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Martha Graham: 100 Years of Bold Dance
10 Apr
Summary
- Martha Graham Dance Company celebrates 100 years.
- Centennial features early works like 'Lamentation' and 'Chronicle'.
- New works dialogue with Graham's technique and legacy.
The Martha Graham Dance Company is celebrating its centennial anniversary, an occasion marked by a series of performances that honor its historic legacy. Founded in 1926, the company, the oldest of its kind in the United States, presents mixed bills that delve into Martha Graham's groundbreaking choreography.
This season's programming includes iconic early works such as "Lamentation" (1930) and "Chronicle" (1936), which exemplify Graham's powerful expression of female strength and societal commentary. These pieces, back in fashion, showcase the company's dedication to preserving and interpreting Graham's revolutionary technique, characterized by contraction and release.
Alongside these classics, the centennial season features new choreographic works that converse with Graham's artistic vision. "To the Brink and Back" by Jamar Roberts, created for Graham artist Lloyd Knight, is noted for its spare excavation of the Graham technique. Hope Boykin's "En Masse" incorporates music connected to Leonard Bernstein and explores themes of searching and anguish.
Performances also revisit cherished pieces like "Appalachian Spring" (1944), examining its themes of tradition and desire, and "Diversion of Angels" (1948), which explores stages of love. The company's revival of "Chronicle" (1936) stands out as an anti-war statement, created in defiance of rising fascism, showcasing Graham's unflinching engagement with political and social issues.
