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Martha Graham's Soulful Dance Turns 100
16 Jun
Summary
- Martha Graham pioneered modern dance with barefoot performances.
- The Martha Graham Dance Company celebrates its 100th anniversary.
- A new PBS documentary explores Graham's revolutionary choreography.
The Martha Graham Dance Company is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, honoring the influential choreographer who redefined modern dance. Graham championed barefoot performances and a focus on the torso's contraction and release, diverging from classical ballet's extended lines. She sought to reveal the 'soul of man' rather than create purely decorative art.
A new two-part PBS documentary, "Martha Graham Dance Company: We Are Our Time," directed by Peter Schnall and Cyndee Readdean, delves into the company's centenary. The film highlights how contemporary dancers and choreographers carry on Graham's groundbreaking work. Schnall describes Graham as a profound philosopher as well as a dancer.
The documentary's directors chose to frame the film through the eyes of young dancers, capturing their experiences. Meryl Streep lent her voice to narrate Graham's words, drawn from her writings. The filmmakers also shared an anecdote about an unconventional teaching method Graham once employed, which would not be permitted today.
