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
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