Martha Graham
Martha Graham was one of the most influential figures in American modern dance, and her techniques and styles are still practiced today. She became widely known throughout all ages and decades. Her first debut was in the 1920's. As time went on, she became more experienced and wiser in the modern dance field. Martha Graham, whose style was considered controversial, became one of the finest choreographers and dancers in the dance world.
In 1894 Martha was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (Pratt 8). She was the daughter of Jane Beers and George Graham. Her father was a well-known physician who treated mental disorders. After living in Pennsylvania for 12 years, she and her family moved to Santa Barbara, California in 1908 (Harmon et al. 182). This was where she started studying modern dance in her earlier years.
Martha's father played a big role in her life. Dr. Graham inspired his daughter to search for the meaning behind people's actions. As she sat in her father's office, she would look at the patients in bewilderment. The patients would blurt out words and move their arms and legs in a wild manner, making her even more curious about people's actions (Pratt 13). Dr. Graham then took his daughter to a performance of Ruth St. Denis in 1911 where she was mesmerized by the dancers (Harmon et al. 182).
Martha entered Cumnock School of Expression after graduating from high school. There she trained in dance, drama, and self-expressions. Martha's love to study people's actions was incredibly strong. After Graham graduated from the junior college in 1916, she then enrolled in Denishawn School of Dance (182). She was recognized at the school for her talent and determination, not her potential a...
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...d a bad case of pneumonia. Graham died on April 1, 1991 (100).
Graham led an exciting and fulfilling life. Although her audiences may have had to get used to her innovative style of modern dance, she accomplished her dreams throughout the years and became a big success. Martha Graham became one of the finest dancers and choreographers in the world.
Works Cited
Harmon, Justin, et al. American Cultural Leaders. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO 1993.
McLanathan, Richard and Gene Brown ed. The Arts. New York: New York Times Company, 1978.
Mille, Agnes de and Helene Oblensky. American Dances. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1980.
"Modern Dance." Microsoft Encarta. 1997 ed.
Pratt, Paula Bryant. The Importance of Martha Graham. San Diego: Lucent Books, Inc., 1995.
Switzer, Ellen. Dancers! Horizons in American Dance. New York: Atheneum, 1982.
According to Katherine, “A creative person has to create. It doesn’t really matter what they create. If such a dance wanted to go out and build the cactus gardens where he could, in Mexico, let him do that, but something that is creative has to go on. (Katherine, Dunham, Dancing a life, 2002)”. It has been said that an idol is someone whom everyone looks up to because of the great things they accomplished throughout their life span. Acknowledged as an African American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, civil activist and writer. Katherine Dunham, not only normally known for the generous acts of kindness but also for the huge impact she had in incorporating different dance styles and creating them into her very own ballet pieces. An influential woman who supported African American culture and believed there shouldn’t be any divisions between people. Not completely another mother of modern dance but a women who greatly influenced modern dance to enhance it in many ways. Katherine is and was famous for her anthropology movement in the world of dance, her creativity and dedication.
Katherine Dunham not only significantly contributed to the rise of modern dance, but she was also a pioneer in the field of dance anthropology; and a staunch political and social activist. Dunham was born in Chicago, Illinois and primarily raised in nearby Joliet, Illinois. Dunham first became interested in dance when she was a teenager and trained with Ludmilla Speranzeva, formerly of the Moscow Theatre, Vera Mirova, Mark Turbyfill and Ruth Page in Chicago before and during her college education. She even started her own private dance school, Ballet Négre, in 1930, while at the University of Chicago where she first began to cultivate her own technique that would change modern dance.
...ess and selfish girl who only cares about wealth and power, which makes her the most despicable character in the novel. Daisy proves this in many situations such as choosing Tom over Gatsby, when he truly loved her for her, and wanted to be with her. She also proves this when she lets Gatsby take the blame for hitting Myrtle with a car, which ultimately ends in Gatsby’s death. And to top it off, Daisy doesn’t even go to his funeral but instead she moves away, leaving no information at all. She is in love with money, power, and luxury, but definitely not affection. She pushes her daughter, Pammy out of her life, and wishes for her to grow up the same way she did. She even pushes away the love of her life to be with someone who has power and money. Daisy Buchanan is selfish, careless, and conceited and is the most despicable character in the novel of The Great Gatsby.
Trisha Brown is considered to be one of the most pivotal choreographers of the 1960’s as her work and practice shifted away from historically considered “appropriate” movement for choreography. This ideology references the modern era of choreographers, moving away from the aesthetics of Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham who worked with codified techniques, virtuosity and expressionism, whereas Brown saw dance as being of greater importance to the physical and mental process of the performer. Born in Aberdeen, Washington and studying dance at Mills College in California, Brown took improvisational workshops with Anna Halprin, discovering the concept of task orientated work. This knowledge would become central to her later experiments and work. She then shifted her life to New York to study composition with Robert Dunn to further her knowledge of movement and choreography. Physical research that was undertaken in these classes became publically presented programs, eventually leading to the evolvement of Judson Dance Theatre. In the late 1960’s, Brown constructed experiments to play with the dynamics and stability of gravity, using props such as ropes and harnesses to extend the dancers past their physical limitations. These experiments went on to become a working method for the work she created throughout her career and with her company which she founded in the 1970’s.
"Martha Washington | Summary of Martha Washington: A Life." Marthawashington.us, 2013. Web. 17 Nov 2013. .
The fine art of modern dance is like many other fields in that it is based on the actions and deeds of those who were pioneers in the field. These pioneers helped to mold modern dance into what it is today. Of the many people who are partially responsible for this accomplishment is Isadora Duncan. Duncan, often referred to as the “mother of modern dance,” inspired many other dancers to the extent that the art of dance would not be the same today without her many contributions.
Martha Washington lived a life full of love and sacrifice. She was born as a simple little girl Martha Dandridge to her plantation home in New Kent; she was married at 18 to become Martha Dandridge Custis. Still yet she was widowed at the age of twenty-six with two children and a land of over 17,000 acres to run on her own. Then she met a gentleman by the name of George Washington and Martha became the figure we know today as Martha Dandridge Custis Washington or Martha Washington.
Just like Gene Kelly, Martha Graham was a sensational dancer and choreographer. She cleared the way for young, aspiring modern dancers, and created techniques that are still used today. She also used to be overweight, but she kept pursing her dream, and became the amazing dancer that people know today. Miss Graham eventually started a company, and became an influential teacher to her students. Even though Martha Graham is amazing, so is Gene Kelly, because he was also perseverant and highly recognized for his
Both Aziz and Frankenstein's monster are driven toward bad choices. They are forced to hate those who judge them. Aziz chooses to forgive and let go of some of his prejudice. The creature instead chooses an act of violent revenge which is his ruin. These novels clearly demonstrate how discrimination in society has negative dramatic effects on those who receive it and leads to expansion of prejudice.
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald presents three women in an especially bad light. Daisy Fay Buchanan, the narrator's cousin, is the most obvious. Daisy is selfish and materialistic. She married her husband, Tom, because he was wealthy when he proposed to her. She ignored her true love, Jay Gatsby, because he was poor; this fact is evident when the two meet again after years apart and Daisy sees that Gatsby is rich now. Gatsby bought the house right across the bay from Daisy so he could be near her (Fitzgerald 83). Daisy admires all of his possessions and even considers leaving her husband for him, but in the end remains with Tom. This action is evidence of Daisy's selfishness; the moment of their reunion means everything to Gatsby and nothing to Daisy, except for a game to help Daisy pass the time during her idle days (Magill 1144). The selfishness of Daisy is a detail that thrusts her into the role of a villain in the novel.
In Brave New World this society goes completely against our own. Huxley creates a controlling drug environment where it is necessary to be monitored, artificial and controlled in order to be ‘’normal.’’ Huxley is trying to depict the differences between to fantasies of a utopian society. Both societies, our society and world state both use drugs to reach the desirable feeling of happiness. It is a shame that people feel the need to take in things that ruin your body just for a short euphoria.
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Graham used her torso all throughout her dances in order to express herself. She initiated that the movement of the torso must demonstrate strength and must be the focal point. An example, would be in Graham’s dance performance, Appalachian Spring performance, there is a