn translated that power into an Aztec ballet called, "Xochtil." The dance was successfull in vaudeville and in concert performance and exposed her raw talent.
Graham stayed with the Denishawn until 1923 but then she left to be a featured dancer in the Greenwich Village Follies revue. She danced with Greenwich village for two years, and then in 1924 she went to teach and explore her talent at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
In 1926 Martha took her choreography and dancing to the new york scene, and was thought of by the critics as graceful and lyrical. starting 1927, and continuing for over a decade, her dances that were performed were said to be ugly. Graham called this decade as, “my period of long woolens,” because she wore a plain jersey dress in many of her dances throughout this time period.
Louis Horst, was Martha's main influence, and the musical director at Denishawn. Louis left the school two years after Martha, and soon after became her musical director. He would compose her music and they spent a lot of time together for nearly 20 years. Louis would watch the dance that Martha was working on, and would create a score to fit the movement. He would also inspire her to keep making movement as well. Louis and Martha stayed friends until 1964 when he passed away.Graham's performed the lead role in Igor Stravinsky's premiere of, Rite of Spring in 1930. In 1931 through 1935 Graham toured the United States in the production, Electra. In this tour, Graham became very interested in American Indians of the Southwest. In 1932 she became the first dancer to receive a Guggenheim fellowship, and she danced for President Franklin Roosevelt at the White House in 1937.
Martha founded the Dance Repertory Theater in New York City in 1930, and she helped establish the Bennington School of Arts at Bennington College in Vermont. Her teaching made Bennington the center of experimental dance in America. later on she established the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City where she taught a large number of modern dancers who continue to carry on her legacy.
Graham danced for the last time in 1969, but continued to choreograph. In 1976 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1990, she choreographed Maple Leaf Rag a year before her death. Martha Graham died on April 1, 1991, leaving behind an empire of revolutionary modern dance, as well as a new technique.
http://www.biography.com/articles/Martha-Graham-9317723
.
Monday, February 14, 2011
About Me
My name is Emily Spadafora, and i am a wisconisin native. I was raised in Wausau Wisconsin, and danced in ballets for the Allegro Dance Theatre. I performed principal roles in The Little Mermaid, Peter and the Wolf, and Cinderella, along side professionals dancers from The Milwaukee Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. During high school I studied in the academy program of The Milwaukee Ballet school, and soon after received a professional contract with the Missouri Contemporary Ballet company. I have attended summer intensive programs that include, The Milwaukee Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Dance New Amsterdam, New York City, and summer of '11 Lines ballet. I am currently working on my BFA in the dance program at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and hope to graduate summer of 2011.
My main goal that i am trying to accomplish after college is getting a contract with a contemporary ballet company. i would also love to work towards my masters degree in dance and eventually teach ballet and pointe in a university setting. i also would love to explore my choreography for a while. My work is influenced by a combination of classical ballet, and modern. I love watching videos and getting inspiration from William Forsythe, Martha graham, and Jiri Kylian. I value dance because being in a world of technology we lose our sense of creativity and imagination and i feel like i want to aid in helping art and dance stay alive by being passionate about my dancing, teaching, and choreography.
My main goal that i am trying to accomplish after college is getting a contract with a contemporary ballet company. i would also love to work towards my masters degree in dance and eventually teach ballet and pointe in a university setting. i also would love to explore my choreography for a while. My work is influenced by a combination of classical ballet, and modern. I love watching videos and getting inspiration from William Forsythe, Martha graham, and Jiri Kylian. I value dance because being in a world of technology we lose our sense of creativity and imagination and i feel like i want to aid in helping art and dance stay alive by being passionate about my dancing, teaching, and choreography.
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