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.